Date: May 12, 2003
Place: National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, Tsukuba, Japan
Attendees: U.S. side -- W. Phillip Yen (Chairman) FHWA
David Sanders UNR
K.Thirumalai DOT
Japan side -- Hiroshi Sato (Chairman) PWRI
Kenichi Tokida PWRI
Jiro Fukui PWRI
Shigeki Unjoh PWRI
Masuo Kondoh PWRI
Junichi Hoshikuma PWRI
1. Objective and Scope of Work
The objectives of work include:
(1) To plan, promote and foster research on the behavior of transportation facilities when subjected to wind and seismic forces, and
(2) To disseminate research results and provide specifications and guidelines based on the Task Committee's findings.
The scope of work includes:
(1) To investigate existing and new bridges design, the behavior of whole bridge systems and/or single component of a bridge without limitation on their size and function, and
(2) To investigate offshore, coastal and airport facilities' behavior during earthquake.
2. Accomplishments
(1) The US-Japan cooperative research project in Seismic Performance Testing Guideline for Bridge Piers has completed first draft report for both sides. The first panel meeting of this project for the US side was conducted during 28 - 30 August, 2002 in San Francisco. Three Japanese Delegation (Prof. Kawashima, Dr. Hoshikuma and Mr. Nishida) participated in this panel meeting and provided very valuable comments.
(2) The 18th U.S. - Japan Bridge Engineering Workshop was held during 22 - 24 October 2002, at St. Louis, U.S. 25 U.S. and 23 Japanese participants attended the workshop. 37 technical papers were presented and discussed on the following main topics: a) seismic technology and b) bridge management technology. The proceedings of the Workshop was published and distributed by the U.S.-side in January 2003.
(3) Mr. Arata Hiromatsu (NILIM) visited the FHWA on 15 - 18 January 2003, to discuss the state of bridge management with Mr. James Cooper and Mr. Raymond McCormick, and he visited the laboratories of the Turner - Fairbank Highway Research Center.
(4) Dr. Ahmad Itani (University of Nevada, Reno) was invited to the PWRI during 2 - 23 March 2003, to discuss earthquake protective systems for long-span bridge structures.
3. Future Plans
(1) The 19th U.S. - Japan Bridge Engineering Workshop will be held in 27-29 October 2003 in Tsukuba, Japan. The main topics will be a) seismic technology and b) technologies to extend bridge life. Specific program, and itinerary will be proposed by the Japan-side Task Committee G with the concurrence of the U.S.-side Task Committee.
(2) Conduct the following cooperative researches:
a) Seismic Performance Testing of Bridge Structures. This program is to establish Guidelines for seismic performance testing of bridge structures. The objective of this program is to establish Uniform National Guidelines for Testing Bridge Components, which will increase comparability of test results and reduce the duplication of similar testing. On 26-27 June 2003, the US side will hold the second panel meeting in LA to finalize the US side guidelines. In 2003, FHWA and PWRI will meet to develop draft common Guidelines for the experimental methods.
(3) Following a devastating earthquake or hurricane (typhoon) in the U.S. or Japan, the committee will form a joint reconnaissance team to investigate the performance of transportation systems.
(4) Exchange technical information on the following topics:
a) Seismic design and retrofit of highway bridges including the development of seismic response modification devices, smart materials such as SMA, seismic retrofit for long-span bridges, and the development of damage evaluation methods using sensor systems.
b) Seismic and aerodynamic response of long-span bridges including suspension and cable stayed bridges, with emphasis on behavior of composite materials, cable inspection, vibration control, and corrosion protection.
(5) Encourage coordinated researches on the following topics:
a) Bridge design methodologies which enhance performance based design concepts, limit state design concepts and life cycle cost analyses.
b) Modeling of seismic isolator and the seismic isolation design methods.
c) System identification techniques, non-destructive evaluation of bridge structures, use and performance of structural materials including new materials, and performance of jointless bridges.
d) Bridge response due to near fault effects.
e) Bridge foundation performance-based design methods.
f) Post-earthquake damage evaluation methods for seismic retrofitted bridges.
g) Remote sensing technologies for bridge health analysis.