Lateral loads on bridges can result from earth pressure, seismic forces, wind loads, traffic or even ship impact or wave action. In cases where lateral loads govern, it is not uncommon to see designers add additional piles or drilled shafts or increasing the size of pile or shaft caps. This document by the Transportation Research Board provides recommendations for ground improvement methods for improving lateral resistance of weak soils, including a simplified approach for assessing the lateral resistance of improved soils using commercially available software packages. [Source: TRB. Image: TRB]
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AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications – 2008 Interims Released
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) just released the 2008 interims for the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, Customary U.S. Units, 4th Edition. These specifications govern the design of foundations for federal and state highway projects. As soon as we find out if there are any significant changes with respect to bridge foundations or retaining walls, we’ll let you know.
Geopier ground improvement supports plant to turn cheese byproducts into green energy
Scary: Things that go bump…at the end of the bridge
[Update 2008-11-03] The Link to the Journal’s homepage requires you to purchase the article. Too bad. Try the CDOT report instead I guess. [/Update]
First off, sorry for the cheesy Halloween tie-in. The other day I read an interesting paper in the Journal of the Transportation Research Record, No. 2045, of the Transportation Research Board (TRB). The paper was titled: “Evaluation and Recommendations for Flowfill, and Mechanically Stabilized Earth Bridge Approaches.” I’ll post the full citation below. (Photo from FHWA NHI Soils and Foundation Course Slides, NHI Course No. 132012)
The authors describe the standard of practice for Colorado DOT (CDOT) projects for the last 16 years with regard to the construction of bridge approaches in an attempt to eliminate the problem with the “bump at the end of the bridge”. They discuss some of the common reasons for problems with approaches, and some possible solutions. Click through for more.