EVALUATION OF SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF EXISTING BRIDGES REINFORCED BY EPS BLOCKS THROUGH SHAKING TABLE TESTS

Abstract

 Since the number of deteriorated bridges has increased recently, there are concerns about severe damage to them by the strong earthquakes. In the present study, a series of shaking table tests was conducted in order to evaluate the seismic performance of existing bridges reinforced by EPS blocks. The test results showed that the residual settlement of backfills and the horizontal displacement of abutments were restrained significantly by the reinforcement. However, the increase in the horizontal displacement of the pier was confirmed due possibly to the earth pressure, which was acting on the abutment, propagated through EPS blocks.