Design method of isolated highway bridges in Japan

摘要

This paper describes the menshin design (seismic isolation) of highway bridges in Japan. The menshin design has been extensively used in design of highway bridges after the 1995 Hyogo-ken nabu earthquake. It was included in the "Part V Seismic Design" of the "Design Specifications of Highway Bridges" in 1996. This paper describes the outline of the menshin design as well as the background of the introduction of the menshin design into the 1996 code.