Dynamic behavior of laterally loaded caisson foundations based on different cushion types: an experimental and theoretical study

Abstract

Bridge foundations located in deep water are usually subjected to horizontal dynamic loads and moments which may be caused by the wind, waves, earthquake, and the possibility of boat crashing or vehicle braking. Caisson foundations based on gravel or sand cushions are a new type of deep-water foundation for bridges, suitable for meizoseismal areas. In this paper, harmonic horizontal excitation tests for the study of the lateral dynamic response of caisson foundations based on cushion layers are described. Different lateral loads and two different cushion types are considered. The results show that the lateral dynamic responses of caisson foundations based on sand and gravel cushions both show strong nonlinear characteristics, and the resonant frequency of the foundation decreases with the increase of the excitation force. The dynamic displacement of a foundation based on a sand cushion is far less than that based on a gravel cushion, and the rate of decrease of the resonant frequency of a foundation based on a gravel cushion is faster than that of a foundation based on a sand cushion under the same conditions. Under dynamic loading the gravel cushion can more effectively dissipate vibration energy and isolate the vibration, than the sand cushion can. A simplified nonlinear analysis method is proposed to simulate the lateral dynamic response of caisson foundations, and the predicted response shows a reasonable match with the results observed in laboratory tests. Scaling laws have also been applied in this small-scale vibration model test to predict the dynamic behavior of the prototype foundation.