EVALUATION OF STRENGTH OF EXISTING BEARING SUPPORTS IN BRIDGES SUBJECTED TO TSUNAMI-INDUCED FORCE

Abstract

 This paper presents a method for evaluating the strength of bearings supports in bridges subjected to tsunami-induced forces, to allow an estimation of the effects of a tsunami on bridge functionality. The tsunami-induced forces striking the bearing supports were studied in previous flume tests and numerical analyses conducted by the authors. Through comparison with the actual performance of bridges affected by the tsunami in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, we verified the effectiveness of the method in estimating the tsunami effects on bridges.