Application of Combinational Innovation Philosophy in Earthquake Resistant Research for Bridges

In recent years, traditional seismic design methods cannot meet the public's concerns about the earthquake resistant capacity of bridges. In these circumstances, much more innovations are required in the related research and education. In order to select an innovative research topic of value and fulfill the innovation more efficiently, this paper provides a combinational innovation philosophy in earthquake resistant research for bridges. The development of combinational innovation was introduced. Then a combinational innovation philosophy applied in earthquake resistant research for bridges, which consists of five process stages, was put forward. Three combinational innovation cases in earthquake resistant research "compound stochastic seismic vulnerability analysis method", "Cable - sliding friction aseismic bearing" and "Bridge piers reinforced with steel fiber reinforced concrete in local region" were given to demonstrate the importance and validity of the philosophy. And three innovation processes in combinational innovation, including the combination of different methods, materials and components, are embodied in. these cases respectively. The success of the cases demonstrate that the combinational innovation philosophy is efficient, significant and deserving of attention in future bridge seismic research and graduate education.