INVESTIGATION FOR BRIDGE FOUNDATIONS

M B Mgangira

UACE Training, Kampala

25th September 2013
 Investigations for Bridges

What are we investigating for?

• Abutments
• Piers
• Piles
• Retaining walls to bridges
• Bridge embankment fill (height)

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 2
Geotechnical Investigation for Stability Assessment
Bridges
Designed to investigate and test the ground close to the location of each
bridge pier

• Bridge and bridge abutment interaction

• Selection of piles, caissons or spread footing for structural support
• Pressure distribution beneath structural foundation
• Permissible settlement of the bridge
• Lateral support issues
• Scour around bridge piers due to river hydraulic action

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 3
Geotechnical Investigation for Stability Assessment
Bridges
A series of boreholes and cone penetration tests are positioned off the
main bridge centreline to obtain data from close to each pier location

• As piezocone penetration test log

• Borehole log with associated soil sampling and in situ testing.

During the second phase of the investigation, main river channel is

investigated in more detail in order to finalise the geological model

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 4
 Investigations for Bridges

Laboratory tests
• Index tests
• Mineralogical testing
• Compressibility testing (Oedometer)
• Strength testing (Shear box)
• Triaxial Tests, including cyclic shear tests

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 5
 Investigations for Bridges

Laboratory tests
• Soil pH, chlorides and sulphate concentrations and
resistivity

• Resonance Column Tests using Triaxial apparatus

• Unconfined compression:
• compressive strength of the intact rock core
• Recovery and rock quality designation (RQD) from the
recovered rock core at each boring location

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 6
 Investigations for Bridges
In situ testing
• Piezocone penetration testing
• Standard penetration testing
• Flat plate dilatometer testing
• Pressuremeter used to measure the stiffness of soil
• Self boring pressuremeter and internal friction testing
• Measures soil stiffness and also measures the internal angle
of friction of the soilAs piezocone penetration test log

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 7
 Investigations for Bridges
In situ testing
• High pressure dilatometer testing
• Permeability testing (standpipe)
• Crosshole geophysics testing: measure the seismic
velocity of the soil between the boreholes

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 8
 Investigations for Bridges

Type and depth of boring needed for bridge foundations

determined by:
• Foundation loading
• Anticipated soil conditions

 Data should be adequate to enable the computation of

bearing capacity and settlement for the spread footing
and piles design, embankment stability analysis

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 9
 Investigations for Bridges
AASHTO standard specifications for Design of Highway
Bridges
Spread footings:
where L is less than twice W:
d = 2W below bearing level

where L > 5W,

d = 4W below bearing level

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 10
 Investigations for Bridges
AASHTO standard specifications for Design of Highway
Bridges
Drilled shafts:
3x pile diameter below the anticipated shaft tip elevation or twice
the maximum shat group dimension, whichever is greater

Retaining Walls on spread footing:

1.5x maximum wall height

Embankment:
2x the embankment height

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 11
 Investigations for Bridges
SAPEM (2013) recommendation for spacing and depth of
investigation

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 12
 Aspects of Detailed Geotechnical and Materials
Exploration Report for Bridges (SAPEM 2013)
• Introduction
• Description of Site
• Geology, Soil Profile and Water Table
• Investigations carried out
• Test Results: Summary and discussion of test results
• Geotechnical Evaluation
• Evaluation of Alternative Foundation Systems/Types
• Recommendations
• References
• Annexures

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 13
 Aspects of Detailed Geotechnical and Materials
Exploration Report for Bridges

The report should provide clear guidance to the bridge

engineer for:
 Selection of the most appropriate solution
 Foundation type
 Allowable differential settlements

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 14
 Aspects of Detailed Geotechnical and Materials
Exploration Report for Bridges
Geotechnical Evaluation
• Discussion of stability classes
• Evaluation/interpretation of the soils encountered, identifying their
stability or potential problems they may present:
• tendency to heave, collapse, settle

• Evaluation/interpretation of hard rock geology (if encountered)

identifying the type, quality, strength, degree of weathering, fracturing,
excavatability classes.

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 15
 Geotechnical Evaluation
• Provide geotechnical/foundation design (or pile design) parameters.
• Potential for boulders and other obstructions to be encountered in deep
seated foundations.
• Discussion/interpretation of problems experienced during investigation
or to be expected during construction
• Discussion/interpretation of groundwater table(s) and expected
variations.
• Discussion/interpretation of field and laboratory testing (including
chemical tests) carried out.

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 16
 Aspects of Detailed Geotechnical and Materials
Exploration Report for Bridges

Evaluation of Alternative Foundation Systems/Types

• Maximum tolerable total and differential settlements applicable to the
bridge foundation components
• Discussion and evaluation of alternative foundation types with
advantages and disadvantages
• Motivation for preferred foundation type

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 17
 Aspects of Detailed Geotechnical and Materials
Exploration Report for Structures
Recommendations
• Founding options to be considered
• Excavability (i.r.o conventional foundations and caissons, or for piling)
• Estimated safe bearing pressure and predicted foundation settlement
• Founding depth and allowable bearing pressure at that depth
• Precautionary protective measures against corrosion of concrete/steel
in foundations
• Pile type if essential and economically viable

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 18
 Aspects of Detailed Geotechnical and Materials
Exploration Report for Bridges
Recommendations
• Specified factor of safety for piling (indicate applicable code)
• Design parameters:- friction values, rock socket
• Recommendation for supplementary geotechnical investigation or to be
allowed/budgeted for during construction
• Anticipated construction problems

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 19
 Discussion

• Share experiences in investigations for bridge foundations

• Typical bridge construction problems

• Existing requirements for geotechnical reports

© CSIR 2013 www.csir.co.za

Slide 20