PROTECTING STEEL BRIDGES FROM TSUNAMI BY ATTACHING STEEL PIPES

Abstract

Tsunami countermeasures of bridges have not been established yet, especially for the lift caused by water flow. This study proposed a new method to reduce lift by installing steel pipes on the upstream side of the girder with fairings. The effect of this measure was verified through the hydraulic tests using a scale model. The results showed that the fairing reduced the drag, and the attached pipe reduced the lift efficiently. However, the bearing capacity for the generally designed bridge was still insufficient for the estimated lift. The insufficient strength for the lift was found to be covered by connecting the pipe to the girder with cables.