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

Abstract

 This paper presents an evaluation method of the strength of bearings supports for bridges subjected to the tsunami-induced force, to propose an estimation of the effect of the tsunami on the bridge function ability. The tsunami-induced force applied to the bearing supports was studied through the previous flume tests and numerical analyses conducted by authors. Based on a comparison with the performance of bridges affected by the tsunami caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, an effectiveness of the estimation method of the tsunami effect on bridges was verified.