This study focusses on the estimation of seismic fragility curves for all common bridge types found in modern greek motorways. At first a classification scheme is developed in order to classify the existing bridges into a sufficient number of classes. A total of 11 representative bridge classes resulted, based on the type of piers, deck, and pier-to-deck connection. Then an analytical methodology for deriving fragility curves is proposed and applied to the representative bridge models. This procedure is based on pushover analysis of the entire bridge and definition of damage states in terms of parameters of the bridge pushover curves. The procedure differentiates the way of defining damage according to the seismic energy dissipation mechanism in each bridge, i.e. bridges with yielding piers of the column type and bridges with bearings (with or without seismic links) and non-yielding piers of the wall type. The activation of the abutment-backfill system due to closure of the gap between the deck and the abutments is also taken into account. The derived fragility curves are subjected to a first calibration against empirical curves based on damage data from the US and Japan.

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The equivalent static eccentricities of seismic forces are usually defined by codes with simple expressions of the static eccentricity. This paper presents certain formulae for the exact calculation of these eccentricities on the basis of the dynamic response of a simplified model. From the parametric analysis of such formulae the determinative role of the torsional and lateral stiffness of the system becomes obvious for the correct evaluation of the equivalent static eccentricities. Finally, a proposal is made for the improvement of the static torsional provisions of the current codes.

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