A Comparative Study of Seismic Performance Defined by Chinese Code and Eurocode8 on Seismic Design of Bridges

Abstract

Earthquake codes have been revised and updated in recent years. The issue and implementation of the guidelines for seismic design of bridges have attracted interests and attentions of many researchs at home and abroad. The most important aspect of the code rests on its main approach incorporating “performance-based seismic design”. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the differences caused by the use of guidelines for seismic design of highway bridges and Eurocode8 for bridges in performance criteria, seismic design categories, ground types, response spectrum, earthquake action and detailing of ductile piers. The differences in expressions and some important points for performance criteria, seismic design categories, ground types, response spectrum, earthquake action and detailing of ductile piers by codes are briefly illustrated in tables and figures. Based on the lessons learned from significant earthquakes in the last few years, the existing problems of the current code are pointed, and the trends of future study are discussed.