Review on tsunami–bridge interaction

Abstract

Tsunamis have caused substantial damage to coastal bridges, which has seriously affected transportation and rescue work in coastal communities and led to serious threats to human life and property. Many studies have been conducted to investigate tsunami–bridge interactions in the last decade, especially since the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. To gain a better understanding of the bridge damage mechanism in tsunamis and corresponding protection measures, this paper presents a state-of-the-art review for bridge–tsunami interaction. In this paper, effective methods for tsunami wave generation are documented and the characteristics of these methods are comparatively summarized. The influencing factors of tsunami parameters and bridge structural parameters are analyzed and the multi-hazard coupling effects on bridges are elaborated. Meanwhile, tsunami resistance measures for coastal bridges are archived. This review work aims to offer a comprehensive overview and guidelines for the design and protection of coastal bridges that are vulnerable to tsunamis.