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Recent damaging earthquakes in the United States and abroad have demonstrated D>Qc/+
the earthquake vulnerability of highway bridges that were designed to existing seismic X%._:st
codes. To address this inadequate performance, extensive research programs have been ?"[h P=3J
carried out. These programs have advanced the state of the art to the point where a new W+0VrH
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specification for seismic design is necessary to take advantage of new insight into '
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ground motion and geotechnical effects, improved performance criteria, and more e-#!3j!'
advanced analytical and design methodologies. Dj9).lgc
The objective of this research was to enhance safety and economy through the 7}<05 7Xn'
development of new load and resistance factor design (LRFD) specifications and commentary Zu/ }TS9bi
for the seismic design of bridges. The research considered design philosophy \kGi5G]
and performance criteria, seismic loads and site effects, analysis and modeling, and g np\z/'>
design requirements. The specifications are nationally applicable with provisions for X4R+Frt8
all seismic zones and are intended to be integrated into the AASHTO LRFD Bridge 4X &\/X
Design Specifications. } 6Uw4D61
The research was performed by a joint venture of the Applied Technology Council :3x |U,wC
and the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research. The report p7 ;/| ]o3
fully documents the methodology used to develop the recommended specifications. Z { A)
The recommended specifications provided the technical basis for a stand-alone set of Ih.6"ISK}
provisions prepared by the ATC/MCEER Joint Venture titled “Recommended LRFD * OQr:e<}
Guidelines for the Seismic Design of Highway Bridges.” AASHTO will consider these CS*wvn;.
provisions for adoption as a Guide Specification in 2002.
