Structural Systems Comparison of Simply Supported PSC Box Girder Bridge Equipped with Elastomeric Rubber Bearing and Lead Rubber Bearing.

This study compares the influence of elastomeric rubber bearing (ERB) as the regular bearing support and lead rubber bearing (LRB) as the seismic isolation device on the structural system of a seven simply supported span prestressed concrete (PSC) box girder bridge, which was analyzed using nonlinear time history analysis (NLTHA) with the OpenSees software. The results showed that the maximum pier responses and damage were smaller in models with LRB than with ERB. The bridge model using ERB showed the damage at level II, while the one using LRB was at level I. In addition, the highest seismic performance level in the model with ERB was at the operational limit state. Meanwhile, the seismic performance in the model with LRB was at the fully operational limit state. Thus, LRB performed better in improving the seismic performance and mitigating the damage due to the seismic excitation with the small cross-section area of pier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]