A risk-targeted approach for the seismic design of bridge piers

Abstract Designing a structure to resist earthquakes by targeting an explicit failure risk has been key research topic over the past two decades. In this article, risk-targeted design approach is developed for circular reinforced concrete bridge piers, based on probabilistic optimization procedure aimed at minimising resisting moment pier base. order reduce computational effort, surrogate model describe influence of parameter (i.e., diameter and longitudinal reinforcement ratio) structural behaviour performance. The proposed applied in case study Italy target mean annual frequencies selected according European codes using seismic hazard assessment average spectral acceleration across wide range periods. variation parameters considerable because large hazard. It found that areas low level required near minimum allowed Eurocode 8 terms ratio. highest much higher ratios diameters are meet targets. If both considered as then optimisation may adjacent sites have significant different pairs these can be reached multiple ways. This problem solved fixing one optimising other.