WINSEM2019-20 CLE5012 ETH VL2019205005675 Reference Material I 16-Dec-2019 02 Investigation For Bridges

DESIGN OF BRIDGES
2. Investigation for Bridges
Machang Bay Bridge @ South Korea.
+91 9003378135 dr.n.senthil.kumar.india@gmail.com N Senthil Kumar Vit linkedin

Dr. NSK (Tamil Nadu, INDIA) Investigation for Bridges VIT WIN1920 1 / 30
1 Investigation for Bridges 5
Need for Investigation 5
Selection of Bridge Site 6
Preliminary data to be collected 10
2 Preliminary Drawings 14
index map 14
contour survey plan 15
site plan 16
cross-section of the river 19
longitudinal section of the stream 20
Additional cross-sections of the stream 21
Catchment area map 22
Soil profiles 23
Every drawing 24
3 Determination of design discharge 25
Method 25
4 Linear Waterway 26
5 Economical Span 27
6 Investigation Report 28
7 References 29
Books, Articles and other references 29
8 Index 30
Technical Word Index 30
Module 1 : Investigation for Bridges
Investigation for Bridges
Need for Investigation
Referred from [1]
The aim of the investigation is to select a suitable site at which a

bridge can be built economically, at the sametime satisfying the
demands of traffic, the stream, safety and aesthetics.
Selection of Bridge Site
The characteristics of an ideal site for a bridge across a river are

A straight reach of the river
Steady river flow without serious whirls and cross currents
A narrow channel with firm banks
Suitable high banks above high flood level on each side
Rock or other hard inerodible strata close to the river bed level
The characteristics of an ideal site for a bridge across a river are

(cont..)
Economical approaches
I approaches which should not be very high or long or liable to flank
attacks of the river during floods,
I the approaches should be free from obstacles such as hills,
frequent drainage crossing, sacred places, graveyards or built up
areas or troublesome land acquisition
Proximity to a direct alignment of the road to be connected
Absence of sharp curves in the approaches
Absence of expensive river training works
Avoidance of excessive underwater construction
When the river to be crossed is a meandering river the bridge

should be located at a nodal point. i.e the location where the
river regime is constant serving as a fulcrum about which the
river channels swing laterally.
The location of the bridge in relation to the alignment of the

approaches may be decided as below
For bridges of total length less than 60m, the alignment of the
approaches will govern.
For bridges the length between 60m and 300m , both proper
alignment of the approaches and the requirements of a good
bridge site should be considered together in ascertaining the
appropriate site and
For major bridges over 300m length, the requirement of a good
bridge site will govern the alignment.
Preliminary data to be collected
The engineer in charge of the investigation for a major bridge should

collect the following information.
I Name of the stream, road and
I the identification mark allotted to the crossing and
I location in km to centre of crossing.
Location of the nearest GTS (Great Trigonometric Survey) bench
mark with its reduced level
Present and anticipated future volume and nature of traffic on
the road at the bridge site

collect the following information (cont..)
Hydraulic data pertaining to the river, including
I the highest flood level (HFL), ordinary flood level (OFL) and low
water level (LWL)
I size, shape, slope and nature of the catchment,
I possibility of subsequent changes in the catchment like
afforestation, deforestation and
I urban development intensity and frequency of rainfall in the
catchment and
I probability of large tress or rolling debris floating down the stream.

Soil profile along the probable bridge sites over the length of the
bridge and approaches
Navigational requirements if any for the stream,
Need for large scale river training works
Liability of the site to earthquake disturbance
Availability quality and location of the nearest quarries for stone
masonry and concrete aggregates
Nearest place of availability of cement, steel and timber
Means of transport for materials

Availability of unskilled and skilled labour for different trades
required for construction
Facilities required for housing labour during construction
Important details of the bridges, if any crossing the same river
within a reasonable distance of the proposed bridge
Availability of electric power and
Details of any utilities and services to be provided for(e.g
telephone cables, power cables, water supply pipes) along with
relevant information on size and arrangement.
Preliminary Drawings
index map
The following drawing should be prepared at the time of investigation

An index map drawn to a suitable scale (usually 1 : 50000) showing
the proposed location of the bridge
the alternative sites investigated and rejected,
the existing communications the general topography of the area,
and the important towns etc., in the vicinity.
contour survey plan
A contour survey plan of the stream showing

all topographical features for a sufficient distance on either side
of the site to permit a clear indication of the features that would
influence the location and design of the bridge and its
approaches.
I All sites worth considering should be indicated on plan.
I The plan may be drawn to a suitable scale, scale as 1 : 1000 to
1 : 5000 and should cover distances on either side of the proposed
bridges site of 100m , 300m and 1500m for catchment areas of
3km2 , 15km2 and over 15km2 respectively.
site plan
A site plan to a suitable scale(preferably 1 : 1000) showing

the details of the selected site and the details of the stream to a
distance of 100m to 200m upstream and downstream of the
selected site.
site plan
The site plan should include the following details:

Name of the stream, road and nearest distance marker
Approximate outlines of the banks and channels at high water
level and low water level
Direction of flow
The alignment of existing approaches and the proposed
alignment is on a skew
The name of the nearest inhabited identifiable locality at either
end of the crossing on the roads leading to the site
site plan
The site plan should include the following details: (cont..)

Location and reduced level of the bench mark used as datum
connected to GTS bench mark wherever available
Location of the longitudinal section and cross-section of road
and stream taken within the area of the plan
The locations of trail pits and borings with their identification
numbers
The locations of all nullahs, buildings, well, outcrops of rocks
and other possible obstructions to a road alignment
cross-section of the river
A cross-section of the river at the proposed bridge site to a scale of

about 1 : 1000 horizontally and about 1 : 100 vertically
The name of the stream, road and chainage
The river bed line with banks upto a level above the highest flood
level
The nature of surface soil in bed bank and approaches
The low water level, ordinary flood level and the highest flood level
If the stream is tidal, lowest and highest tide levels and mean
sea level.
longitudinal section of the stream
A longitudinal section of the stream showing the site of the

bridge with the HFL, OFL, LWL and the bed levels at suitably
spaced intervals along the approximate centre line of the deep
water channel.
Suitable scale may be used for horizontal distance, but the
vertical scale should not be less than 1 : 1000.
Additional cross-sections of the stream
Additional cross-sections of the stream at suitable distance

both upstream and downstream of the proposed bridge site.
These should indicate the distance from the bridge site and also
show the flood levels and low water level.
The cross-sections should extend to adequate horizontal
distances, upstream and downstream of the selected bridge site,
at which these cross-sections should be taken are 150m, 300m
and 400m for catchment areas of less than 2.5km2 , 2.5 to
10.0km2 and over 10.0km2 respectively.
Catchment area map
Catchment area map for the river at the proposed bridge site is to
be prepared by tracking the line of the ridge of the watershed from
the topographical maps of survey of India drawn to a scale of
1 : 50000 or 1 : 25000 if available.
The included area may be computed by placing a transparent
squared paper on the map and counting the number of squares.
Soil profiles
Soil profiles should be determined by subsoil exploration along

each of the probable bridge alignments.
Wherever possible borings should be taken at the possible
locations of the abutments and piers.
The drawing should show the bed and banks as well as the
classification and levels of the layers of the subsoil.
The levels of the rock or other hand soil suitable for resting
foundations should be clearly marked
Every drawing
Every drawing should contain the identification particulars of

the crossing.
North point and directions of flow of the river should be
indicated in the index map, contour survey plan and the site plan.
Determination of design discharge
Method
The maximum discharge which a bridge across a natural stream is to

be designed to pass can be estimated by the following methods
By using one of the empirical formulae applicable to the region
By using a rational method involving the rainfall and other
characteristics for the area
By the area-velocity method, using the hydraulic characteristics
of the stream such as cross-sectional area, and the slop of the
stream
By unit hydrograph method
From any available records of the floods discharge observed at
the bridge site or at any other site in vicinity.
It is desirable to estimate the flood discharge by at least two of the
above methods and the maximum discharge determined by
judgemental by the engineer responsible for the design.
Linear Waterway
When the water course to be crossed is an artificial channel for

irrigation or navigation, or when the banks are well defined for
natural streams, the linear waterway should be the full width of the
channel or stream.
The effective linear waterway = Total wdth - mean submerged
width of peirs and their foundation.
Afflux - limited to 300mm.
The increased velocity under the bridge should be kept bellow the
allowable safe velocity for the bed material. (Loose soil or fine
sand = upto 0.5 m/s and Rock = 2.5 to 5.0 m/s)
Economical Span
The cost of superstructure of one span = The cost of substructure of

the same span
Investigation Report
Location of Piers and Abutments

Vertical clearance Above HFL
Subsoil Exploration
Scour Depth
Traffic Projection
Investigation Report - Choice of Bridge Type.
References
Books, Articles and other references
[1] D. Johnson Victor.
Essentials of Bridge Engineering.
Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt, Ltd, 2017.
Index
Technical Word Index

WINSEM2019-20 CLE5012 ETH VL2019205005675 Reference Material I 16-Dec-2019 02 Investigation For Bridges

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DESIGN OF BRIDGES

2. Investigation for Bridges

Machang Bay Bridge @ South Korea.

+91 9003378135 dr.n.senthil.kumar.india@gmail.com N Senthil Kumar Vit linkedin

Investigation for Bridges

Referred from [1]

The aim of the investigation is to select a suitable site at which a

The characteristics of an ideal site for a bridge across a river are

The characteristics of an ideal site for a bridge across a river are

When the river to be crossed is a meandering river the bridge

The location of the bridge in relation to the alignment of the

The engineer in charge of the investigation for a major bridge should

The engineer in charge of the investigation for a major bridge should

The engineer in charge of the investigation for a major bridge should

The engineer in charge of the investigation for a major bridge should

The following drawing should be prepared at the time of investigation

A contour survey plan of the stream showing

A site plan to a suitable scale(preferably 1 : 1000) showing

The site plan should include the following details:

The site plan should include the following details: (cont..)

A cross-section of the river at the proposed bridge site to a scale of

A longitudinal section of the stream showing the site of the

Additional cross-sections of the stream at suitable distance

Soil profiles should be determined by subsoil exploration along

Every drawing should contain the identification particulars of

The maximum discharge which a bridge across a natural stream is to

When the water course to be crossed is an artificial channel for

The cost of superstructure of one span = The cost of substructure of

Location of Piers and Abutments

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