Abstract:Abstract : Research purposes : The acceleration peak value ( PGA ) and velocity pulse of near fault ground motion have great difference with thefar field earthquake,which is more destructive to the bridge structure. Therefore,in order to obtain the railway continuous rigid frame bridge response characteristics and failure modes in the near fault earthquake and the guideline of design the near fault bridge in the railway from Sichuan to Tibet,this paper takes the typical continuous rigid frame bridge in the railway from Sichuan to Tibet for example,establishes the finite element analysis model of the bridge by using FRAME ( 3D) software, then studies the near fault earthquake response of railway continuous rigid frame bridge. Research conclusions:( 1) The damage of near fault ground motion witli energy pulse,rich long - period components to the bridge structure is more serious than the far field eartliquake. (2 ) The relationship between damage degree of bridge pier and PGV/PGA is obvious,the larger t!ie ratio of PGV/PGA is,the more serious the damage is,thus,the PGV/PGA can be used as an important indicator to determine whether the ground motion has a serious damage to the structure; In the near fault ground motion,the ratio of PGV/PGA >0. 2 s is high, and the bridge pier is badly damaged. ( 3 ) The damage of the continuous rigid frame bridge under earthquake is mainly concentrated in the pier bottom,the pier top or the beam position. ( 4) The seismic design of tlie near fault bridge structure should not only consider the factor of high power input of fault earthquake pulse type,but also consider the cumulative damage of high strength and low cycle fatigue. (5 ) This study can provide guidelines to seismic design for tlie railway continuous rigid frame bridge located on near - fault zone.