This study proposes a class of hybrid isolation systems constructed by combining Buckling Restrained Braces (BRBs) with Rubber Bearings (RBs) or Lead Rubber Bearings (LRBs) for mitigating the seismic responses in bearing-supported bridges under strong earthquakes. Firstly, two different hybrid isolation systems (RB–BRB and LRB–BRB) were preliminarily designed based on the energy-conservation concept in the case of a bridge with Y-shaped piers, which can meet all the energy demands at different seismic hazard levels. Further, seismic evaluations were conducted on the bridges with the LRB, RB–BRB, and LRB–BRB isolation systems based on the nonlinear time history analyses. The proposed hybrid isolation systems show a two-phase energy dissipation behavior, which facilitates the systems to reduce the seismic responses remarkably under different earthquake scenarios and achieve most of the performance objectives corresponding to the code-specified hazard levels. Finally, based on fragility analyses, the effects of the gap spacing and the stiffness ratio of the BRB to the pier were investigated with respect to the failure probability in the case of a bridge with LRB–BRB. It has been validated that the seismic performances of this study’s bridge can be improved considerably with the optimized gap spacing and BRB stiffness.

Concrete-filled steel tubular Y-shaped (CFST-Y) piers are good candidates for meeting the structural and aesthetic requirements of bridges. By using the theoretical and nonlinear static (pushover) analyses, the seismic performances of three types of CFST-Y piers were evaluated at different seismic hazard levels. The theoretical formulas were first proposed to estimate the lateral stiffnesses for piers with different pier–deck connections. Then, the structural ductility with the development of plastic hinges in piers was investigated based on the pushover analyses. The results demonstrate that the structural dimensions, deck mass, shear limit, and stiffness of bearings can remarkably affect the formation of hinges and thereby lead to different energy dissipation patterns to achieve the expected performance in piers. The findings suggest an economic design strategy of piers, using CFST-Y members as energy dissipation fuses with multiple hinges, to achieve low-level seismic performance cost-effectively.