ADVANTAGES OF FOUNDING BRIDGE ABUTMENTS ON APPROACH FILLS--WITH DISCUSSION

It is pointed out by the authors that spread footings can settle and if settlement in subsoil and granular material equals the settlement of the approach fill and subsoil then there will be no bump at the bridge end. This may be too much to expect, particularly as the approach fill is usually more variable, more affected by moisture and construction techniques, and is comparatively free to slump and/or consolidate. Even with equal settlements occurring there would be the concern of loss of clearance of overpasses and introduction of unusual stresses in the structure should the settlement not be uniform over the entire bridge width. Also, as the authors point out, the use of spread footings to support bridge abutments on approach fills would probably be restricted to single span structures. Depending upon stream flow and valley bottom soil conditions it is generally necessary to found piers in the stream bed on piles to resist the effects of erosion. Potential differential settlement would deter one from employing a pile foundation under a pier and a spread footing under the abutment. (TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Original paper also appears in Transportation Research Record No. 749, pp 39-42.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)

  401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive
  Ottawa, Ontario  Canada 
• Authors:
  • Shields, D H
  • Deschenes, J H
  • Scott, J D
  • BAUER, G E
• Discussers:
  • Young, F D
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 7-16
• Serial:
  • RTAC FORUM
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue Number: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abutments; Bridge abutments; Bridge approaches; Bridge foundations; Bridge piers; Bridges; Differential settlement; Embankments; Fills; Foundations; Granular materials; Ground settlement; Pile foundations; Settlement (Structures); Spread footings; Streambeds; Subsoil
• ITRD Terms: 3424: Abutment; 3455: Bridge; 2801: Embankment; 3377: Foundation; 4107: Granular; 5792: Settlement; 2930: Subsoil
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00345840
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 27 1982 12:00AM