Design of well foundations

Bridge Sub-structures?
 Parapet Footpath Deck slab

Seismic restrainer
Longitudinal girder
Pier cap
Bearing Pier
Bearing pedestal
Pier shaft
All the components below
this level form parts of the
sub-structure

Well
Foundation Pile
Open
This depth of soil is
liable to be washed
away (scoured)
Investigation of river characteristics (discharge, velocity)
In sounding, both position of boat and depth of flow has to be measured

Fig. Methods of fixing position of sounding boat

 Ridge line

Catchment area

Tributary of river

River at bridge site

Upstream of proposed Bridge site
bridge site

Fig. Identification of catchment area for a bridge site

Once the catchment area of the river is known, then
discharge at the bridge site can be estimated using various
formulae
Fig. Coefficients for use in Dicken’s flood formula (multiply by 0.014 when area is in sq. km
and discharge is in cumecs)
(Bridge site)
Vm
Design discharge = 285 cumecs
H.F.L. = 253.245 m
L.W.L.= 247.085 m

Increase in design discharge

= 30%
Discharge for design of
foundation = 1.30 x 285 =
370.5 cumecs
Fig. Variation of discharge and scour in the Ganges at Garh Mukteshwar
Calculation of linear
waterway not required
in this case

This is the d50 value

obtained from sieve
analysis
Meandering river

HV Transmission line
 Maximum scour depth
Computed (normal) scour depth
Grip length of well
= 14.43 m
This steel shall be equally
distributed on the top and
the bottom face of the well
cap as an orthogonal mesh

Steining
75

Well curb
Cutting edge
 Hoop bars

Closed ties
Well curb detailing
• Cutting edge section shall not be less than
40 kg/m
 Passive state on this side

Effect of friction at the base and the

sides of the well is neglected.
Soil pressures are calculated using
Rankine’s theory.

Passive state on this side

All lateral loads are
balanced only by soil
resistance. Contribution
of friction is neglected.
Behaviour is similar to that of
a conventional isolated footing
resting on soil.

Well rotates about a point located on its base

Note that this is the Maximum
Scour Level and NOT the bed
of the river M.S.L.

h The contribution of friction and

the bearing resistance of soil at
Grip length of the well
the base of the well is neglected

Well rotates about a point located

above its base ≈0.2D

(per unit length of the well, out-of-plane dimension of well = de)

ADE

Qh

Qsafe
 Take submerged unit weight
= 10 kN/m3

(this is a function of φ)
 These are the loads per leg
of the 4-legged tower

24 m

24 m

Transmission line

Single well with out-riggers

The 4 legs shall be supported

on 4 wells
(This is the scour depth without any obstruction in the river)
 NGL 150.0 m
9.2 m

HFL 149.40 m
18.8 m

MSL
9m

FL
 MSL 140.20 M
Considering only the submerged
weight of the well steining

FL 131.20 M

MSL
Max. velocity of flow

9m

Projected area of well in elevation

below MSL
 RC pedestal for supporting
tower leg.
94 kN
RC pedestal for supporting
166 kN tower leg.

71.2 kN h=18.34 m
126 kN/m2

3m
2m
Clear cover

Because of the relatively light

loading check for one-way
shear has not been performed
If required, then steining
can also be designed as
a cracked RCC section.
Closed rings in well
curb perimeter
Anchor bars for the MS
liner sheet. Provide 12 mm
dia. at 250 mm c/c

150 mm
This is the load for each
leg of the tower.
Provide 4 wells for the
4 tower legs.
 Top of well cap: HFL + 600 mm
HFL

12.49 m
MSL
Grip length
=9m Founding Level
( 1m thickness was preferable)
(Under HFL conditions)
(Well cap is above HFL))

(Take submerged unit weight))

(Steining is partially submerged))

 Resultant wind load

DL of tower leg
Dead weight of well

Tilted configuration of well

What does a tilt of 1 in 80 look like?
Assuming tower connection with pedestal
to be hinged (No moment transfer takes
place from tower leg to pedestal)
Submerged weights have been taken

This is the ultimate bearing capacity of soil at the founding level

B

B
H1
=D
Analysis and Design of Pile Foundations
Pile cap
5929
Analysis of pile groups for lateral loads
Plan Plan

Section
Free-standing pile group

Lf
10 m
 3.6 m
(Normally, limiting lateral deflection = 1% of pile diameter)
(This is the unfactored lateral load
capacity. Apply a factor of safety
of 2)