M SAIID SABDI - Civil Engineering Department (۲۵۸), University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada ۸۹۵۵۷, USA
E WINOS IvIARAGAMS - Civil Engineering Department (۲۵۸), University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada ۸۹۵۵۷, USA
DAVID SANDERS - Civil Engineering Department (۲۵۸), University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada ۸۹۵۵۷, USA
GARY NORRIS - Civil Engineering Department (۲۵۸), University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada ۸۹۵۵۷, USA
BRUCE DOUGLAS - Civil Engineering Department (۲۵۸), University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada ۸۹۵۵۷, USA

This article presents an overview of three studies recently completed at the University of Nevada, Reno. Based on the results of a field vibration testing of a bridge the adequacy of existing methods to determine footing stiffness was evaluated. The soil shear modulus was found be the most critical parameter. A new expression for design of confinement steel in rectangular columns as a function of a target displacement ductility was proposed. An evaluation of design methods for seismic restrainers revealed that a simple method such as that in AASHTO is sufficient for common bridges.