EARTH PRESSURE ON

BRIDGES

(CLAUSE 214 OF IRC:6-2010)

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE

Lateral earth pressure is an important

parameter for the design of bridge abutment,
different types of retaining walls, sheet piles,
and other retaining structures.
Diagram of bridge abutment
COULOMB THEORY FOR BRIDGE
ABUTMENTS
Coulomb theory is acceptable, subject to the
modification that the centre of pressure
exerted by the backfill, when considered dry is
located at an elevation of 0.42 of the height of
the wall above the base , instead of 0.33 of
that height. The minimum pressure for a
retaining structure is that from a fluid
weighing 4.8KN/m3. The thrust P acc. To
coulomb theory may be expressed by equation
with notations as below:
RANKINE THEORY
Rankine in 1856 developed simple methods
for calculating the active and passive earth
pressures exerted on retaining structures.
The Rankine theory is applicable to
conditions where the wall friction angle () is
equal to the slope of the backfill surface (I).
Active Pressure
 The active earth pressure considered in the Rankine theory is for a
level backfill condition. The coefficient of active earth pressure, k a,
can be expressed as
EFFECT OF BUOYANCY
ON BRIGDES
(CLAUSE 213 OF IRC:6-2010)
 Where submersion in water of a part or whole
of a structure is possible, the forces due to
buoyancy should be considered.
In case of submersible bridges, full buoyancy

should be considered for the superstructure,

piers and abutments.
For high level bridges buoyancy forces due to

submerged part of substructure and

foundations should be taken into account.
 For piers submersed in water and for
foundations in sand, full buoyancy is allowed.
In design of submersed masonry or concrete

structures, the buoyancy effect may be

limited to 15 percent of full buoyancy.
CENTRIFUGAL FORCES
ON BRIDGE
(CLAUSE 212 OF IRC:6-2010)
 Where a road bridge is located on a curve, the
effect of centrifugal forces due to movement
of vehicles takes into consideration.
The centrifugal force is assumed to act at a

height of 1.2m above the level of the

carriageway.
No increase for impact effect shall be made

on the stress due to centrifugal action.

 The centrifugal force can be determined as

Where
C= centrifugal force acting normally to the
traffic (1) at a point of action of wheel loads or
(2) uniformly distributed over every metre
length on which UDL act
 W= live load (1) in kN for wheel loads ( in
clause 204), and (2) in case of uniformly
distributed live load kN/m
V= design speed in km per hour
R= radius of curvature in metres