Earthquake response of bridge restrainers considering failure of bearings

To reasonably design the girder falling restrainer, the nonlinear seismic response of the restrainer was investigated considering the failure process of the bearings. The effects of gap length and stiffness of the restrainer, the ground motion strength, wave shape of ground motion and the collision between the girder and the abutment on the seismic load applied on the restrainer were compared. The results show that the increase of the gap length may decrease the maximal seismic load applied on the restrainers. The percussive force endangers the safety of the bridge, while the abutment is subject to part of the seismic load because of the collision. The increase of the stiffness in the restrainer doesn't benefit the structural design of the restrainer and the bridge. The restrainer should at least afford the weight of the girder.