SEISMIC DESIGN OF PORT STRUCTURES

As a result of the Kobe disaster in 1995, new analysis methods including the effective-stress analysis for quay walls and pushover analysis for pile-supported wharves are introduced in the technical standards for port and harbour facilities in Japan to assess seismic performance of structures beyond the limit of force balance. In this article, design practice of port structures in Japan is described, with focuses on these new analysis methods. Some of the problems to be solved are also briefly described.