Development of Guidelines for Performance-Based Seismic Design

Currently, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide Specifications for Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Seismic Bridge Design do not address performance-based seismic design (PBSD) nor do they provide guidance for bridges that are deemed Critical or Essential. Furthermore, there is essentially no guidance in the specifications to assist owners and designers who wish to consider seismic risk mitigation beyond the single, minimum level provided by the current specifications. Yet, it is clear that transportation facilities have different operational requirements, depending on the post-earthquake functions expected of such facilities by local emergency responders, and in the longer-term, by the regional economy. National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 440: Performance-Based Seismic Bridge Design serves as the literature review for this research problem statement. In fact, this problem statement will address some of the knowledge gaps that were identified in this synthesis. The objective of this research is to provide clear, consistent, and nationally accepted guidance for the use of PBSD concepts. The work proposed herein would significantly enhance current practice and provide consistency that is lacking today. The work directly addresses a gap in the Guide Specifications for LRFD Seismic Bridge Design whereby Critical and Essential bridge criteria are not included. Inclusion of PBSD and addressing Critical and Essential bridges in that document would bridge an existing gap in criteria. The seismic guide specifications are a desirable place to address these topics, because the displacement-based methodology in that document can clearly and directly accommodate the PBSD concept. The LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, with their "R-Factor" approach to seismic design, on the other hand, are not as well suited for this purpose because expected performance is not directly checked. Additionally, all the building industries are moving toward more rational seismic design methods such as PBSD. This work will keep the AASHTO seismic design provisions in step with advancement in other building and infrastructure industries.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4038
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $35000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 12-106

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 225
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Dekelbab, Waseem

• Start Date: 20150805
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• Source Data: RiP Project 40202

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Earthquake resistant design; Guidelines; Load and resistance factor design; Performance based specifications
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01572348
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 12-106
• Files: TRB, RiP
• Created Date: Aug 6 2015 1:00AM