Post-earthquake observations of bridge damage

Abstract

In various parts of the world, seismic events happen regularly. While engineers have gained an understanding on the behaviour of bridges under seismic loading, this knowledge is still under development as more methods and devices for building seismically-resistant bridges become available. This paper reports on the observed damages from recent events, with a focus on recent earthquakes in Ecuador, Chile, and Turkey. To report the damage that has occurred, this paper presents descriptions of a number of cases of observed damage to bridges after earthquakes. The various types and locations of damage are then analyzed to develop broad categories of problems that can be identified from these cases. This insight then leads to a summary of lessons learned from the presented case studies. The information provided in this work can be used for the assessment of existing bridges and the improvement of the design of new bridges.