Hybrid simulation of rockfalls impact on bridge structure based on OpenSees-MATLAB-VecTor2

Compared with the traditional experiment, the finite element (FE) simulation method is more cost-effective and more efficient. Hence, it is widely used to analyze the impact response of the structure. However, single structural analysis software is often only useful for some specific problems, and no one can be applied to solve all types of structural problems. A software that is widely used to analyze the impact response of structures, i.e., LS-DYNA, has been proved to be flawed in capturing the shear behavior of certain structures. Taking into account the shortcomings of the existing analysis software, this study has developed a hybrid simulation method based on OpenSees-MATLAB-VecTor2 to analyze the dynamic behavior of the bridge structure under rockfall impacts. The modeling details of the hybrid model are introduced in detail in this study. The single-machine model is built to compare the damage of the bridge column under the impact of rockfalls with the hybrid model. The results show that the impact point displacement of the impacted column simulated by the hybrid model is greater than that of the single-machine model because the hybrid model can capture the shear damage behavior of the bridge column.