LONG TERM PERFORMANCE OF THREE BRIDGES ON PERMAFROST. FINAL REPORT

In 1964 the Alaska Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory initiated a cooperative study which in the long-term generated a significant amount of ground temperature and settlement data at three bridge sites near Fairbanks, Alaska. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the long-term bridge performance in order to improve bridge design techniques in areas where permafrost is present. Data over the past twenty years has been reduced and evaluated revealing some drastic changes in the thermal regime. At the Goldstream Creek Bridge, settlements of approximately 6 in (15 cm) over a 10 year period were observed. At the Moose Creek Bridge, annual heave and subsidence with long term net uplifting has been measured. Differential settlements of more than 8 in (20 cm) and slight annual heaving have been measured at the Spinach Creek Bridge. This bridge analysis has demonstrated the hazards of relying on permafrost adfreeze bonding for support of piles located in streambeds in warm permafrost regions.

• Record URL:
  http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwddes/research/assets/pdf/fhwa_ak_rd_86_09.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

  2301 Peger Road
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99701

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Baldassari, D
• Publication Date: 1985-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 13 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridges; Differential settlement; Performance; Permafrost; Settlement (Structures); Streambeds; Structural design; Subsidence (Geology); Support piles; Temperature; Time duration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Heaving; Long term
• Old TRIS Terms: Adfreeze bonds; Heave; Pile support
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00475187
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-AK-RD-86-09, F36542
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1987 12:00AM