Seismic design criteria for high speed railway viaducts in Spanish Levante area

Abstract

In this article the seismic design criteria that was taken into account to design different high speed railway bridges in the Spanish Levante region is discussed. This is one of the areas with more seismic activity in Spain with a peak ground acceleration of 0.29g.No unique solution has been found for all the structures. Each bridge has been studied individually to find the most suitable alternative taking into account seismic forces, maintenance and conservation works. In this article conventional solutions with rigid joints between deck and substructure, bridges with antiseismic devices (dampers and pendulum bearings) and structures with limited ductile behaviour are shown.