Damage investigation of girder bridges under the Wenchuan earthquake
and corresponding seismic design recommendations

Li Jianzhong,Peng Tianbo and Xu Yan
State Key Lab for Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China

Abstract: An investigation of girder bridges on National Highway 213 and the Doujiangyan-Wenchuan expressway
after the Wenchuan earthquake showed that typical types of damage included: span collapses due to unseating at expansion
joints; shear key failure; and damage of the expansion joint due to the slide-induced large relative displacement between the
bottom of the girder and the top of the laminated-rubber bearing. This slide, however, can actually act as a form of isolation
for the substructure, and as a result, the piers and foundation of most of the bridges on state route 213 suffered minor damage.
The exception was the Baihua Bridge, which suffered severe damage. Corresponding seismic design recommendations are
presented based on this investigation.

Keywords: Wenchuan earthquake; bridge damage investigation; seismic design recommendation