STRUCTURAL DETAILS TO ACCOMMODATE SEISMIC MOVEMENTS OF HIGHWAY BRIDGES AND RETAINING WALLS

This report describes detailing for structural movements for bridges and retaining walls for new construction in the western and eastern U.S. Bridge retaining devices such as longitudinal joint restrainers, vertical motion restrainers, shear keys, and integral superstructure to substructure connections are described. Many of these details are traditional methods that have been used in new bridge construction to limit displacements for seismic events. Sacrificial elements, which include abutments and joints, are also described. An introduction to passive energy dissipating devices and isolation bearing systems is provided as well as recommendations for detailing. The current practice for designing earth retaining systems for seismic displacements is reviewed and some recommendations for detailing are provided.