PERFORMANCE OF HIGHWAY BRIDGE ABUTMENTS SUPPORTED BY SPREAD FOOTINGS ON COMPACTED FILL

A visual inspection was made of the structural condition of 148 highway bridges supported by spread footings on compacted fill throughout the State of Washington. The approach pavements and other bridge appurtenances were also inspected for damage or distress that could be attributed to the use of spread footings on compacted fill. This review, in conjunction with detailed investigations of the foundation movement of 28 selected bridges, was used to evaluate the performance of spread footings on compacted fills. It was concluded that spread footings can provide a satisfactory alternative to piles especially when high embankments of good quality borrow materials are constructed over satisfactory foundation soils. None of the bridges investigated displayed any safety problems or serious functional distress. All bridges were in good condition and many were found to be in very good condition. In addition to the performance evaluation, cost-effectiveness analyses and tolerable movement correlation studies were made to further substantiate the feasibility of using spread footings in lieu of expensive deep foundation systems. Cost analyses showed spread footings were 50-65 percent cheaper than the alternate choice of pile foundations. Foundation movement studies showed that these bridges have easily tolerated differential settlements of 1-3 inches (25-75 mm) without serious distress. (FHWA)

• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  Construction and Maintenance Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Dimillio, Albert F
• Publication Date: 1982-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 54 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Bridge abutments; Compacted soils; Cost effectiveness; Costs; Fills; Foundations; Highway bridges; Motion; Spread footings
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost analysis
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00373115
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-81-184 Final Rpt., FCP 24H3-072
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1983 12:00AM