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Abstract
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The purpose of this research is to set forth the basis for developing fragility curves that can be used in various ways as part of a seismic vulnerability analysis methodology for bridges. The fragility curves arc employed to represent the probabilities that the structural damages, under various levels of seismic excitation, exceed specified damage states. In this study. an exploratory work is carried out to develop fragility curves of bridges on the basis of FEM time history analysis consistent with Analytical Fragility Curves and with aid of bridge damage data obtained from the past earthquakes consistent with Empirical Fragility Curves. The paper is organized in three main parts: in first part, methodology and flowchart of the analytical method is developed, in second part the empirical method is developed which utilize bridge performance data from past earth4uakcs and organize the data into probabilistic functions, i.e. fragility functions, by using that would be useful in seismic ;1:-,.;cssmcnt of bridge vulnerabilities. In last part of the paper, a new type of fragility curves is developed, namely functional fragility curves. which deals with operation of the bridge. Definition of functional fragility is done from different view; disconnection of traffic flow and its duration. These curves as connection between structural and traffic flow definitions are necessary to analysis reliability of transportation systems. This study demonstrates a simulation-based method to obtain analytical fragility curves
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