Void Development Under Bridge Approaches

Details

• Creators:
  Schaefer, Vernon R. ; Koch, Jay C.
• Corporate Creators:
  South Dakota State University
• Corporate Contributors:
  South Dakota. Department of Transportation. Office of Research
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Approach Backfill Soils Bridges Maintenance State Departments Of Transportation Void
• Publication/ Report Number:
  SD90-03
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  South Dakota ; United States
• Edition:
  Final Report May 1990 to November 1992
• Corporate Publisher:
  South Dakota. Department of Transportation. Office of Research
• Abstract:
  The development of voids under approach slabs to bridges can lead to distress of the approach system resulting in decreased life expectancy, increased maintenance costs for repair and stabilization, and rider discomfort due to "bumps" resulting from grade differences in the approach system. The mechanisms involved in the development of the void generally are attributed to settlement problems of the foundation and embankment soils. A special backfill is often used under approach slabs to reduce such settlement problems. In recent years the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) has observed increasing subsidence problems associated with the special backfill. The objectives of the research were to estimate the number of bridges affected by bridge end backfill settlement, to determine the cause and significance of bridge end settlement, to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the current bridge end backfill design, and to develop recommendations for the maintenance of existing bridge end backfill systems and for design improvements for future systems. The work included an extensive survey of some 140 bridges across South Dakota to determine and document the extent of the problem; a review of previous work related to bridge approach settlement; a survey of state transportation departments concerning approach system and bridge abutment problems and design methodology; and development of a field scale model of an integral abutment bridge/approach system to isolate and determine the mechanisms controlling backfill subsidence.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  303417
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e1b9aa7addfd23abff7157ae5f0653cbc9104ad95d5a2b0318b44c4a0942430e0b4f523ea66931d927ec6c0cfa28373818f2ca8a5eeb7c0628f4b5380a440adb
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/80135/dot_80135_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 44.97 MB ]