seismic retrofitting manual for highway structures - MCEER ...

SEISMIC RETROFITTING MANUAL
FOR HIGHWAY STRUCTURES:
PART 1-BRIDGES
By Ian G. Buckle (Lead Author), Ian Friedland, John Mander,
Geoffrey Martin, Richard Nutt and Maurice Power
PART 2-RETAINING STRUCTURES, SLOPES,
TUNNELS, CULVERTS AND ROADWAYS
By Maurice Power (Lead Author), Kenneth Fishman, Faiz Makdisi,
Samuel Musser, Rowland Richards and T. Leslie Youd
April 14, 2008
MCEER-08-SP02
This research was supported by the Federal Highway Administration under
contract number DTFH61-92-C-00106.
This publication was produced by MCEER for the Federal Highway Administration under contract number DTFH61-92-C-00106.

MCEER is a national center of excellence in advanced technology applications
that is dedicated to the reduction of earthquake losses nationwide. Headquartered
at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, the Center was originally
established by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 1986, as the National Center
for Earthquake Engineering Research (NCEER).
Comprising a consortium of researchers from numerous disciplines and institutions
throughout the United States, the Center’s mission is to reduce earthquake losses
through research and the application of advanced technologies that improve engineering,
pre-earthquake planning and post-earthquake recovery strategies. Toward this
end, the Center coordinates a nationwide program of multidisciplinary team research,
education and outreach activities.
Funded principally by NSF, the State of New York and the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), the Center derives additional support from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), other state governments, academic institutions, foreign
governments and private industry.

Seismic Retrofitting Manual for
Highway Structures
Part 1 - Bridges
Ian G. Buckle (Lead Author), Ian Friedland, John Mander, Geoffrey Martin,
Richard Nutt and Maurice Power
Part 2 - Retaining Structures, Slopes, Tunnels, Culverts and
Roadways
Maurice Power (Lead Author), Kenneth Fishman, Faiz Makdisi, Samuel Musser,
Rowland Richards and T. Leslie Youd
April 14, 2008
MCEER-08-SP02
This CD includes U.S. Geological Survey open file report 01-436, “Seismic Hazard
Curves and Uniform Hazard Response Spectra for the United States,” by A.D. Frankel
and E.V. Leyendecker, published by USGS in 1996. Alternatively, spectral ordinates
and peak ground accelerations for upper level ground motions are available from the
USGS website at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/hazmaps/.

MCEER’s Highway Project
Improving the seismic performance
and reliability of the nations'
highway system is the overall aim
of MCEER's Highway Project. The
project was initiated in the fall of
1992 with two Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) contracts
totaling more than $14 million.
In 1998, MCEER received an
additional 6-year, $10.8 million
FHWA contract to expand on work
begun in 1992. Research has been
augmented by additional contracts
from FHWA and other agencies.
Accelerated bridge construction and innovative
seismic protection technologies such as
segmental construction (shown here) are
current topics of study.
The project uniquely examines the impact of earthquakes on the
highway system as an integrated network, rather than a collection
of individual roads, bridges, etc. Projects seek to ensure the
usability of highways
following earthquakes, by
improving performance of all
interconnected components.
Similar bridge span collapses following the Nigata
earthquake (inset) and Hurricane Katrina suggest
that seismic design and retrofit strategies may offer
protection against multiple hazards.
Goals are to improve
understanding of the seismic
hazards to highways and to
improve and develop analysis
methods, screening procedures
and additional tools, retrofit
technologies, design criteria,
and other approaches to
reduce seismic vulnerability of
existing and future highway
infrastructure.
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Studies examine:
• seismic hazards and ground motion
• soils and foundations
• structural systems and components
• performance criteria
• analysis and design issues
• intelligent and protective systems
Investigators developed and tested a
new roller seismic isolation bearing for
use in highway bridges.
In all, MCEER highway research has
involved more than 40 investigators from
over 20 institutions throughout the United States. For more information,
visit: http://mceer.buffalo.edu/research/HighwayPrj/default.asp.
REDARS, software for the Seismic Risk Analysis of Highway
Systems, estimates earthquake-induced roadway system damage
and its effect on post-earthquake traffic flows.
Lessons learned from observation
and analysis of bridge damage
following major earthquakes were
incorporated in the 2006 edition
of the Seismic Retrofitting Manual
for Highway Structures.
Workshops and conferences, such as the Second U.S.-Taiwan Bridge Engineering Workshop
where this group photo was taken, provide a mechanism for technology transfer and collaborative
research opportunities.
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Overview of the Seismic Retrofitting Manual for
Highway Structures
The Seismic Retrofitting Manual for Highway Structures is a major revision
of the Federal Highway Administration publication ‘Seismic Retrofitting
Manual for Highway Bridges,’ which was published in 1995 as report
FHWA/RD-94-052. This edition expands the previous publication by
including procedures for evaluating and retrofitting retaining structures,
slopes, tunnels, culverts, and pavements, in addition to bridges. It is
published in two parts: Part 1: Bridges, and Part 2: Retaining Structures,
Slopes, Tunnels, Culverts, and Pavements.
Whereas Part 1 maintains the basic format of the retrofitting process
described in the 1995 report, major changes have been made to include
current advances in earthquake engineering, field experience with
retrofitting highway bridges, and the performance of bridges in recent
earthquakes in California and elsewhere. It is the result of several years of
research with contributions from a multidisciplinary team of researchers
and practitioners.
In particular, a performance-based retrofit philosophy is introduced
similar to that used for the performance-based design of new buildings
and bridges. Performance criteria are given for two earthquake ground
motions with different return periods, 100 and 1000 years. A higher
level of performance is required for the event with the shorter return
period (the lower level earthquake ground motion) than for the longer
return period (the upper level earthquake ground motion). Criteria are
recommended according to bridge importance and anticipated service
life, with more rigorous performance being required for important,
relatively new bridges, and a lesser level for standard bridges nearing the
end of their useful life.
Minimum recommendations are made for screening, evaluation and
retrofitting according to an assigned Seismic Retrofit Category. Bridges in
Category A need not be retrofitted whereas those in Category B may be
assessed without a detailed evaluation, provided certain requirements are
satisfied. Bridges in Categories C and D require more rigorous evaluation
and retrofitting, as required. Various retrofit strategies are described and
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elated retrofit measures are explained
in detail, including restrainers, seat
extensions, column jackets, footing
overlays, and soil remediation.
Part I comprises 11 chapters and
six appendices. Chapter 1 gives a
complete overview of the retrofitting
process, including the philosophy
of performance-based retrofitting,
characterization of seismic and
geotechnical hazards, assignment of
Seismic Retrofit Categories, and summaries of recommended screening
methods, evaluation tools, and retrofit strategies. Topics in this chapter
are described in greater detail in the following 10 chapters.
Chapters 2 and 3 describe the characterization of seismic and
geotechnical hazards. Chapter 4 presents two screening and prioritization
methods, with examples of each method. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 describe
six evaluation methods, of increasing rigor, for the detailed assessment
of demand and capacity, using either a component-by-component
approach, or a system approach for a complete bridge. Chapters 8, 9, 10
and 11 describe retrofitting measures for bearings, seats, columns, piers,
cap beams, column-to-cap joints, abutments, and foundations. Remedial
techniques for hazardous sites are also addressed.
Appendices A through D provide supplementary material on conducting
site-specific geotechnical investigations, the evaluation of geotechnical
hazards, fragility curve theory, and the calculation of capacity/demand
ratios for bridge components. Appendices E and F present two examples
illustrating the application of the component capacity/demand method
to multi-span concrete and steel highway bridges, respectively.
Part 2 focuses on seismic vulnerability screening, evaluation and
retrofitting of the following highway system components: retaining
structures, slopes, tunnels, culverts, and pavements. It is the first known
effort to capture, in a formal and consistent manner, the important aspects
of seismic performance and retrofitting intended to improve performance
of highway system structural components other than bridges.
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Bridge and Highway-Related MCEER Reports
Special Reports
Seismic Retrofitting Guidelines for Complex Steel Truss Highway
Bridges, by T. Ho, R. Donikian, T. Ingham, C. Seim and A. Pan
(MCEER-06-SP05), presents the state of the practice, through 2005,
for retrofitting steel truss bridges in the US. A performance-based
seismic retrofit philosophy is used. The guidelines cover all major
aspects pertinent to the seismic retrofitting of steel truss bridges,
with a focus on superstructure retrofit. Case studies are provided.
These guidelines are a supplement to the 2006 FHWA Seismic
Retrofitting Manual for Highway Structures for “unusual or “long span” steel trusses.
Seismic Isolation of Highway Bridges, by I.G. Buckle, M.
Constantinou, M. Dicleli and H. Ghasemi (MCEER-06-SP07),
presents the principles of isolation for bridges, develops step by
step methods of analysis, explains material and design issues for
elastomeric and sliding isolators, and gives detailed examples of
their application to standard highway bridges. The manual is a
supplement to the Guide Specifications for Seismic Isolation Design
published by AASHTO in 1999.
REDARS 2: Methodology and Software for Seismic Risk Analysis of Highway
Systems, by S.D. Werner, C.E. Taylor, S. Cho, J-P. Lavoie, C. Huyck, C.
Eitzel, H. Chung and R.T. Eguchi (MCEER-06-SP08), provides the
basic framework and a demonstration application of the Seismic Risk
Analysis (SRA) methodology and its modules. The main modules of the
REDARS 2 SRA methodology include hazards, components, system and
economic. The northern Los Angeles, California highway system is used
as a demonstration application of the SRA methodology.
Reconnaissance Reports
Damage to the Highway System from the Pisco, Perú Earthquake of August
15, 2007, by J.S. O’Connor, L. Mesa and M. Nykamp, MCEER-07-0021 is
the product of a field investigation undertaken in September 2007 after
the M 8.0 August 15, 2007 Pisco, Perú earthquake. It provides a brief
description of the event and the consequential damage to the highway
system. It relies heavily on government reports issued immediately after
the event, including investigations from leaders in Perú’s academia, and the authors’
field observations. The report’s purpose is to document the performance of structures
designed according to AASHTO specifications and to help assess the adequacy of the
standards used at the time of construction.
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Order publications at http://mceer.buffalo.edu/publications/default.asp.

Synthesis Reports
Fragility Considerations in Highway Bridge
Design, by M. Shinozuka, S. Banerjee and
S.H. Kim, MCEER-07-0023
Bridge Foundations: Modeling Large Pile
Groups and Caissons for Seismic Design,
by I. Po Lam, H. Law and G.R. Martin
(Coordinating Author), MCEER-07-0018
Liquefaction Remediation in Silty Soils
Using Dynamic Compaction and Stone
Columns, by S. Thevanayagam, G.R.
Martin, R. Nashed, T. Shenthan,
T. Kanagalingam and N. Ecemis,
MCEER-06-0009
Technical Reports
Modal Analysis of Generally Damped Linear
Structures Subjected to Seismic Excitations,
by J. Song, Y-L. Chu, Z. Liang and G.C.
Lee, MCEER-08-0005
Analytical and Experimental Investigation of
a Controlled Rocking Approach for Seismic
Protection of Bridge Steel Truss Piers, by M.
Pollino and M. Bruneau, MCEER-08-0003
Seismic Performance of Steel Girder Bridge
Superstructures with Ductile End Cross
Frames with Seismic Isolators, by L.P.
Carden, A.M. Itani and I.G. Buckle,
MCEER-08-0002
Seismic Performance of Steel Girder Bridge
Superstructures with Conventional Cross
Frames, by L.P. Carden, A.M. Itani and
I.G. Buckle, MCEER-08-0001
Performance Estimates for Seismically
Isolated Bridges, by G.P. Warn and A.S.
Whittaker, MCEER-07-0024
Review of
Current NDE
Technologies for
Post-Earthquake
Assessment
of Retrofitted
Bridge Columns,
by J.W. Song, Z. Liang and G.C. Lee,
MCEER-06-0008
REDARS Validation Report, by S. Cho,
C.K. Huyck, S. Ghosh and R.T. Eguchi,
MCEER-06-0007
Centrifuge Modeling of Permeability and
Pinning Reinforcement Effects on Pile
Response to Lateral Spreading, by L.L
Gonzalez-Lagos, T. Abdoun and R.
Dobry, MCEER-07-0020
Principles and Performance of Roller Seismic
Isolation Bearings for Highway Bridges, by
G.C. Lee, Y.C. Ou, Z. Liang, T.C. Niu and
J. Song, MCEER-07-0019
Modeling of Seismic Wave Scattering on Pile
Groups and Caissons, by I. Po Lam, H. Law
and C.T. Yang, MCEER-07-0017
Statistical and Mechanistic Fragility
Analysis of Concrete Bridges, by M.
Shinozuka, S. Banerjee and S-H. Kim,
MCEER-07-0015
Performance of Seismic Isolation Hardware
Under Service and Seismic Loading, by
M.C. Constantinou, A.S. Whittaker, Y.
Kalpakidis, D.M. Fenz and G.P. Warn,
MCEER-07-0012
Seismic Vulnerability of Timber Bridges and
Timber Substructures, by A.A. Sharma,
J.B. Mander, I.M. Friedland and D.R.
Allicock, MCEER-07-0008
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Experimental Investigation of Blast
Performance of Seismically Resistant
Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Bridge Piers, by
S. Fujikura, M. Bruneau and D. Lopez-
Garcia, MCEER-07-0005
Modeling Pile Behavior in Large Pile Groups
Under Lateral Loading, by A.M. Dodds
and G.R. Martin, MCEER-07-0004
Seismic Behavior of Bidirectional-Resistant
Ductile End Diaphragms with Unbonded
Braces in Straight or Skewed Steel
Bridges, by O. Celik and M. Bruneau,
MCEER-07-0003
User Manual and Technical Documentation
for the REDARS TM Import Wizard, by S.
Cho, S. Ghosh, C.K. Huyck and S.D.
Werner, MCEER-06-0015
Cyclic Response and Low Cycle Fatigue
Characteristics of Plate Steels, by P.
Dusicka, A.M. Itani and I.G. Buckle,
MCEER-06-0013
A Study of the Coupled Horizontal-Vertical
Behavior of Elastomeric and Lead-Rubber
Seismic Isolation Bearings, by G.P. Warn
and A.S. Whittaker, MCEER-06-0011
Further Development of Tubular
Eccentrically Braced Frame Links for the
Seismic Retrofit of Braced Steel Truss Bridge
Piers, by J.W. Berman and M. Bruneau,
MCEER-06-0006
Built-Up Shear Links as Energy Dissipators
for Seismic Protection of Bridges, by P.
Dusicka, A.M. Itani and I.G. Buckle,
MCEER-06-0003
Seismic Retrofit of Bridge Steel Truss Piers
Using a Controlled Rocking Approach by M.
Pollino and M. Bruneau, MCEER-04-0011
Vulnerability Evaluation of Axially Loaded
Steel Built-up Laced Members, K. Lee and
M. Bruneau Seismic, MCEER-04-0007
Review of Energy Dissipation of
Compression Members in Concentrically
Braced Frames by K. Lee and M.Bruneau
$35.00, MCEER-02-0005
Assessment of Performance of Bolu Viaduct
in the 1999 Duzce Earthquake in Turkey by
P.C.Roussis, M.C.Constantinou, M.Erdik,
E.Durukal, M.Dicleli, MCEER-02-0001
Workshop and Conference Proceedings
Proceedings of the Second US-Taiwan Bridge
Engineering Workshop, edited by W.P.
Yen, J. Shen, J-Y. Chen and M. Wang,
MCEER-06-0014
Fourth PRC-US Workshop on Seismic
Analysis and Design of Special Bridges:
Advancing Bridge Technologies in Research,
Design, Construction and Preservation,
edited by L.C. Fan, G.C. Lee and L. Ziang,
MCEER-06-0012
Also in the series:
• Third Workshop: MCEER-05-0003
• Second Workshop: MCEER-04-0006
• First Workshop: MCEER-03-0004
Proceedings of the 4th International
Workshop on Seismic Design and Retrofit
of Transportation Facilities, edited by K.C.
Chang, K. Kawashima and I.G. Buckle,
MCEER-06-SP03
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Order publications at http://mceer.buffalo.edu/publications/default.asp.

This brochure was prepared by MCEER through a contract from the Federal
Highway Administration. Neither MCEER, associates of MCEER, its sponsors,
nor any person acting on their behalf makes any warranty, express or implied,
with respect to the use of any information, apparatus, method, or process
disclosed in this report or that such use may not infringe upon privately owned
rights; or assumes any liabilities of whatsoever kind with respect to the use of,
or the damage resulting from the use of, any information, apparatus, method, or
process disclosed in this report.
The material herein is based upon work supported in whole or in part by
the Federal Highway Administration, New York State and other sponsors.
Opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
publication do not necessarily reflect the views of these sponsors or the
Research Foundation of the State of New York.

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Red Jacket Quadrangle Buffalo, New York 14261
Phone: (716) 645-3391 Fax: (716) 645-3399
E-mail: mceer@buffalo.edu WWW Site http://mceer.buffalo.edu
University at Buffalo The State University of New York