Estimation on collapse mechanism of Aso-bridge during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes using ASI-Gauss code

Abstract

Many bridges and infrastrucutures were damaged by the seismic waves in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes, and in this research, we focused on the Aso-bridge which collapsed immediately after the main shock. A huge landslide happened after the earthquakes and Aso-bridge, which was constructed in the same location of the landslide, totally collapsed. There are a couple of reports that four main factors might have contributed to this collapse; (1) seismic wave, (2) ground deformation, (3) landslide material load increase on the bridge, (4) basement ground collapse. In this paper, a numerical analysis of the Aso-Bridge collapse was conducted using the ASI-Gauss code, which is one of the finite element method utilizing beam elements. Then, we have discussed the main factor of the Aso-bridge collapse.