ABSTRACT
Earthquake resistance is one of the main concerns in the bridge design. Considering seismicity of the area and possible recurrence of large earthquake such as the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake, weak ground condition and high center of gravity of the bridge, a special seismic design measure was adopted. Longitudinal girder motion is accommodated by link-bearing connections (LBC), namely end-link at the end-piers (P1 and P4) and tower-link at the towers (P2 and P3). The LBCs are made of steel and consist of solid main body in the middle part and circular bearings at both ends. The LBCs are designed as tension link. The pin connections at both ends work as double head pendulum to accommodate in-plane rotations that allow girder longitudinal movement. The length of LBC is 10 m and 2 m, at the end-pier and tower, respectively. For the end-link, the upper head is connected to the girder while the lower head is connected to the pier. Meanwhile for the tower-link, the lower head is connected to the girder while the upper head is connected to the tower.
