In　recent　years,　increasing　attention　has　been　paid　to　the　collapse　failures　of　long-span　continuous　rigid-frame　bridges　under　strong　earthquake　excitations.　This　paper　presents　the　results　of　a　study　in　which　a　1:15　scaled　two-span　prestressed　concrete　continuous　rigid-frame　bridge　model　with　box-type　piers　was　tested　using　the　shake-table　array　test　system　to　investigate　the　seismic　response　characteristics.　Two　nonlinear　finite-element　(FE)　models　were　constructed.　The　first　was　a　single-girder　model　that　was　used　to　simulate　the　seismic　response　under　weak　seismic　waves.　The　second　was　an　explicit　dynamic　FE　model　that　was　used　to　simulate　the　collapse　and　failure　mechanisms　of　the　scaled　bridge　under　strong　earthquakes.　Testing　revealed　that　the　response　of　the　central　pier　of　the　prestressed　concrete　continuous　rigid-frame　bridge　was　the　largest　under　seismic　excitation,　and　the　damage　first　appeared　at　the　lower　end　of　the　central　pier　in　all　cases.　The　numerical　simulations　revealed　that　traveling　wave　effects　have　a　beneficial　effect　on　the　displacement　at　the　top　of　all　piers.　The　explicit　dynamic　model　was　able　to　predict　the　failure　modes　and　collapse　process　of　the　scaled　bridge　model.　The　plastic　hinges　emerging　at　the　ends　of　the　piers　were　considered　the　main　failure　modes,　and　the　collapse　process　changed　with　different　seismic　wave　excitations.　Such　tests　and　analyses　can　provide　useful　reference　for　the　seismic-strengthening　and　anticollapse　design　of　prestressed　concrete　continuous　rigid-frame　bridges　with　a　long　span.　©　2016　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.