SD 472: Design of Bridges

BRIDGE SUBSTRUCTURE

Lecture No. 3

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1.0 ABUTMENTS

An abutment is a structure located at the end of the

bridge for the following functions:
• Supporting the bridge deck at the ends
• Retaining the approach road embankment
• Connecting the approach road to the bridge deck
There are various types of abutments, some of the
commonly used ones are given in the following sub-
sections:
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Wall abutment
Dirt wall

Bridge Seat

Breast wall

River bed

(a) Mass concrete or Stone masonry abutment 3

Mass concrete or Stone masonry abutment
The mass concrete type of abutment depends on its
mass for stability and carrying and transmitting loads
from the superstructure to the foundation. This is
simple to construct but expensive due to large
quantity of concrete which has to be used. Mass
concrete type of abutment is used for walls up to 3
metres height. In this case the settlement of
embankment should be considered in relation to the
abutment.
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 Reinforced T-
abutment is a
Gap for slender structure
Soft material and has a large
heel and a small
Bearing toe. This is a
Water reinforced
concrete structure.
Abutment Reinforced T-
abutment is the
most common
Foundation
form of abutment
used.

(b) Reinforced T-Abutment 5

 Deck
Counterfort
Abutment
Bearing Abutment with
counter -fort are
Stem
used only for
Counterfort very tall walls
Water
wall of more than10
to 20. metres
Compaction of
Foundation
the fill is
difficult due to
the presence of
counter-forts.

(c) Counter-fort Abutment 6

 Cellular
abutments
Cellular
Bearing abutments
have cells
Water which can
Wall
allow
Cell
drainage of
water. These
Foundation types of
abutments
are
expensive

(d) Cellular abutment

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 Bearing

Abutment
wall Abutment
with P ile When the soil
F oundation properties do not
favor strip/raft or
pad foundation,
then pile
foundation can be
Pile head
applied

Pile
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(e) Abutment on fill
Costs of construction and materials may be reduced for deep
foundation by using a small abutment on a filled excavation
foundation pit.

(f) Sloping abutments

Sloping abutments are used where the upper part of the
bridge is less wider than the bottom part or simply for
aesthetic reasons. The drawback is that the sloping abutment
wall has to be supported by props during construction.

(g) Diaphragm abutments

Diaphragm abutments are sheet piles which are driven into
the ground. The piles support the embankment, and the
cantilever action is helped by anchors and ground beams. The
benefit of diaphragm abutments is that they can be
constructed much more quickly than most other types such as
concrete abutments. 9
 Other Abutments
Portal frames
The abutment is monolithic and supported laterally by the
bridge deck. These make it possible to build slender deck and
abutments. However, movement of the footings can induce high
stresses at the top corners. Some portals are constructed with
inclined legs to reduce the earth pressure.

Box structures
Box structures are used when the toes of the abutments are
very close, especially in small span bridges. Effectively they
become culverts and they are economical for large spans on
poor ground.

Anchors
Anchors are used to support the abutment in cohesive soils.
These are not structurally reliable and they risk accidental
damages in future excavations as their location may not be
known to others. 10
Flexible corrugated metal structures
Flexible corrugated metal structures are used for spans up to 12
m. These have low material costs and high construction speed.
The corresponding embankment is usually continuous over the
flexible corrugated metal structures, hence there are no
discontinuity problems in case of the settlement of embankments
compared to other rigid structures. They can also be precast and
moved to the site with much ease.

Ground struts
The lateral movement of the abutments can also be prevented by
use of ground struts or slabs. This eliminates the necessity of
using raking piles. However the abutment risks of being damaged
in future excavations.

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 Recommendations for abutments on highly
compressible strata

•Build the embankments well in advance of the bridge so that

all movement occur before proceeding with bridge construction

•Use lightweight materials for deck and substructures

•Design accommodating vertical and horizontal movements
•Allow for uniform bearing pressure under the footing to avoid
uneven settlement

•Piles are preferable

•Bouyant foundation may be used with large voids
•Use abutments with longer heels

•Rest the foundation on a cofferdam filed with good soil or

concrete
•Separate the abutment and the backfill by use f gravel at the
interface. 12
2. Wing Walls

General
Wing walls depend on topography of site, construction
restrictions and construction sequence
The base of the wing walls is usually the same level as the
base of the abutment

Wing walls parallel to abutment

Simplest to build
Uses more materials
Can be monolithic to abutment
Backfill can be properly compacted

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 Wing walls parallel to abutment

Water

Abutment Abutment
Roadway

wing wall
Parapet Water
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Wing walls at an angle to the abutment
- Use less material
Wing wall
Water flow
Parapet

Road way

Water flow
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Wing walls parallel to over road
Uses more materials
No proper compaction of backfill is achieved
When structurally attached to the abutment they provide more
stability as of a box structure
Water

Abutment Abutment

Roadway

wing wall

Parapet
Water
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Other Wing Walls
Cantilever wing walls parallel to over road
Difficult to compact properly as material flows underneath

Double wing walls

Two sets of wing walls are used
•Used for high embankments
•One set is a return wall
•The other set is parallel or angled wing wall

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3.0 PIERS
Simple to construct are piers of vertical, uniform rectangular or
circular section

Piers may be classified in terms of materials as

• mass concrete
• reinforced
• masonry piers
• composite concrete and masonry facing

Piers may be classified in terns of shape as

• Solid
• Cellular.
• Framed

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Solid pier (left) and Hammerhead pier (right) 19
 Cellular pier
•Piers which are large enough for a man to climb down inside
facilitate placing of concrete and inspection during construction

•Varying sections and other complicated geometry are un

economical although aesthetically good

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Framed piers

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 Substructures: Parts
Pier

Abutments
The part of the substructure that the ends of the bridge
sit on are the abutments. Any supports in between are 22
the piers.
 SUBSTRUCTURES: OVERVIEW ON MATERIALS

Both piers and abutments can be made of a

variety of materials and methods.
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 Substructures

Concrete

Concrete piers come in various shapes and designs.

Concrete is also used in abutments. It is a common
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material for substructures.
 Substructures
Caissons

Caissons are steel tubes with a fill inside, such as25

concrete. They are used as piers.
 Substructures

Steel and Iron Bents

Steel and Iron bents are used as piers and are a

network of structural elements that combine to form the
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support.
 Piers (Supports)
Wood

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Sometimes wood may be used for piers.
 Substructures - Stones

Random
Rubble

Semi-Coursed
Rubble

Stone abutments and piers can be made of unshaped

stones. The layout can be random, or it can be coursed,
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which means it is lined up in rows.
 Substructures - Abutments

Stone substructures may have iron or steel tie rods to29

help hold them together.