Study on Collapse of Bridge Structures

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High-speed visualization of time-varying data in large-scale structural dynamic analyses with a GPU Automation in Construction, 2014 Download
Physics engine-driven visualization of deactivated elements and its application in bridge collapse simulation Automation in Construction, 2013, Download
Finite element and simplified models for collision simulation between over-height trucks and bridge superstructures Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE. 2013 Download
Physics engine-driven visualization of deactivated elements and its application in bridge collapse simulation Automation in Construction, 2013, Download
Progressive-collapse Simulation and Critical Region Identification of a Stone Arch Bridge Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities-ASCE, 2013 Download
Overload-induced progressive collapse simulation for a reinforced concrete arch bridge Engineering Mechanics, 2012 Download
Bridge collapse scene simulation based on the finite element method and virtual reality technology Proc. 14th Int. Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering, 2012 Download
Progressive collapse simulation and components importance evaluation of stone arch bridge Journal of Lanzhou Jiaotong University, 2010 Download
The components importance evaluation and overload induced collapse simulation for RC arch bridges Computer Aided Engineering, 2010 Download
A preliminary study on the investigation of the bridge collapse accident scenes based on finite element analysis and virtual reality Proc. 2010 National Bridge Conference, Nov, 2010 Download
High Performance Simulation for Bridges under Disaster Proc. 1st Symp. on High Performance Computing (HPC) Technology in Engineering Design, 2007 Download
Failure simulation for large viaducts with traveling wave effect Earthquake Resistant Engineering and Retrofitting , 2007 Download

Physics engine-driven visualization of deactivated elements and its application in bridge collapse simulation,
Automation in Construction, 2013, 35:471-481.

Abstract: Element deactivation is one of the most suitable methods in a finite element (FE) analysis of discontinuous features of collapse accidents. However, deactivated elements are typically invisible in the general purpose FE analysis, leading to a very incomplete outcome. To visualize the deactivated elements, a 3D simulation method of fragments based on a physics engine is proposed herein. A working system for fragment simulation is designed by integrating a graphics engine, an FE analysis and a physics engine. To reduce the extensive computational workload due to massive fragments, a grid-clustering algorithm for fragment modeling is also proposed. Using the proposed simulation methodology, the collapse processes of two bridges are completely replicated. The results demonstrate a realistic and real-time visual simulation of deactivated elements, which complements the limitations of the general FE analysis results. This study provides an important reference for conducting detailed investigations of bridge collapse accidents.
Keywords: Deactivated elements; Visualization; Fragment simulation; Physics engine; Bridge collapse

Progressive-collapse Simulation and Critical Region Identification of a Stone Arch Bridge
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities-ASCE, 2013, 27(1): 43-52.

Abstract: Progressive collapses of arch bridges have repeatedly occurred in recent years, resulting in many casualties and significant property losses. Based on an actual recent and serious progressive collapse of a stone arch bridge, this paper simulated the complete progressive-collapse process using the general purpose finite element (FE) program, MSC.Marc. The simulation adopted a 3D FE model and performed a nonlinear analysis using the contact algorithm in conjunction with the element deactivation technique. The potential causes of the progressive-collapse of the stone arch bridge were also evaluated. Furthermore, the importance of different components of the stone arch bridge was determined with the conception of generalized structural stiffness; thus, the most critical and vulnerable regions of the bridge were identified. The results of the simulated progressive-collapse process agreed well with the actual process, and the predicted critical regions were both correct and realistic. This study also provides important references for the analysis and prevention of progressive collapses of stone arch bridges.
keywords: Stone arch bridge, Progressive-collapse, Computer simulation, Element deactivation, Critical regions

Overload-induced progressive collapse simulation for a reinforced concrete arch bridge
Engineering Mechanics, 2012, 29(sup.2): 122-127.

Abstract: In recent years, collapse accidents of arch bridges happen frequently. In this paper, a nonlinear finite element model of an actual reinforced concrete rigid frame arch bridge is built and the overload-induced progressive collapse procedures are simulated. The influence of different constraints at the bottom of the piers is discussed. The importance of different components in this bridge is evaluated by using the component importance evaluation method base on generalized structural stiffness, and it is agreed well with the collapse process.
Key words: arch bridge; overload; collapse; importance evaluation

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Bridge collapse scene simulation based on the finite element method and virtual reality technology,
Proc. 14th Int. Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering, 2012.06. Moscow, Russia: 194-195.

Abstract: Bridge collapse accidents often cause significant casualties and property losses. It is important to investigate bridge collapse accidents to prevent similar catastrophes from occurring in the future. Computer simulations of the bridge collapse process play an important role in the discovery of the causes of bridge collapses. An integrated solution for scene simulation of bridge collapse that is based on the finite element (FE) method and virtual reality technology is proposed in this paper. A method of scene modelling was designed based on the graphics engine open scene graph (OSG) to solve the rendering efficiency problems caused by the massive amount of FE data for a bridge. 3-dimension (3D) animations of bridge collapse with special effects were implemented with the physics engine PhysX to supplement the shortage of the FE data. In addition, terrain and surroundings were added to build a complete scene model. The results obtained with this proposed method are presented via a case study. The scene model of the bridge is highly efficient and realistic, and the scene simulation of a bridge collapse is as accurate as the FE simulation, but it is more realistic and complete. This study provides an important reference for the analysis of bridge collapse accidents.
Keywords: Scene simulation, bridge collapse, finite element (FE), Open Scene Graph (OSG), PhysX

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Progressive collapse simulation and components importance evaluation of stone arch bridge,
Journal of Lanzhou Jiaotong University, 2010, 29(6): 25-30.

Abstract: Bridges are important lifeline projects, so the collapse accidents of bridge will cause significant casualties and properties losses. Computer simulation has a bright future to discover the reasons of bridge accidents. Taking the progressive collapse accidents of stone arch bridges which suffered greatest in recent years for an example, this paper establishes a 3D finite element (FE) model of stone arch bridges with the general-purpose finite element program-MSC.MARC. The process of collapse is simulated with the contact algorithm and the deactivation of elements, and the possible reasons of the collapse are analyzed. Furthermore, the importance of different components of the stone arch bridge is indexed with the conception of the generalized stiffness of structure, so as to get the most critical regions of the stone arch bridge. The results show that the process of collapse simulated in this work agrees well with the actual process and the predicted critical regions are correct and reasonable, which provides references for design, construction and maintenance of arch bridge.
Keywords: Stone arch bridge, Progressive collapse, Simulation, Deactivation elements, Critical regions

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The components importance evaluation and overload induced collapse simulation for RC arch bridges,
Computer Aided Engineering, 2010, 19(3): 26-30.

Abstract: Recently, the collapse accidents of arch bridges happened frequently, which caused great economic losses and casualties. So it is important to study the mechanism and countermeasure of the collapse of arch bridges. Based on a reinforced concrete (RC) arch bridge, this paper builds up the finite element model firstly. And then the generalized structural stiffness-based importance index is adopted to evaluate the components importance indices of the arch bridge, so that the critical regions for the safety of the arch bridge are identified. Finally, the process of collapse induced by overloading is simulated with the program of TECS. The simulation results can provide references to analyze the collapse reasons and to evaluate the collapse resistance capacity of arch bridge.
Keywords: Arch bridge, Importance indices evaluation, Overload, Collapse

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A preliminary study on the investigation of the bridge collapse accident scenes based on finite element analysis and virtual reality,
Proc. 2010 National Bridge Conference, Nov, 2010, Nanjing, China: 921-927.

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High Performance Simulation for Bridges under Disaster
Proc. 1st Symp. on High Performance Computing (HPC) Technology in Engineering Design, 2007. Dec. 11-12, Shanghai: 102-110.

Abstract: Bridge is the key project in lifeline engineering. Currently, various natural and man-induced disasters become a serious threat to the bridges in China. Due to the large-scale, unpredictable, and destructive features of disasters, computer simulation has obvious advantages in disaster prevention and mitigation of bridges. This paper presents the researches on disaster prevention and mitigation of bridges developed by the Department of Civil Engineering in Tsinghua University, which base on high performance computing. The nonlinear computing method is discussed and benchmarked with large-scale test. High performance simulation on different scales for bridges implemented by Tsinghua University are presented. In small scale, analyses about dynamic behavior of the bridge traveled by overload trucks and impact on the bridge by over-high trucks are illustrated. And in large scale, failure simulation for large viaducts with traveling wave effect is presented. In addition, Tsinghua University also developed the nonlinear quick modeling method for bridges, so as to provide abilities to conveniently obtain the failure model and safety assessment of bridges under various disasters.
Keywords: bridge, high performance simulation, overloaded, impact, earthquake, quick modeling.

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Failure simulation for large viaducts with traveling wave effect
Earthquake Resistant Engineering and Retrofitting , 29(3), 2007, 1-5.

Abstract: Viaducts are important life lines in the city transport system. Precision prediction for the failure modes of large viaducts (viaduct system) in earthquake is important for the disaster prevention and reduction. In this paper, based on high performance computation and nonlinear analysis, the failure of large viaducts in earthquake is simulated with the consideration of travel wave effect in the ground, plastic hinges in the pier and the girder falling in the superstructures. The simulation results show that the proposed model can correctly simulate the failure of large viaducts in earthquake. And parametrical study is carried out for the further research on the safety assessment of the large viaducts.
Keywords: viaduct, earthquake, traveling wave, failure, simulation

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