Seismic Failure of Typical Curved RC Bridges in Wenchuan Earthquake

Reinforced concrete (RC) curved bridges suffered severe damage, or even collapsed, in the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake. A field survey of the seismic performance of RC curved bridges was examined. Probable causes of the damage patterns to RC curved bridges - including Baihua Bridge and the ramp bridge of the Huilan interchange - are presented and analyzed in this paper. The main failure was pure shear failure or shear-flexural failure of the pier columns. Damage to bearings and expansion joints was another common failure pattern. Lessons learned from the damage to RC curved bridges in this earthquake and the recommendations on the seismic design of RC curved bridges are presented involving: ductility of bridge columns; design of curved bridges; and, design of bearings and devices preventing girders from falling down. Suggestions for the future seismic design and retrofitting of RC curved bridges in moderate-to-severe earthquake areas are also presented.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784413234.055
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/9780784413234
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Han, Qiang
  • Qin, Lushan
  • Wang, Piguang
• Conference:
  • Sixth China-Japan-US Trilateral Symposium on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering
  • Location: Chengdu , China
  • Date: 2013-5-28 to 2013-6-1
• Publication Date: 2013-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: pp 425-432
• Monograph Title: International Efforts in Lifeline Earthquake Engineering

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete bridges; Curved bridges; Earthquake resistant design; Failure analysis; Reinforced concrete; Shear stress
• Identifier Terms: Great Wenchuan Earthquake (China)
• Geographic Terms: China
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01504032
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780784413234
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: Jan 23 2014 9:43AM