The manifold method is a recently developed numerical procedure. Based on the original first-order Manifold Method, the second-order one together with corresponding computational code is developed in the present paper. Application examples include calculation of stress distribution of a circular ring, analysis of contact stress of a cylinder compressed between rigid plates, large deformation problem of a cantilever and failure of a slope with discontinuities. The results show that the second-order manifold method is capable in analyzing structure deformation and contact problems with relatively high accuracy and has priority in simulating large deformation problem and failure process.

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This paper has dealt with the nonlinear behavior of pile-supported bridge during earthquake motions. The formulation takes the FEM-BEM technique; the FEM for the near structure zone while the BEM for the far field zone. The analyses addressed to the parameter studies of component influence on the behavior of the total superstructure-pile-soil system for the total rational design practice. The results are interpreted with regards to: (1) inelastic behavior of superstructure or/and substructure; (2) different superstructure properties and vertical excitation conditions; and (3) soil layering effect on pile response with emphasis on kinematic and inertial interactions.

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More than two hundred cases of effective stress analyses with variation of seismic coefficients and liquefaction resistance were conducted. Among the parameters considered in this study, the most sensitive parameter affecting the wall displacement under a prescribed level of shaking is the SPT N-value of subsoil below and behind the wall. With the results of parametric calculations, a simple procedure and charts are propsed to evaluate the order-of-magnitude displacement of a quay wall. It demonstrated the capability to evaluate a wide range of displacements, ranging from the displacement in the order of onetenths of meters to those with one order higher.

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In this paper, the effect of the user cost (UC) on the life cycle cost (LCC) of bridges in Hokkaido will be clarified by numeric conversion. The idea of reducing LCC will be incorporated to create an efficient bridge management system (BMS). UC is, however, only listed as an item when considering LCC, and there has not been sufficient research on the actual degree of its effect. UC is presumed to account for a high percentage in the LCC. UC is also regarded as an index to represent the evaluation of a detour network around the subject bridge. An attempt was made to quantify the UC, and the degree of its effect was examined using an example of the BMS strategy, as well as a calculation example of the LCC related to aseismic design of RC bridges.

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