Study on Dynamic Response and Anti-Collision Measures of Aqueduct Structure Under Vehicle Impact

In recent years, the number of incidents involving aqueduct damage due to vehicle impact has steadily increased, significantly affecting the safe operation of water transfer projects. To investigate the dynamic response characteristics of aqueduct structures under vehicle impact, a numerical model of vehicle impact on an aqueduct was developed using ANSYS/LS-DYNA software. The influence of impact eccentricity and concrete strength on the dynamic response of the aqueduct structure was then analyzed. The results indicate that the aqueduct bent frame exhibits a pronounced torsional response under eccentric impact, exacerbating the damage and deformation of the aqueduct structure. The peak impact force is positively correlated with concrete strength, whereas the maximum lateral displacement and residual displacement at the top of the impacted bent frame show a negative correlation with concrete strength. Finally, three anti-collision measures are proposed: a rubber concrete outer box with a rubber filling layer, an ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) outer box with a foam aluminum filling layer, and a rubber concrete outer box with a foam aluminum filling layer. The energy dissipation, internal force response, displacement response, and aqueduct damage characteristics of these measures are compared and analyzed, and compared to the aqueduct structure without anti-collision measures, the peak impact force is reduced by at least 17%. The lateral residual displacements at the bottom, the impact area, and the top of the aqueduct bent frame are reduced by at least 88.3%, 97.8%, and 88.5%. The damage and severity of damage to the aqueduct are significantly reduced, providing valuable insights for the anti-collision design of aqueducts.