Large-scale joint experiment to identify issues for strengthening resilience of bridge structures against earthquake disasters in Myanmar

Principal Investigator (Affiliation)	Associate Prof. FURUKAWA Aiko Department of Urban Management, Earthquake and Lifeline Engineering, Kyoto University
Co-investigator	Prof. SUGUIRA Kunitomo Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Urban Infrastructure Engineering, Kyoto University Prof. TAKAHASHI Yoshikazu Department of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Structural Dynamics, Kyoto University
Research Participant	Prof. KIYONO Junji Department of Urban Management, Earthquake and Lifeline Engineering, Kyoto University Associate Prof. KITANE Yasuo Department of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Structural Mechanics, Kyoto University Assistant Prof. GOI Yoshinao Department of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Structural Mechanics, Kyoto University Assistant Prof. UEMURA Keita Department of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Structural Dynamics, Kyoto University
International Coordinator	Prof. KIYONO Junji Department of Urban Management, Earthquake and Lifeline Engineering, Kyoto University
Research Institutions in Japan	Kyoto University
Cooperating Organization in Japan
Partner Country	Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Research Institutions in Myanmar
Cooperating organization in Myanmar	Yangon Technological University
Support Organization	JICA・EEHE Project / Mandalay Technological University / JFE Steel Co.
General Description of the Research Project	This study focuses on the earthquake resilience of bridge structures in Myanmar. We focus on bridge structures such as steel bridges, concrete piers and masonry structures often found in old abutments and piers, since they are very important infrastructures in Myanmar. We also focus on earthquake disasters since Myanmar was more likely to suffer from earthquakes rather than from other natural disasters. This project aims to develop seismic measures suitable for bridge structures in Myanmar referring to advanced seismic measures and technologies in Japan. To put developed seismic measures into practical use, seismic performance evaluation experiments will be conducted jointly by Japanese teams and Myanmar teams using large experimental facilities newly introduced at Yangon Technological University (YTU). We will extract problems of seismic measures by investigating the experimental results. The resilience-strengthening measures and maintenance measures will be investigated and contribute to solving the serious problems of aging and deterioration of infrastructures in Myanmar. In doing so, we will explore the possibility of industry-academia joint research and implement the outcome in society. This study contributes to Goal 9 of the SDGs "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation" and Goal 11 "Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable".
Links	Department of Urban Management, Kyoto University Laboratory