CONFERENCE / REACT-2024

Infrastructure such as bridges are significantly vulnerable to earthquakes causing huge damage to the structure. The energy generated during an earthquake needs to be properly dissipated to make a resilient structure against earthquake. Conventional reinforced shear keys and elastomeric pads were found to be less effective and difficult to be replaced. The 2004 earthquake caused the Chengappa bridge across the Austen Strait in the Andaman Islands to displace horizontally and fell off from the bearings. lack of restrainers to arrest excessive displacement of the bridge deck was one among the important cause of damage. As motivated by the need for enhanced earthquake resistant structures, this paper proposes a novel approach to seismic resilience by introducing optimised shear key dampers into the bridges. The hourglass model of dampers is remodelled and a parameter analysis is conducted on geometry, configuration and energy dissipation to develop a novel optimised shear key based on key factors such as ductility, stiffness and ultimate displacements.