1. BRIDGE FOUNDATION DESIGN
Local Agency Workshop
February, 2009
Jan Six, P.E.
Sr. Geotechnical Engineer
ODOT Bridge Engineering Section

2. ODOT FOUNDATION DESIGN
Standards Foundation Design Process Foundation Reports Plans & Specifications Construction Assistance

3. Standards
ODOT Geotechnical Design Manual (GDM) (available from ODOT Geo-Environmental web site) AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications ODOT Bridge Design & Drafting Manual ODOT Standard Specifications FHWA Design Manuals (Geotechnical Circulars)

4. Foundation Design Process
To determine the bridge foundation system that will result in the most cost effective bridge design, taking into account all the appropriate foundation design and construction considerations.

5. Foundation Design Process
Scoping & Field Reconnaissance Field Explorations Laboratory Testing Foundation Design Foundation Reports Specifications Construction Support

6. Foundation Design Process
Scoping and Field Reconnaissance
Identify Foundation Design Elements of Project New Bridge Foundations Bridge Widening Retaining Walls Culverts Conduct Office Data Research Old Foundation Data on Existing Structure Pile Record Books Maintenance Records

7. Foundation Design Process
Field Reconnaissance
Observe Site Conditions affecting Exploration, Design and/or Construction Surface Conditions/ Obstructions (logs, riprap) Wetland Areas, R/W or other access restrictions Bridge Condition (settlement, corrosion) Scour or stream bank erosion Utilities (buried & overhead) Slope instabilities (slides, settlement, water problems) Locate Exploration Holes (test pits)

8. Foundation Design Process
Field Explorations
Typically done by contract drillers under contract to ODOT Obtain Preliminary Bent Locations Typically Locate Drill Holes at all Bridge Bents (per AASHTO) Identify Permits of Entry and Environmental Clearances Utility Locations & Notifications

9. Foundation Design Process
Field Explorations
Standard Penetration Resistance Test (SPT ‘N’ value) Undisturbed Samples (Laboratory Testing) Rock Core Drilling (Rock hardness, RQD) Special In-Situ Tests (Cone Penetrometer, Pressuremeter)

10. Foundation Design Process
Field Explorations
Standard Penetration Resistance Test lb. hammer, 30” drop #blows/6” increment SPT ‘N’ value = #blows/last 12”

11. Foundation Design Process
Field Explorations
Undisturbed Sample (Shelby Tube)

12. Field Explorations
Exploration Log

13. Foundation Design Process
Laboratory Testing
Amount depends on the soils and project design Purpose of obtaining engineering properties of soils and rock materials for use in design Typical Lab Tests: Shear Strength of Soils Unconfined Compressive Strength (rock) Consolidation Tests (settlement) Unit Weight & Index Tests

14. Foundation Design Process
Construct Subsurface Profile Stratigraphy & Geologic Model Groundwater Conditions Engineering Design Parameters Foundation Type Seismic Analysis

15. Subsurface Geologic Profile
Foundation Design Process
Subsurface Geologic Profile

16. Foundation Design Process
Seismic Analysis (Earthquake Design) Two Level Design Seismic design is evaluated in terms of the overall bridge performance using the 500 yr. & 1000 yr. mean return period earthquakes. Bridge performance must meet “Serviceability” criteria for 500 year event and Life Safety criteria (no collapse) for 1000 yr event.

17. Foundation Design Process
Seismic Analysis (cont.) Ground Acceleration (PGA) USGS Maps Site Specific Analysis (optional) Liquefaction Analysis Lateral Spread, Slope Instability Approach Fill Settlement Bridge Damage Potential Mitigation Measures

18. Foundation Reports

19. Foundation Design Process
Foundation type depends on combinations of: Foundation Materials & Conditions Structure Type & Loads Performance Criteria Site Conditions/Construction Constraints Extreme Event Effects Seismic Loads (Liquefaction Potential) Scour Depths Costs & Construction Time

20. Foundation Design Process
Other Project Considerations: In-Water Work Periods Environmental Restrictions Noise or Vibration Constraints Construction Access/Traffic Control

21. Foundation Design Process
Types of Foundations
Shallow Foundations Spread Footings (on engineered fill) MSE Abutment Wall w/ Spread Footing Deep Foundations Driven Piles Drilled Shafts Micropiles

22. Foundation Design Process
Spread Footing Design Settlement Bearing Resistance Sliding Resistance Overturning (eccentricity) Overall Stability (slope stability)

23. Foundation Design Process
Pile Design Most Common Steel Pipe Piles (open or closed end) H-Piles Less Common Prestressed Concrete Timber

24. Foundation Design Process
Pile Design Bearing Resistance (compression and tension) Lateral Resistance Settlement and Downdrag Analysis Corrosion Potential/Protection Tip Protection Pile Drivability (construction) Group Settlement, Group Effects

25. Foundation Design Process
Drilled Shafts High bearing resistance High lateral resistance Cost-effective in river environments Can be socketed into bedrock Potential construction issues Hole stability (caving, groundwater) Difficulty with drilling obstructions Need very good subsurface data Need good experienced contractors

26. Foundation Design Process

27. Foundation Design Process
Micropiles Small diameter, drilled-in-place piles Rarely used Relatively expensive Applicable for: low overhead clearance boulders in foundation soils underpinning projects

28. Foundation Reports
Project description (scope & purpose) Office research & summary of pertinent records relating to foundation design and construction. Description of the geologic setting Summary of hydraulics information affecting foundation recommendations Subsurface explorations and conditions Boring logs Groundwater conditions Special field testing Laboratory test results

29. Foundation Reports
Seismic Analysis & Recommendations 500 yr. and 1000 yr. event analysis Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA), Sa & S1 AASHTO soil site class and response spectra Liquefaction Assessment Extent of Liquefaction & Potential Impacts Lateral Spread Potential Reduced Foundation Capacities Settlement, Downdrag Potential Liquefied Soil Parameters for Bridge Analysis Mitigation Recommendations Site Specific Analysis & Response Spectra (optional)

30. Foundation Reports
Foundation Recommendations Spread Footings (on engineered fill) Piles Drilled Shafts Micropiles

31. Foundation Reports
Spread Footings Recommended Footing Elevation(s) Nominal Bearing Resistance Factored Bearing Resistance (Allowable Bearing Capacity) Nominal bearing resistance for service limit state (settlement) Description and properties of the anticipated foundation material

32. Foundation Reports
Pile Foundations Type (Pipe Pile, H-pile, Concrete or Timber) Size or Dimensions (O.D., wall thickness, etc.) Material Specification (e.g., ASTM spec & grade of steel), Tip Treatment (PP open or closed-end, reinforcement) Nominal Bearing Resistances, estimated tip elevation for bearing estimated cutoff elevation, “estimated” or “order” lengths Minimum Required Tip Elevation (reason for req’d. tip elev.) Resistance Factors (f factor) and Factored Resistances Nominal (Ultimate) Uplift Capacities Soil Parameters for Lateral Load Analysis Pile Group Settlement

33. Foundation Reports
Pile Foundations (continued) Downdrag Effects (reduced capacities or mitigation) Liquefaction Effects: reduced pile capacities (axial, uplift, lateral, etc) Pile Drivability Analysis Wave Equation Parameters (for special provisions/contractors)

34. Pile Driving Stress Problems
Foundation Reports
Pile Driving Stress Problems

35. Foundation Reports
Drilled Shafts Shaft Type (i.e., end-bearing, friction or both) Nominal Resistance for various diameters and lengths Estimated Shaft Settlement vs. Shaft Diameter and Load Factored Resistance and Resistance Factors Soil Parameters for Lateral Load Analysis Liquefaction Effects: reduced shaft capacities (axial, uplift, lateral, etc) Load Test recommendations (if appropriate)

36. Foundation Reports
Construction & Specification Recommendations Pile Foundations Pile Driving Criteria Wave Equation Input Criteria (if applicable) Number of Pile Splices Is Set Period (freeze) acceptable? Is Preboring or Jetting acceptable? Effects of driving on adjacent structures Potential Driving Obstructions (e.g., boulders, existing piles, utilities) been identified?

37. Foundation Reports
Construction & Specification Recommendations Drilled Shafts End bearing or friction shaft designation Temporary or Permanent casing recommendations Groundwater conditions Boulders and/or obstructions expected to be encountered Cross Hole Sonic Logging (CSL) Quality Control

38. Foundation Reports
Structural Defect Produced by Interruption in Concreting and Low Slump Concrete

39. Foundation Reports
Construction & Specification Recommendations Other Foundation Recommendations Detour Bridge Recommendations Falsework Support Falsework foundation type recommendations Foundation Excavations Groundwater conditions & possible mitigation Shoring and Bracing Cofferdams Unique Special Provisions Specific Geotechnical/Geologic information

40. Foundation Reports
Foundation Data Sheet (part of bridge plans) Locations all explorations (borings, test pits, hand augers, etc.) Explorations plotted in elevation view Subsurface conditions depicted with soil and rock unit descriptions SPT (“N” values), Undisturbed Samples Highest measured groundwater levels and the date measured Percent rock core recovery and rock hardness.

42. Foundation Reports
Distributed To: Structural Designer(s) Specification Writer Project Manager’s Office (inspector) Project Team Leader Region Geo-Office HQ Bridge Engineering Office FHWA (for large projects)

43. Plans & Specifications
Plans Review Pile type, size and grade Drilled Shaft size, tip elevations, min. rock socket depth Nominal Resistances Resistance Factors Pile Driving Criteria Required Pile Tip Elevation Pile Tip treatment Splicing Detail Footings: Nominal Resistance Maximum Footing Elevation

44. Plans & Specifications
Specifications Piling (Section 520) Estimated Pile Lengths (steel piles) Number of Pile Splices Tip Treatment (open or closed end, reinforcement) Driving Criteria Wave Equation Input (if applicable) Pile freeze, preboring or jetting allowed

45. Plans & Specifications
Specifications Shafts (Section 512) Designated Friction or End Bearing Permanent Casing Requirements Crosshole Sonic Log (CSL) testing required

46. Construction Assistance
Pile Hammer & Equipment Review & Approval Pile Driving Criteria (inspectors graph) Pile Driving Problem Solving Pile Record Books Drilled Shaft Installation Plan Drilled Shaft Construction Forms Review of CSL test results Materials Substitutions Foundation Inspection Assistance Claims Resolution

47. Thank You!