Abstract
A number of conventional type bridges comprising of a pair of RC abutments supporting a bridge girder with unreinforced backfill collapsed during many previous earthquakes. To develop a new bridge system that has a substantially high seismic stability at a high cost-effectiveness, the seismic stability of three conventional bridge types, which are the gravity type abutment bridge, the integral bridge and the geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining wall (GRS-RW) with a full-height facing (a FHR facing) as well as a new type was evaluated by a series of shaking table tests. Collapse modes of the four types were examined. It is shown that the new type bridge, which comprises of an integral bridge with a GRS-RW with a FHR facing, has the virtues of the two types while alleviating their drawbacks.
