Design of Bridges

November 2011

SD 470
DESIGN OF BRIDGES
FOUNDATIONS FOR BRIDGES
Lecture No. 8

Design of Bridges

Introduction
Functions of Foundations
The foundation system for a structure is the critical link in the
transmission of loads down to the ground. Bearing directly on the
soil, the foundation system must;
Distribute the loads so that the settlement of a structure is either
negligible or uniform under all parts of the structure.
Anchor the superstructure to prevent uplifting due to wind and
earthquake forces.

Design of Bridges

Aspects to be considered during the foundation design

The task is to be able to select and provide the right type of foundation which involves
a choice from different types of foundations. It is therefore imperative to know the
behaviour of foundations, construction of foundations and cost of foundations. It is
also important to have a correct choice of the analysis method. The right choice
results into considerable financial saving and of course a safe design. The majority of
bridges on a highway are small and medium sizes.

Design of Bridges

Aspects to be considered during the foundation design

Easy, simple and quick to construct types of bridge designs should be favoured to avoid a
need for specialists. Normally speed results in saving and this can be achieved by use of:Repetitive and simple procedures
Readily available construction materials
Simple foundation shapes
A level bottom foundation
Simple details which can be adjusted on site
Horizontal and vertical surfaces for foundations as much
as possible
Formwork which could be reused several times and
expensive false work should be avoided
medium sized bars as very large bars are difficult to bend

Design of Bridges

The construction sequence has to be considered along with the maintenance

aspects such as de-silting.
The possibility of floods and flood debris during construction should be looked at
because they are a problem at that stage. Apart from that scour is a major cause of
bridge failures during its service time. Hence foundations have to be below the lowest
scour level or bed protection works ( gabions, rip rap, etc) have to be used which
are inexpensive. The bed protection works slow the flow and silting occurs filling the
voids in the process stopping the scouring action of water Moreover, streamlined
edges on pier above the foundation also reduce scour.

Design of Bridges

Procedure
Site reconnaissance for access of the machines obstruction, traffic, etc, to the site in
this case also soil investigation is conducted and the existing foundation
structures in the neighbourhood and their performance is observed. In addition,
enquiries are made to the local contractors. The analysis of the results of the site
reconnaissance are conducted by :Studying the maps. i.e. geological, topographical etc
Examining aerial photographs
Discussing with geologists and hydrologists
Analyzing the hydraulic survey results

Design of Bridges

Procedure
It is cheaper to divert the river and construct in the dry. But when the condition doesnt
allow then foundations are constructed in cofferdams.
The sheet pilling used for cofferdams can be left for scour protection. Also,
subsidence of a foundation is avoided by grouting the weak soil areas (voids) or
by bridging the voids. In addition, spread foundation is better in resisting
differential settlement. Soil description should be in accordance to standards
which are locally used. Soil data should be obtained for depth of up to the
loading depth (pressure bulbs). The actual soil conditions should be compared
to the laboratory results. Sometimes pile tests are done on the site to get a
realistic data for design. On locations requiring piles, plate bearing tests may be
done to see the possibility of eliminating use of piles.

Design of Bridges

It is always advisable that the designer should be involved in the site investigations
whereby the designer gets the feedback, proposes locations for investigations and
supervises the investigation.
Ground water may present a problem as it leads to:
- Reduced bearing capacity of substrata
- Increased lateral pressure
- Reduces stability of slopes and banks
Therefore ground water level should be known. But most ground water can be
removed and controlled by pumps. Where it is impossible to de-water then
construction is done under water by mass concrete.
The other data is obtained from the bridge deck design whereby the following is
determined: Number of foundations
Loading on foundations
Size of foundations
Location of foundations

Design of Bridges

Types of Foundations
There are two basic types of foundations:
SHALLOW FOUNDATIONS; transfer the load to soil at the
base of the substructure
DEEP FOUNDATIONS; transfer loads far below the
substructure.
These foundations penetrate through poor soil until a
satisfactory bearing stratum is reached.

Design of Bridges

Shallow Foundations
For transferring building loads to underlying ground
Mostly for firm soils or light loads

firm ground

bed rock

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Design of Bridges

Shallow Foundations
Characteristics of shallow foundations are; they are cheap and they require suitable soil.
There are a variety of shallow foundation types used in the construction of foundations.
For columns
Isolated pad footings
Combined or Cantilevered footing
Mat/raft footing
For walls
Strip footings
Spread Footings
Slab on grade
Mat/raft footing

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Design of Bridges

Shallow Foundations

Design of Bridges

Deep Foundations
- Deep foundations transfer loads far below the substructure
- mostly used in weak soils or for heavy loads
-These foundations penetrate
weak soil until a satisfactory
bearing stratum is reached.
-Used to reach deeper layers
with greater bearing
stratum
P
I
L
E

weak soil

bed rock

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Design of Bridges

Load Transfer Characteristics of Piles

Bearing Piles
Transfers load through the unstable surface soils to the denser soils below such as
bedrock
Friction Piles
- Depends on friction resistance between the soil it passes through and the
surface of the
pile.
- Used in clay soils
- Driven Piles & Concrete Caissons use this methods
Sheet Piles
-Designed to resist Horizontal pressures
- Used to hold back earth embankments and sides of excavation

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Design of Bridges

Bearing Piles

V e rtic a l
lo a d
F u n c tio n :
T o tra n s fe r
lo a d s to a
s u ita b le
b e a rin g
s tra tu m b y
m e a n s o f tip
re s is ta n c e o f
th e p ile

Q u A p po
Ap = bearing area of the pile at tip
po = ultimate bearing capacity of the
rock

R o c k

E n d B e a rin g P ile

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Design of Bridges

Friction Piles
Pile capacity in granular soil

Qu

DN r q d n N q
2

( SKq d tan )i A p

i 1
where
Qu = ultimate resisting capacity
Ap = area of cross section at tip
qdi = effective over burden pressure at the ith layer
D = size of the pile at tip
= unit weight of soil at toe
Nr and Nq = bearing capacity factors of the soil at toe
Ki = coefficient of lateral earth pressure at ith layer (it
varies from 1 to 3 in loose to medium sands)
Si = surface area of the pile in the ith layer
i = angle of wall friction between pile and soil in the ith
layer, it may be taken equal
= angle of internal friction of the soil
n = number of different layers through which the pile rests

Lo ad
F u n c tio n :
T o tra n s fe r
lo a d s to th e
s o il g ra d u a lly
b y m e an s o f
s id e re s is ta n c e
a lo n g th e
le n g th o f
th e p ile
F ric tio n P ile
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Design of Bridges

Remarks on Pile Foundations

Pile foundations are suited for adoption in the following
situations:
availability of good founding strata below large depths of soil
need to have very deep foundation beyond the limit of
pneumatic operations (usually depths beyond 35.0 m or more)
founding strata underlying deep standing water, the strata being
very hard not permitting ease sinking of wells
economic factors deciding the use of piles as compared to
wells.

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Design of Bridges

Pile Foundations
Classification of Piles
Precast driven piles - soil displacement type
Driven cast in-situ piles - soil displacement type
Bored cast in-situ piles - soil replacement type
Bored pre-cast in-situ piles - soil replacement type
Driven steel piles - soil displacement type
Spacing of Piles
- Friction piles: spacing center to center, not less than
perimeter of the pile
- End bearing piles: spacing center to center, not less than
twice the least width of the pile
- Generally, 2.5 x the bigger dimension of the pile section
plan

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Design of Bridges

Pile Foundation

Size of Concrete Piles

Not less than 0.75m diameter or equivalent section area for bridge foundation in major
rivers, and not less than 0.40m diameter or equivalent section for other locations.
Grade of Concrete
The grade of concrete shall not be less than C30 or mix ratio by volume of 1: 1.5: 3
Rake in Piles
The maximum rake normally should not be more flat than the following
- 1 in 8 for pile diameter 0.75m and more
- 1 in 5 for smaller diameter bored piles
- 1 in 4 for smaller diameter driven piles

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Design of Bridges

Safe Load Carrying Capacity

The load of resistance shall be the lesser of the following two
values;
Ultimate load carrying capacity based on the soil parameters
surrounding the pile divided by a suitable factor of safety
Structural strength of the pile

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Design of Bridges

Deep Foundations

Driven timber piles

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Design of Bridges

Tunneling

Mechanically stabilised Earth wall

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Design of Bridges

Sheet Piles
- sheets of interlocking steel or timber driven into
continuous sheet

the ground, forming a

warehouse

ship

sheet pile

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Design of Bridges

Sheet Piles
- resist lateral earth pressures
- used in excavations, waterfront structures, etc

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Design of Bridges

Sheet Piles
used in temporary works

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Design of Bridges

Sheet Piles
interlocking sections

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Design of Bridges

Sheet pile

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Design of Bridges

Cofferdam
sheet pile walls enclosing an area, to

prevent water seeping in

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Design of Bridges

Landslides

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Design of Bridges

Ground Improvement

Impact Roller to Compact the Ground

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Design of Bridges

Ground Improvement

Sheepsfoot Roller to Compact Clay Soils

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Design of Bridges

Ground Improvement

Smooth-wheeled Roller
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Design of Bridges

Typical Safety Factors

Type of Design

Safety Factor Probability of

Failure

Earthworks

1.3-1.5

1/500

Retaining
structures

1.5-2.0

1/1500
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Design of Bridges

Soil Nailing

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Design of Bridges

Pile driving

A pile group

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Design of Bridges

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Our blunders become monuments!

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Design of Bridges

Reinforced Earth Walls

~ using geofabrics to strengthen the soil

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Design of Bridges

Ground Improvement
Big weights dropped from 25 m,
compacting the ground.

Craters formed in compaction

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Design of Bridges

Soil Testing

Variety of Field Testing Devices

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Design of Bridges

Dynamic Compaction

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