ABSTRACT
A road bridge in Japan’s Mt. Fuji area was damaged by a large avalanche in 2021. In this study, damage evaluation was conducted on a RC beam and the foundation of the bridge. Shear cracks in the RC beam were observed with the naked eye. From reliability assessment using a Monte Carlo simulation, the equivalent impact load of the avalanche was estimated over 3-4 times the design load from weights of the superstructure and vehicles. Moreover, cracks and damages in the footing and piles were also detected from forced vibration testing using a portal vibrator and hammering impact echo inspection. Using both non-destructive testing methods, damage locations of the invisible piles under the ground were identified. The effectiveness of reliability assessment and non-destructive testing for concrete bridges damaged by accidental loads (e.g., avalanches) was indicated.
