Performance-based earthquake engineering analysis of short-medium span steel-concrete composite bridges (SEQBRI) : final report

Nowadays, short-medium span steel-concrete composite I-girder bridges made of hot rolled steel beams are very popular, owing to their short construction time and reduced costs. Moreover, they are particularly suitable for seismic areas due to their limited weight. With regard to static loading, these bridges exhibit a favourable behaviour testified by recent research projects. However, seismic loading has not been yet fully investigated. For this reason, SEQBRI project aimed to fill this gap investigating the applicability a new design/assessment methodology (PBEE) to a new typology of steel concrete composite bridges with S355M/N-S460M/N fine grain steel and concrete cross beams, through a comprehensive experimental and numerical investigation. The results have been used to provide the foundation for a new generation of European seismic codes for bridges and to extend Eurocodes. The research program consists of a combination of actions performed by experts in different fields (Academic Institutions (UNIRM3, UNITN, RWTH), designers (DOMI SA), a Center of excellence in Infrastructure and Transportation engineering (CEREMA, ex SETRA), a world's number one Steel Company (ARCELOR MITTAL) for the purpose of developing guidelines for the application of PBEE methodology for the design/assessment of steel concrete composite (SCC) bridges with concrete cross beams (CCB). Towards this purpose, an extensive experimental analytical and numerical work has been conducted within the project, under the synergy of all partners. The proposed guidelines are novel incorporating modern aspects of earthquakeresistant design for the design/assessment of SCC bridges with CCB.