“5·12” Wenchuan earthquake offered new challenges to seismology and earthquake engineering. For line engineering, the primary problems are damage mechanisms caused by the coupling interaction of three dimensional characteristics of seismic wave propagation and gravity effect of slope in mountainous terrain. First, based on the analysis of the subgrade earthquake damage caused by Wenchuan earthquake, three new subjects on earthquake resistant techniques of line engineering are summarized, including highway and railway route selection techniques based on the propagational characteristic of seismic wave in mountainous area, the mechanisms and prevention techniques of mountain hazards caused by earthquake, and earthquake resistant countermeasures of lifeline engineering under the guidance of system engineering theory. Then, the research status and technical schemes on three new subjects are proposed. Last, from two phases, including the supplement of the blank of the current earthquake resistant design standards and the renew and development of the earthquake resistant technological framework, the promotion effect of Wenchuan earthquake on the development of earthquake resistant techniques of line engineering is presented.
