Shaking table test study on the seismic control of concrete-filled steel tube arch bridges based on dampers

Concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) arch bridges have a high center of gravity and a substantial mass, resulting in a discernible seismic response. Consequently, long-span CFST arch bridges must retain exceptional seismic performance and appropriate seismic control design. In this study, the dynamic response and seismic performance of a unique swallow-type CFST arch bridge when subjected to longitudinal earthquake forces were analyzed using numerical simulation methods. The displacement and axial force response results and their laws of the key bridge components were obtained. Taking into account seismic checking calculations, two damping measures were proposed for the CFST arch bridge, as the relative displacement of the girder end exceeded the allowable value specified. The appropriate design parameters for viscous dampers and lead shear dampers were examined. Additionally, the seismic performance of these dampers was verified through a shaking table test using a 1:16 scale model. The findings indicated that when subjected to Wenchuan Wolong wave action, the relative displacement between the steel box girder and the concrete girder of the bridge was significantly larger, leading to girder end pounding. The limit values were surpassed by 32.5% and 50%, when subjected to the uniform and traveling wave excitations, respectively, thus indicating that the expansion joint was the most vulnerable component. Following the selection of optimal parameters for the dampers, the dampers exhibited the capability to mitigate seismic and pounding impacts. Long-span CFST arch bridges with dampers were found to effectively reduce the seismic response of the skewback strain and vault, as well as the relative displacement of the girder ends. Furthermore, the average maximum damping rates achieved by the viscous damper and the lead shear damper reached 44.9% and 44.6%, respectively.