Seismic performance of continuous girder bridges with concrete-filled steel tube piers and earthquake-induced train-track-bridge responses: Assessment of train running safety

Abstract

This study evaluates the seismic performance of high-speed railway continuous girder bridges with concrete-filled steel tube piers (CFST) and the corresponding running safety of trains. A refined three-dimensional finite element model considering ductile damage of steel, plastic-damage evolution of confined concrete, and a main-crack insertion technique was developed and validated against shake-table test results. Based on this model, a coupled train–CRTS III slab ballastless track-continuous girder bridge model was established to perform nonlinear time-history analyses under six peak ground acceleration levels from 0.07g to 0.38g and train speeds of 150, 250, and 350 km/h. The results indicate that the predicted wheel–rail forces, vehicle accelerations, and rail/slab displacements under the benchmark service condition are all below code limits and within or close to published field ranges. Under seismic excitation, pier-base plastic damage increases progressively with ground-motion intensity, whereas stirrup-confined concrete-filled steel tube piers (SCFST) show delayed damage initiation and lower damage severity than conventional CFST piers. Both seismic intensity and train speed increase the derailment coefficient and wheel-rail lateral force, while the wheel-load reduction rate is influenced mainly by train speed. The maximum safe train speed for SCFST bridges is 350 km/h at 0.15g and 150 km/h at 0.20g, and train operation should be suspended when the peak ground acceleration exceeds 0.25g. Stirrup confinement, therefore, improves both the seismic resistance of CFST piers and the running safety margin of high-speed trains.

Keywords

seismic performance / concrete-filled steel tube piers / high-speed railway / finite element modeling / stirrup

References

[1] Zeng C, Guo W, Jiang L-z, et al.. Seismic safety of high-speed railway train track bridge systems: Research progress, disaster mechanisms, and mitigation strategies [J]. Journal of Railway Science and Technology, 2025, 1(1): 2-30

[2] Cheng L, Chen Y-h, He S-y, et al.. Comparing accessibility to high-speed rail stations by public transit and cars: A national-scale analysis [J]. Journal of Transport Geography, 2025, 123: 104105

[3] Yang H-y, Lu Y-j, Zuo L-q, et al.. Numerical analysis of interaction between flow characteristics and dynamic response of interlocked concrete block mattress during sinking process [J]. Ocean Engineering, 2023, 286: 115574

[4] Bai Y-p, Zhou R, Wu J-S. Hazard identification and analysis of urban utility tunnels in China [J]. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2020, 106: 103584

[5] Zhou T, Jiang L-z, Liu X, et al.. Running safety of high-speed railway vehicles on the elastoplastic track-subgrade-bridge system under near-fault pulse-type earthquakes [J]. Engineering Structures, 2023, 280: 115692

[6] Liu S-h, Jiang L-z, Zhou W-b, et al.. Investigating earthquake-induced irregularity based on post-earthquake running performance analysis of track-bridge system [J]. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2024, 177: 108352

[7] Jiang L-z, Peng K, Zhou W-b, et al.. Study on the seismic influence coefficient of track irregularity on the train dynamic effect of high-speed railway bridge [J]. Mechanics Based Design of Structures and Machines, 2024, 52(6): 3339-3357

[8] Costa M A, Costa J N, Andrade A R, et al.. Combining wavelet analysis of track irregularities and vehicle dynamics simulations to assess derailment risks [J]. Vehicle System Dynamics, 2023, 61(1): 150-176

[9] Todorov B, Muntasir Billah A H M. Post-earthquake seismic capacity estimation of reinforced concrete bridge piers using Machine learning techniques [J]. Structures, 2022, 41: 1190-1206

[10] Xin L-f, Li X-z, Zhang Z-t, et al.. Seismic behavior of long-span concrete-filled steel tubular arch bridge subjected to near-fault fling-step motions [J]. Engineering Structures, 2019, 180: 148-159

[11] Li G, Hou C, Shen L-M. Life-cycle analysis of FRP-strengthened offshore CFST columns suffering from steel corrosion [J]. Composite Structures, 2021, 277: 114607

[12] Huang C, Shao Y-b, Ou J-l, et al.. Axial compressive behavior of circular concrete-filled steel tubular stubs strengthened with CFRP considering preloading and corrosion [J]. Structures, 2024, 62: 106281

[13] Yu Z-c, Li Y-f, Zhang J, et al.. Research on design method of end stiffening ribs for square UHPCFHSST columns [J]. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2024, 216: 108599

[14] Tan S-s, Guo L-h, Jia C, et al.. Experimental investigation on seismic performance of an enhanced embedded base for CFST columns [J]. Engineering Structures, 2024, 300: 117154

[15] Wang B, Liang J-h, Lu Z. Experimental investigation on seismic behavior of square CFT columns with different shear stud layout [J]. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2019, 153: 130-138

[16] Sun H, Ding F-x, Wang L-p, et al.. Experimental and analytical study of thin-walled stirrup-confined CFST piers under pseudo-static loading [J]. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2023, 210: 108047

[17] Sun H, Xu Q-y, Ding F-x, et al.. Seismic behavior of thin-walled stirrup-confined circular concrete-filled steel tube piers: Experimental, numerical, and restoring force model analysis [J]. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2024, 176: 108310

[18] Xu Q-y, Sun H, Ding F-x, et al.. Analysis of ultimate seismic performance of thin-walled concrete-filled steel tube bridge piers under dynamic load [J]. Engineering Structures, 2023, 292: 116544

[19] Xia H, Han Y, Zhang N, et al.. Dynamic analysis of train–bridge system subjected to non-uniform seismic excitations [J]. Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics, 2006, 35(12): 1563-1579

[20] Zhao H, Wei B, Guo P-d, et al.. Random analysis of train-bridge coupled system under non-uniform ground motion [J]. Advances in Structural Engineering, 2023, 26(10): 1847-1865

[21] Zhang W-x, Cai X-d, Liu R, et al.. Seismic behavior of reinforced concrete frame substructure with cast-in-place slab on independent foundation [J]. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2022, 157: 107255

[22] Zeng Z-p, Liu F-s, Wang W-D. Three-dimensional train–track–bridge coupled dynamics model based on the explicit finite element method [J]. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2022, 153: 107066

[23] Berhich A, Belouadha F Z, Kabbaj M I. A location-dependent earthquake prediction using recurrent neural network algorithms [J]. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2022, 161: 107389

[24] Qiao H, Du X-t, Xia H, et al.. The effect of local topography on the seismic response of a coupled train-bridge system [J]. Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 2019, 69: 177-191

[25] Wandji Zoumb P A, Li X-z, Wang M. Effects of earthquake-induced hydrodynamic force on train–bridge interactions [J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 2022, 27(4): 04022010

[26] Goto Y, Ebisawa T, Obata M, et al.. Ultimate behavior of steel and CFT piers in two-span continuous elevated-girder bridge models tested by shake-table excitations [J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 2017, 22(5): 04017001

[27] Guli X, Ding F-x, Zhang P, et al.. Nonlinear finite element analysis for hysteresis behaviors of simply supported steel-concrete composite beam [J]. Engineering Mechanics, 2013, 30(1): 301-306

[28] Ding F-x, Wu X, Xiang P, et al.. Damage ratio strength criterion for various types of concrete and isotropic rock [J]. China Civil Engineering Journal, 2021, 54(2): 50-6473. (in Chinese)

[29] Ding F-x, Fang C-j, Bai Y, et al.. Mechanical performance of stirrup-confined concrete-filled steel tubular stub columns under axial loading [J]. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2014, 98: 146-157

[30] Zhang JA study on wheel/rail creep theory by using finite element method [D], 2003DalianDalian University of Technology(in Chinese)

[31] Song R, Liu Y-l, Xu B. Vibration and noise study on damping layers of CRTS-IIIStab ballastless track for high speed railway bridges [J]. Noise and Vibration Control, 2019, 39(2): 151-155166

[32] GB 183606—2015Seismic ground motion parameters zonation map of China [S], 2015BeijingStandards Press of China(in Chinese)

[33] JTG/T2231-01-2020Specifications for seismic design of highway bridges[S], 2020BeijingChina Communications Press(in Chinese)

[34] TB 10082—2017Code for design of railway track [S], 2017BeijingNational Railway Administration of the People’s Republic of China(in Chinese)

[35] TB 10761 —2024Code for dynamic acceptance of highspeed railway [S], 2024BeijingNational Railway Administration of the People’s Republic of China(in Chinese)

[36] Xin TResearch on dynamic characteristics of ballastless turnouts on viaducts in high speed railway [D], 2012BeijingBeijing Jiaotong University(in Chinese)

[37] Tan B-leiResearch on the structure selection of CRTS I slab track on high-speed railway roadbed [D], 2015BeijingChina Academy of Railway Sciences(in Chinese)

[38] Wang P, Gao L, Zhao L, et al.. Study on setting method of position-limitation recess of crts iii slab track on subgrade [J]. Engineering Mechanics, 2014, 31(2): 110-116

[39] GB 50111—2006Code for seismic design of railway engineering [S], 2006BeijingChina Planning Press(in Chinese)

[40] TB 10621—2014Code for design of high-speed railway [S], 2014BeijingNational Railway Administration of the People’s Republic of China(in Chinese)

[41] Ding F-x, Luo S-j, Sadat S I, et al.. Analysis of the seismic response and vulnerability of square stirrup-confined concrete-filled steel tube columns [J]. Engineering Structures, 2025, 333: 120167

[42] Li B, Lyu F, Sun H, et al.. Comparative study on seismic performance of several types of square section piers at the same cost [J]. Steel Construction, 2024, 39(1): 53-67

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Central South University