Connectivity-Based Seismic Design Strategy for Bridge Networks Through Fragility Correlation Control

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Seismic resilience of bridge networks is a critical concern for transportation infrastructure in earthquake-prone regions. Traditional seismic design approaches often focus on individual bridges without adequately accounting for network-level connectivity and interdependencies. This research context emphasizes a connectivity-based seismic design strategy that explicitly considers the correlation of seismic fragility among individual bridges. By integrating network theory with seismic risk assessment, the approach aims to enhance overall system performance, reduce cascading failures, and ensure post-earthquake functionality of critical transportation routes.

Bridge Network Connectivity and System-Level Performance
Bridge networks function as interconnected systems where the failure of a single critical bridge can significantly disrupt regional mobility. This topic focuses on how network connectivity—such as node importance, redundancy, and traffic flow dependency—affects seismic performance. Understanding connectivity metrics enables designers to identify critical bridges whose damage disproportionately impacts network efficiency, thereby prioritizing them in seismic design and retrofit strategies.

Fragility Modeling of Individual Bridges
Accurate seismic fragility models are fundamental to assessing damage probabilities under varying earthquake intensities. This section addresses the development and application of bridge-specific fragility curves, considering structural typology, material properties, aging effects, and soil–structure interaction. These models serve as the foundation for evaluating both independent and correlated damage states across the network.

Correlation of Seismic Fragility Among Bridges
Bridges within a network are often exposed to similar seismic hazards and share common design practices, leading to correlated damage patterns. This topic explores the sources and modeling of fragility correlation, including spatial proximity, ground motion similarity, and construction uniformity. Controlling or strategically managing these correlations is essential to preventing simultaneous failures that can severely compromise network resilience.

Connectivity-Based Design and Control Strategies
This section discusses design strategies that integrate connectivity analysis with fragility correlation control. Approaches such as targeted strengthening, diversification of structural systems, and adaptive design standards are highlighted as means to reduce correlated failures. By intentionally varying fragility characteristics among critical bridges, the network can achieve improved robustness and controlled damage distribution during seismic events.

Implications for Seismic Resilience and Infrastructure Planning
The final topic examines the broader implications of connectivity-based seismic design for infrastructure resilience and policy-making. Incorporating fragility correlation control into planning supports more reliable emergency response, faster recovery, and sustainable investment decisions. This research context underscores the shift from component-level safety to holistic, network-oriented seismic design frameworks for modern bridge systems.

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