Abstract
The port structures in KOBE were heavily damaged after the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. This paper presents the damage investigation of the existing piers in KOBE Port such as dolphins and detached piers. Observed damages of the steel piles in KOBE Port are mainly caused by the lateral movement of surrounding soils and retaining walls behind the structure. The static elasto-plastic analysis is performed to ensure the damage mode. It is understood that the static analysis cannot proof the permanent deformation after the quake and it is necessary to perform the nonlinear dynamic analysis to get the proper deformation. The under-water shaking table tests are carried out to be compared with the observed damage and the numerical analysis.
