ABSTRACT
Tsunami events have caused significant coastal damage in the past two decades, including the widespread failure of bridges. The 2011 East Japan tsunami revealed a common bridge failure mode: superstructures disconnecting from piers due to weak deck-to-pier connections unable to withstand uplift forces. This study proposes a novel deck-to-pier connection to enhance bridge resilience to tsunami. The connection consists of a mechanical bar that increases vertical displacement capacity, dissipates tsunami energy through material hysteresis, and yields before damage to critical bridge elements. By concentrating tsunami damage into a replaceable element, the post-event repairs are quick and economical to undertake, reducing bridge downtime. A series of experimental tests, conducted on a 1/3 scale pier cap and bridge deck specimen, investigate the connection and bridge system response. This study validates the design philosophy, and investigates bar materials suitable for coastal environments, including mild steel, stainless steel and glass fibre reinforced polymer.
