This report is intended for use by practicing engineers and provides a summary of the state-of-the-art analysis, modeling, and design of concrete bridges subjected to strong earthquakes. It is intended to supplement and complement existing documents from the American Association of State Highway and Transportationn Officials (AASHTO), California Department of Transportation, (Caltrans) and various building codes and guidelines. Procedures and philosophies of codes and guidelines are summarized. Linear and nonlinear seismic analysis methods are also discussed and important modeling considerations for different bridge elements, including curved girders and skewed abutments, are highlighted. The report also includes a summary of general seismic-resistant design and construction considerations forconcrete bridges asa well as analysis and design considerations for bridges with seismic isolation.

In this report, seismic design approaches for reinforced concrete bridges are reviewed and uncertainties in seismic design and evaluation are discussed. The modeling of bridge components and systems is discussed, and analytical studies of the response series of simple bridges are made. The relative utility of several design approaches and stiffness assumptions for controlling seismic demands is assessed. Modeling of column and wall pier flexural and shear strengths is examined in detail, and available models for the inelastic shear strength of columns are compared with test data.