Hydrodynamic Experiment of the Wave Force Acting on the Superstructures of Coastal Bridges

This paper presents a hydrodynamic experiment that examines the wave forces acting on the superstructure of coastal highway bridges to gain insight into the mechanical characteristics of the wave forces caused by the combination of storm surges and huge waves. The experiment is unique in that the specimen is a full bridge model, including its superstructure, substructure, and neighboring segments. After introducing the experimental setup and test program, this study analyzes the quasi-static and slamming components of the vertical wave force, the horizontal wave force of the superstructure in different clearances, wave heights, and wave periods. The test results are subsequently compared with two theoretical models suggested by Douglass and AASHTO guidelines to provide the experimental validation of those models. By comparing the test results and the existing models, a number of observations and discussions are produced to improve the accuracy of those theoretical models further. (C) 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.