Recent advance in seismic analysis for bridge foundations in liquefaction-induced lateral spreading soils

Detailed investigations reveal that liquefaction-induced lateral spreading is a major cause of bridge pile foundations damaged in past earthquakes. In view of this point, many effective research attempts at home and abroad have been performed to extensively study pile behavior and the mechanisms involved under lateral spreading. The paper systematically summaries and comments these investigations on basic characteristics, mechanical mechanism, transfer load law, failure modes and their important influence factors between soil and pile in lateral spreading soils. Meanwhile, recent advance in the experimental investigations, analysis method and numerical simulations will be introduced. Finally, some difficult questions and more future work on seismic design for bridge pile foundation will be proposed for the effect due to lateral spreading. The promotion of this study has some theoretic and practical significance for developing seismic design of pile-supported bridge and provides some valuable references for engineers and researcher in China.