Courtesy: Prof.

C V R Murty

Th N
The
Need
d

Investigation
Planning
Design
Construction

Maintenance

Bridges

Planning

Investigation
Topography
River Regime

Hydraulics

Approaches

Foundation

Geotech

Superstructure

Structures

Traffic

Transpo

Ideal characteristics
Straight
St i ht reach
h off the
th river
i
Steady river flow
Narrow channel with firm banks
Suitable high banks above highest flood level
Rock or hard strata close (in depth) to river bed
Economical
E
i l approaches,
h
without
ith t ttroublesome
bl
lland
d acquisition
i iti
Proximity to major road intersection
Absence of expensive river training works
Avoidance of excessive underwater construction

Technical Feasibility

Investigation

Techno Economic Study

Detailed Survey &

Project Report

Locate all possible sites

Merits and Demerits of each site
Use survey maps, past reports, experiences
Narrow down to 33-4 sites

Likely problems

Lik l costt
Likely

Likely benefits

Likely traffic

Wide
River

Approach
Road

Currents
Marshy
Land

Bridge

Meandering
River

IRC 5

Governing
Conditions

> 300m
< 60m

Suitable bridge site

Road alignment
60m - 300m
Road alignment
Suitable bridge site

 Deeper technical study - 15% costs

Benefits / Savings from exclusion of alternate routes
Benefit
Benefit--toto-Cost ratios
Choose the most technically and economically suited
Lik l savings
Likely
i
Likely problems
Likely dimensions
Likely constr. duration

Detailed
Ground Survey

Topography
p
p y
Alignment

Detailed
Hydrologic Data

Soil Exploration

Highest Flood Level

Fixing the clearance

Scour founding level

Load bearing Capacity

Model Studies

Less understood
Simulation

Drawings
Index
I d map
Contour survey plan
Site plan
Cross
Cross--sections of river
Longitudinal section of river
Catchment
C t h
t area map
Sub
Sub--soil profile map

Investigation
Major Bridges
(> 60m)
Culverts
((< 6m)

Minor Bridges
(< 60m)

 Fairly large in number

Higher risk acceptable!

Wing Walls

Box Culvert
pipe Culvert

Sites
100m

100m

<25m

Survey Boundary

Low lying areas & streams

 Catchment Area

100m

Catchment Area
< 3 sq. km

Hydraulic Data
upstream

HFL experiences or
available reports
Design flood discharge
worked out
out.

300m

150m

Bottom of
foundation

Geotechnical Data
Simple Soil Investigation
Depth decided by the Engineer

1.5 width of
foundation

Deep Scour => No pipe or box culvert

upstream

C/S details

Closest inhabited
locality

2 - 5 km
Bunds for
Flood protection
Alignment to
be finalised
2 km

Might spread
during floods

Topographical Details

Reservoirs, Irrigation works.

Their failure affects flow.

Catchment details

Geotechnical details
Bearing capacity

Layers
Faults

Settlement characteristics

Ground Water Level

Porosity (for draining)

One bore below every pier, or multiple holes for well foundations

10

 Geotechnical details
B
Bed level
Zone A
approx scour level

Particle size
Sinking

Zone B

Side Resistance
Sinking

Zone C

Settlement
Bearing Strength

Founding level
W/2
B

Seismological considerations
Navigational considerations
Construction resources
Labour
Material
Transport

11

 Traffic forecast :

Size of bridge number of lanes

lanes..
Benefits accrued
Projected traffic including development due to
the construction of the bridge

On Major or Shifting rivers

Difference only in :
Increased extent of data on the river flow
Model studies
Aerial survey may be undertaken

12

 Survey to extend to
2 full loops
p

C / s @ 0.5m intervals

Survey to extend to
1 full loop

Design Flood Discharge

Waterway to be provided
Choice of Foundations
Choice of Superstructure

13

Volume of Water

Design Flood Discharge

Waterway to be provided
Choice of Foundations
Choice of Superstructure

Fl d Di
Flood
Discharge
h

Duration
Intensity
Wind Velocity
& direction

Rainfall
& Weather

Stream
Characteristics
Terrain
Characteristics

Slope
Subsoil Storage
Shape / Area
Vegetation / Hills etc.

14

Width of
waterway

Design Flood Discharge

Waterway to be provided
Choice of Foundations

Choice of Superstructure

Design Waterway width

Waterway
Characteristics
Erodible

Rising level
Scour

Erodible
Initial waterway width

Erodible
Inerodible

Inerodible

Inerodible

15

Afflux

Rise in water level due to obstruction

Bridge
B id Pi
Pier

Leads
L d also
l tto increased
i
d velocity
l it

clearance

V
V + dV

Afflux

Bridge Pier

Apron
p
(Concrete or
Grouted Boulders)

clearance

Drop Wall
( Concrete
or Stone)

16

Open?

Pile?

Design Flood Discharge

Well?

Waterway to be provided
Choice of Foundations
Choice of Superstructure

Open Foundation
Direct load bearing
Take
T k it usually
ll 2 3m
3 below
b l
th
the scour d
depth.
th
Limited by concrete laying constraints, temporary works.
Depth of hard strata
Open Foundation

17

 Timber Pile

Timber planks

Founding
g strata depth
p is large.
g
Theoretical life 15 20 years.
Especially for shifting young rivers.
Timber piles

Timber
beams

Concrete

Piles

Equipment intensive

Apron

Pile Cap

Concrete Piles

18

Pier

Well Foundation

W ll C
Well
Cap
Top Plug
Labour intensive
Steining

Sand

Cutting Edge
Bottom Plug

Design Flood Discharge

Waterway to be provided
Choice of Foundations
Choice of Superstructure

19

Factors
Economy
E
Navigational clearance
Type of vehicles, eg
eg.. rail or road
Volume of traffic
Topography and soil conditions
Environmental
E i
t l conditions
diti
Design and construction capacity
Aesthetics

Technical feasibility

Techno Economic Study

Detailed Survey &

Project report

Design Flood Discharge

Waterway to be provided
Choice of Foundations

Choice of Superstructure

20