REPAIR OF NEW LONG-SPAN BRIDGES DAMAGED BY THE 1995 KOBE EARTHQUAKE

The 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu (Kobe), Japan earthquake provided the world's first experience with earthquake damage to new long-span bridges designed to 1990s seismic standards. This paper reviews damage and describes techniques used to repair 3 major steel bridges along the Wangan (Bayshore) route in Kobe--the 885 m Higashi-Kobe Bridge, the 217 m Rokko Island Bridge, and the 252 m Nishinomiya Port Bridge. These bridges, in service for less than 3 years, were essential components in the highway transportation system in the Kobe region. Extremely large ground motions, and failure of bearings, connections, and seismic restrainers were principal contributors to the damage sustained by these bridges. Repairs utilized heavy-lift floating cranes (up to 4,100 ton capacity) and various jacks to stabilize the structures and to realign spans. In 1 case, reconstruction of a collapsed span was required, with lifting weight a prime concern. Major constraints on the repair included confined working space and requirements for maintaining maritime navigational clearances. Closure times for the repair of the bridges ranged from 3-9 months.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08873828
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Wilson, J C
• Publication Date: 2003-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 196-205
• Serial:
  • Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0887-3828
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/toc/jpcfev/27/1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge engineering; Earthquake resistant structures; Earthquakes; Long span bridges; Rehabilitation (Maintenance); Repairing; Seismicity; Structural deterioration and defects
• Geographic Terms: Japan
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00964609
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 27 2003 12:00AM