Performance of Bridges During the Sumatra Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina

摘要

The author was a member of investigation teams that were sent by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to study bridge damage following the December 26, 2004 Sumatra Tsunami and the August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina. This paper describes hazards associated with these events and related bridge damage. Steps that are being taken by bridge owners to prevent future damage is also presented. A multi-hazard approach is described to keep bridges in service following tsunami, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other extreme events. Examples of bridges specifically designed or capable of resisting multiple hazards are presented.