Study of Bridge Foundation Performance Under Dynamic Loading

Abstract

Seismographic equipment was used to study the response of a railway bridge under dynamic train loading and thereby to determine the performance of the foundations of the bridge. The same methods were used to determine the effectiveness of remedial work done on the bridge piers and on the subsoil beneath the piers.The bridge was constructed in 1898 and is a three-span, masonry and stone arch bridge, 273 ft (83.2 m) in length. The east abutment is founded on bedrock, however, the west abutment and two piers in the river bed are founded on deep alluvial deposits.Seismographic studies indicated relatively large movements of one pier which were attributed to foundation scouring. A program of grouting the pier subgrade confirmed this assessment. Subsequent seismographic studies confirmed the effectiveness of the remedial works undertaken. The studies of the bridge responses under dynamic train loading provided sufficient data that scour areas beneath a pier could be pinpointed.The technique applied on this project determined bridge pier foundation conditions much more quickly and economically than a normal program of exploratory drill holes. The same technique could be used to assess the behavior of individual components of a bridge structure.