Seismic Performance Evaluation of Skew Reinforced Concrete Bridges with LRB and FPS Isolation Systems

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Faculty of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University

10.48308/ijce.2026.243300.1020

Abstract

Recent earthquake highlighted the vulnerability of skew bridges to seismic loads, particularly under near-fault events. In contrast, seismically isolated bridges are among the most commonly used bridges in seismic prone regions. This paper aims to investigate the effect of skew angle on seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges isolated with two base isolation systems including the Friction Pendulum System (FPS) and Lead Rubber Bearings (LRB). For this purpose, finite element models of RC bridges with different skew angles (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60°) isolated with FPS and LRB were developed and evaluated through incremental dynamic analyses using a series of 20 near-fault ground motions records. Then, fragility curves of isolated bridge models with different skew angles were developed and compared to assess the seismic response of the isolators. The results show that larger skew angles increase the probability of damage in RC bridge piers, particularly at higher damage levels. Furthermore, skew bridges isolated with FPS consistently exhibit greater seismic stability than those with LRB across all skew angles. These results advance the understanding of the seismic fragility of base-isolated skew bridges and provide practical guidance for performance-based design and retrofitting in near-fault regions.

Keywords

References

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Interdisciplinary Journal of Civil Engineering
Volume 1, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
October 2025
Pages 349-377

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