The completion of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge connecting the Japanese islands of Honshu and Shikoku is a milestone in the history of bridge engineering and wind-resistant design. With a main span of 1900 meters, it is the longest suspension bridge in the world. As the April 1998 inauguration of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge approached, the International Seminar on Long-Span Bridge Aerodynamics Perspective 8 was held in Kobe, Japan, where engineers and researchers from Japan and Europe met to discuss the next generation of long-span bridges and their aerodynamics. In the seminar's papers compiled in this volume, a major topic is long-span bridge projects, including perspectives from Europe and the East Asia, a discussion of high-strength, high-performance steels, and a look at the challenges of the future. A second major topic is structural and aerodynamic design, including technical details of the wind-resistant design of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and other long-span bridges in the world.
