| dc.description.abstract | Typhoon Morakot hit southern Taiwan in 2009 and generated more than 3000mm rainfalls only in a few days. As a consequence, floods, land slides, floating timbers, debris flows, and sands and rocks in the floods severely damaged 129 bridges that caused interruptions in traffic as well as difficulties in the disaster mitigation processes. Thus, maintenance strategies in response to the global climate changes for existing bridges and for future renovation and reconstruction of bridges have become crucial issues to the bridge management agencies.
This research aims at an in-depth investigation of impacts caused by global climate changes to the planning and design phases of bridges. Based on the factors that caused bridge damages due to the Morakot typhoon, this research investigated and summarized codes, specifications, and regulations that need to be changed in the design of pier foundations, scouring, and areas of water flow. Intensive interviews of experts in the design firms, construction contractors, maintenance contractors, and bridge management agencies were conducted to formulate and justify the required changes and suggestions.
This research also concluded six steps for the planning and design of bridges based on interviews of experts. Focuses and reminders were suggested for each of the steps, especially for the selection of bridge site, type of bridge, and construction methods. Results of this research should be able to provide useful guidelines to the
safety and sustainability of bridges.
| en_US |