Damage reduction countermeasures for short span bridges focusing on restorability of structural joints

: Lying on one of the world’s most active seismic faults, Japan faces the continuous threat of natural disasters. The earthquake that struck east Japan on 11 March 2011, and the devastating tsunami, raised many very serious questions about this country’s land and its disaster prevention and disaster reduction strategies for resilience. Disaster-related losses cause short-as well as long-term adverse effects on economy, society, health, culture and the environment. In Japan, the events of 11 March 2011 highlighted the need for the related government agencies, municipalities, research organisations and universities to work together in formulating and implementing a holistic and comprehensive policy approach for damage reduction countermeasures. In this paper, damage reduction countermeasures for short span bridges are presented focusing on the restorability of structural joints, with a view to earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and deterioration.