DESIGN OF BRIDGES

I.

Required Design Data

II.

Design Criteria and

Standards

III. Design Procedure

IV. Design Revisions

I. REQUIRED DESIGN DATA :

BRIDGE SITE TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
Drawn to scale of 1:500 to 1:1000
depending
on the width of the river
The topo-map should be extended
at least
200m upstream & downstream from
the center
line of the proposed bridge to obtain
enough
information for river control & training
works
Location plan showing the existing
public and

B. PROFILE ALONG THE CENTERLINE

OF THE PROPOSED BRIDGE
Showing the elevations of
ordinary water level, ordinary
flood level & maximum flood
level.
C. RIVER CROSS-SECTIONS
@ 50m interval extending 100 to 200
meters
upstream and downstream from
the proposed bridge indicating the

D. HYDRAULICS / HYDROLOGIC ANALYSIS

Topographic map showing the

watershed
area and point of interest
Calculation of required waterway
opening
Scour Analysis
E.BORING
DATA
and
GEOTECHNI
Calculation
of WITH
DesignSPT
Flood
Level
REPORT
Minimum of two deep borings shall be
made
at each abutment and preferably an
additional boring at each pier for multi-span

Boreholes shall have minimum depth of

below the riverbed in ordinary soil or at
3.0m in bedrock

Standard Penetration Test (SPT) at max

interval of 1.50m and at every change i
stratum

Analysis for liquefaction potential.

The subsurface exploration should define

the following, where applicable :
Soil Strata
- Depth, thickness and variability

- Identification and classification

- Relevant
(i.e., shear

engineering

properties

strength, unit weight, compressibility,

stiffness,
permeability, expansion or collapse
potential)

Rock Strata
- Depth of rock
- Identification and classification
- Quality (i.e., soundness, hardness,
jointing,
resistance to weathering if exposed,
and
solutioning)
- Compressive
strength ( e.g.,
uniaxial
compression, point load index )
Ground
water elevation
- Expansion
potential
Ground surface topography

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

BRIDGE DESIGN
IA - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Vertical Clearances
1. Navigable river
At least 3.75 meters from the design
flood level (DFL)

2. Hydraulic
At least 1.50 meters for streams
carrying debris
At least 1.00 meters for others

3. Highway/Underpass/Tunnel
At least 4.88 meters

GEOMETRICS
A. Bridge Alignment

1. Normal bridge A transverse

structure perpendicular to the bank
of the river or creek.
2. Skew bridge A transverse
structure having an angle of less
than 900 from the bank of the river
creek.
3. Curved bridge When the
structure or portion of the structure
is within and following the
horizontal curve alignment of the

B. Span of Bridges
Odd number of spans shall be preferably
used to avoid a pier at the center of river or
creek.
NUMBER OF GIRDERS IN RELATION TO NUMBER
OF LANES
No. of Lanes
1 Lane
2 Lanes
2 Lanes
More than 2
lanes

Min. Roadway
Width
4.00 meters
6.70 meters
7.30 meters
variable

Min. No. of
Girders
3 girders
4 girder (rural)
4 girders
(urban)
Not less than 6
girders

C. Determination of Length of
Bridge
1. Sketch the proposed slopes of the
grouted riprap following the slope of
the banks as close as possible (1:1 for
cut, 1-1/2:1 for fill).
2. Determine
the
top
of
roadway
elevation based on the maximum flood
water level, freeboard and depth of
girders.
3. The intersections of the slopes of
grouted riprap and the top of the
roadway
elevation
represent
the
length
of
bridge

D. Types/Classification of
Superstructure

According to Materials Used

1. Timber Bridge
2. Concrete Bridge
a. Reinforced Concrete
b. Prestressed Concrete
3. Steel Bridge
a. Steel Plate Girder
b. Steel I-Beam
c. Steel Truss
d. Steel Box Girder

According to Usage
1. Temporary a bridge designed for a
short life span
2. Permanent a bridge with a designed
life span of at least fifty (50) years before
it is completely replaced

According to System of Design

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Simple Spans
Continuous Spans
Cantilever Span
Suspension Bridge
Cabled Stayed

E. Recommended Limits of Span of

Different Superstructure in the
Philippines

1. Timber Trestle Bridge For span not

more than 6.00 meters
2. Concrete Bridge
a) Reinforced Concrete Precast Slab or
Reinforced Flat Slab Span from
6.00m to 12.00m.
b) Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder
(RCDG)
span from 8.00m to
24.00m.
c) Reinforced Concrete Box Girder
span from 22.00m to 30.00m.

d) Reinforced Concrete Hollow Slab

Bridge span from 10.0m to 20.0m.
e) Prestressed Concrete Bridge
- Channel Beams span from 11.00m
to 14.0m.
- Tee Beams span from 15.00m to
18.00m.
- I-Beams span from 15.00m to
45.00m.
- Box Girders span over 30.00m.

3. Steel Bridges
a) Steel I-Beam span from 15.00 to
30.00m.
b) Steel Plate Girder span from
20.00m to
50.00m.
c) Steel Box Girder span from 30.0m
to 100m.
d) Bailey Bridge span from 9.00m. to
30.00m.
e) Steel Truss span from 40.00m
to130.00m.

4. Suspension Bridge span from 70.00m

and
over.

SUBSTRUCTURE
A. Factors in Selecting the Type of
Substructure
1.

Abutment

a) Height
of
fill
at
the
approaches.
b) Kinds of superstructure to
be used.
c)
Scouring character of river
bank.
d) Soil encountered at the
abutment foundation.

2.

Pier

a) Velocity of current and nature

of drift.
b) Kinds of superstructure to be
used.
c) Soil encountered at the pier
foundation.
d) Direction of flow of the river
with respect to the longitudinal axis
of the bridge.
e) Profile along the centerline of
the bridge.

B. Substructure Elements
1.

Abutment
Two Basic Categories:
a. Open End Abutments
Diaphragm or
integral type
Seat type
Spill through type

b.

Closed Type Abutments

Cantilever type

Restrained type.

Rigid frame type

Cellular or vaulted type

Gravity or semi-gravity type

Reinforced earth type

Types of Abutment Commonly Used:

- Abutments on pile bent
- Abutments on two columns
- Cantilever type

2.

Piers

Types of Piers Commonly Used

- Piers with solid shaft
- Piers with two columns
- Piers with single column
- Piers on pile bent

C. Foundation
Factors in Selecting the Type of
Foundation
a. The height of the substructure
b. Characteristics of the foundation
soil at
bridge site.

Requirements for the Use of the

Different Types of Piles

Piling shall be considered when footings

cannot be founded on rock or other
solid foundation material.
Penetration for any pile shall be not
less than 3.00m in hard
cohesive or
dense granular material nor less than
6.00m in soft cohesive or loose granular
material.

Type of Piles

1. Timber Pile used for temporary

construction, revetments, fender and
similar work.
2. Reinforced Concrete Piles used as
foundation piles (Precast or Cast-inPlace) for bridges.
3. Steel Piles used where hard driving is
expected.
4. Composite Steel/Concrete Piles used if
the portion of the pile is
exposed to
corrosive environment and hard driving
is expected
5. Prestressed Concrete Piles used as
foundation piles for bridges where

II. DESIGN CRITERIA & STANDARDS

A. DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

AASHTO Standard Specifications

for
Highway Bridges, Sixteenth Edition,
1996

Department Order No. 75, Series of

1992,
Re: DPWH Advisory for Seismic
Design of
Bridges

DPWH Design Guidelines, Criteria

and
Standards, Volumes 1& 2 (Red Book)

B. LOADING SPECIFICATIONS
1)

DEAD LOAD

Selfweight plus allowance for

future superimposed dead loads
such as wearing surface and weight
of public utilities.
2) LIVE LOAD
FOUR CLASSES OF HIGHWAY
LOADINGS
:
M 13.5
equivalent to H 1544

M 18
44

equivalent to H 20-

FOUR CLASSES OF HIGHWAY LOADINGS :

M 22.5
MS 13.5
MS 18
MS 22.5

equivalent to H 25
equivalent to HS 15-44
equivalent to HS 20-44
equivalent to HS 25

STANDARD

TRUCK LOADING
4.27
m

M
M
M

13.5
18
22.5

27 kN
36 kN
45 kN

108 kN
144 kN
180 kN

STANDARD

TRUCK LOADING
4.27 m
9.14 m

MS
MS
MS

4.27 to

13.5 27 kN 108 kN 108 kN

18
36 kN 144 kN 144 kN
22.5 45 kN 180 kN 180 kN

LANE LOADING
M 13.5 and MS 13.5
Loading
Concentrated Load = 60 kN for
Moment
= kN
87per
kN for
Uniform Load = 7.10
Shear
meter of load lane

LANE LOADING
M 18 and MS 18
Loading
Concentrated Load = 80 kN for
Moment
= kN
116per
kN for
Uniform Load = 9.40
Shear
meter of load lane
M 22.5 and MS 22.5
Loading
Concentrated Load = 100 kN for
Moment
= 145
for
Uniform Load = 11.75
kNkN
per
Shear
meter of load lane

3)

IMPACT

Impact , I = 15.24 / ( L + 38)

where: I = impact fraction (max.
of 30%)
L = span length in meters
4)
Pa
Pa

SIDEWALK LOADING
For spans up to 7.92m .4070
For spans 7.92 to 30.5m...2870

For spans > 30.5m ..p = [ 1435 +

43800/L ]

5) WIND LOAD
Superstructure Design
For trusses and arches :
3.59 kPa
For girders and beams :
2.39 kPa
Based on 100 miles per hour wind
velocity.
Substructure Design
Force transmitted to the substructure
by the
superstructure plus the forces
applied
directly to the substructure by wind
load :

6)

THERMAL FORCE
Provisions shall be made for
stresses or
movements resulting from variation in
temp.
Under local condition the range of
temperature
7) UPLIFT
o
rise
and
fall
could
be
taken
as
:
+
10
C
100 % of the calculated uplift caused
by any
loading or combination of loading in
which the
live load plus impact load is increased
by 100
percent.

8) FORCE FROM STREAM CURRENT

P = 515 k V2
where : P = pressure in Pascal
(Pa)
V = velocity of flow,
m/sec
k = 1 3/8
for square
ends,
2/3 for circular
piers or,
1/2 for angle ends
where
the angles 30o or
less

10) EARTH PRESSURE

Calculated using the Rankines formula.
However no structure shall be
designed for
less an equivalent fluid weight of 4.71 kN/m 3
(30 pcf).
Fig. 2 Computation procedure for active earth
Surcharge due to live load = 0.61m (2 ft)
pressure,
Coulomb Analysis
Normal Time

where :

a = Ka H

90o
H/3

Pa

+ 90o -

= effective unit weight of

= effective angle of frictio
= angle of wall friction
(Table 5.5.2 B AASHTO)

A = sin2 (
+
B = sin2 sin ( - )
C = sin ( + ) sin ( - )
D = sin ( - ) sin ( + )
Ka

Pa

=
B 1
+

C
D

/2 H2 Ka

EARTH PRESSURE (cont.)

Fig. 3 Calculation of earth pressure,
MononobeOkabe Analysis
ACTIV
AC
E WE
EarthquakeTime
FA TIVE W
FA
DGE
E
DGE
IL
U
E
AE
R
E
SU
R
FA
CE

IL
U
R
E

Kh w
(1 - kv ) w

EAE

SU
R
FA
CE

Kh w
(1 - kv ) w

GRAVITY WALL
i
kv ws

Active wedge
force diagram

CANTILEVER WALL
kh ws

ha

EAE

EARTH PRESSURE (cont.)

Seismic Active Earth Pressure, EAE
A = cos2 ( - - )
B = cos cos2 cos ( + + )

EAE

C = sin ( + ) sin ( - )
D = cos ( + + ) cos ( - )
A
KAE =
2
C
B 1
D
+
= 1/2 H2 (1 - kv) KAE
ha = 0.60
H

where : H = height of soil face

= effective unit weight of
soil
= effective angle of
friction
= arctan [ kh / (1 - kv) ]
angle of wall
friction coeff.
kh == horizontal
acceleration
(Table
5.5.2
B
AASHTO)
k = vertical acceleration
v

coefficient
= back fill slope angle
= slope of soil face

EARTH PRESSURE (cont.)

Mononobe-Okabe Analysis for
Seismic Passive Earth Pressure,
EPE
A = cos2 ( - +

)
B = cos cos2 cos ( - + )
C = sin ( - ) sin ( - + )
D = cos ( -
A
KPE =
B 1
+
EPE = 1/2 H2

+ ) cos ( - )
2
C
D
(1 - kv) KPE

11) SEISMIC LOAD

Specification : AASHTO, 1996 Fifteenth
Edition,
Division I-A, Seismic Design
Governing Regulation :
DPWH Department Order No.75 Series
of 1992,
re: Seismic Design of Bridges
Design Parameters :
Ground motion parameter defined as
ground
acceleration coefficient, A ( A = 0.40g is

Site Effects as defined by site

coefficient, S
depending on soil profile at the bridge
site.
Important
Considerations :
- Relationship of the site to active
faults.
- Seismic response of the soils at the
site.
- Dynamic response characteristics of
the whole
structure.

ANALYSIS PROCEDURES :
Procedure 1 : Single Mode Spectral
Method
(Equivalent Static Lateral
Force
Method)

- For regular bridges only.*

- The method assumes single mode shape
so that a
single degree of freedom generalized
parameter
model can be formulated.

Procedure 2: Multi-mode Spectral Method

(Dynamic Analysis)

* A regular bridge has no abrupt or

unusual
changes in mass, stiffness or geometry
along its
span and has no large difference in
these
parameters
between
adjacent
supports
(abutments excluded). For example a
bridge
may be considered regular if it is
straight or
describes the sector of an arc not
o

DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 75, Series of 1992

SUBJECT : DPWH Advisory for Seismic
Design of
Bridges
July
The threat of
earthquakes occurring in the
17,
1992
Philippines
can no

longer be discounted. Past and recent events

have shown
devastating effects of earthquakes not only on
buildings but
also on highways and bridges. In addition to the loss
of lives,
the recent Cabanatuan and Baguio Earthquakes
caused the
closure of many highways and the collapse of many
bridges
which are designed based on older AASHTO
Standard

In modern seismic design of bridges, the basic

design
philosophy is for the bridge to resist small to
moderate
earthquakes in the elastic range without
significant
damage. In case of large earthquakes, a
bridge may
suffer damage but this should not cause
collapse of all
or any of its parts and such
readily

damage

should

DEPT ORDER NO.75

cont..
Therefore, to mitigate, if not prevent damage/s to

bridges due
to
earthquakes, and for the guidance of
engineering
professionals
and DPWH engineers
particularly those
undertaking the design of bridges, the DPWH
is issuing
this ADVISORY :
1. As a minimum requirement, the design of
bridges shall
conform with the current AASHTO Standard
Specifications for Highway Bridges, 14th Edition, and

2.

Design Concept to be adopted shall be as

follows :
a) Continuous bridges with monolithic
multi-column
bents have high degree of redundancy and
are the
preferred type of bridge structure to
resist seismic
shaking. Deck discontinuities such as
expansion
joints and hinges should be kept to an
absolute
minimum. Suspended spans, brackets,
rollers, etc

DEPT ORDER NO. 75 cont...

c) Restrainers (horizontal linkage between
adjacent
span) are required at all joints in
accordance with
the AASHTO Guide Specifications for
Seismic Design
and generous seat widths at piers and
abutments
should be provided to prevent loss-of-span
failures.
d) Transverse reinforcements in the zones of
yielding
is essential to the successful
performance of

e) Plastic hinging should be forced to occur in

ductile
column regions of the pier rather than in the
foundation unit. A scheme to protect the abutment
piles from
failure is often accomplished by designing
the backwall to shear-off when subjected to the design
seismic
lateral force that would otherwise fail the
abutment
piles.
f) The stiffness of the bridge as a whole
should be
considered in the analysis. In irregular

FIG. 2A
ILLUSTRATING
THE PROVISIONS OF DPWH
CONTINUIT
GENEROUS
MINIMUM
Y
D.O.
No.
75
MONOLITHIC
JOINTS
SEAT WIDTH
ABUTMENT
for SEISMIC DESIGN OF BRIDGES

RESTRAINERS
PLASTIC HINGES

MULTI-COLUMN BENT IS PREFERRED OVER SINGLE COLUMN PIERS

THE STIFFNESS OF THE WHOLE BRIDGE SHOULD BE COSIDERED IN
THE ANALYSIS
TRANVERSE REINFORCEMENT AT REGIONS OF YIELDING (PLASTIC
HINGES)

Extended column spirals

into coping, min. = D/2

Column Outside
Region

Column End
Region
H/6, D, or 18

Column End
Region
H/6, D, or 18
16mm @
300 o.c.

H
Column Section
Extended column spirals
into footing, min. = D/2

..............
.............
d

TYPICAL PIER DETAILS

Extended Pile Rein

Rei
w/ hoops or ties

III. DESIGN PROCEDURE

1. Preliminary layout of the proposed bridge.
(General Plan and Elevation)
- Review hydraulic/hydrologic analyses to
determine
the required waterway opening and bridge
elevation.
- Survey data (topographic map of bridge site,
profiles,
river cross sections, water elevations)
- Bridge geometric requirements such as
vertical/
horizontal alignments, roadway width,
sidewalk/
shoulder width, median width and vertical
clearance.

TOTAL BRIDGE LENGTH

BASED ON WATERWAY WIDTH & MIN. VERT. CLEARANCE
MINIMUM CLEARANCE :
1.0 m (no debris)
TOP OF ROADWAY ELEV.
ELEV
1.5 m
or as required for navigation
MFL

BOTTOM OF
GIRDER EL.

SLOPE

SLOPE
OWL

(PROFILE ALONG THE CENTERLINE OF BRIDGE)

ig. 4 PRELIMINARY LAYOUT OF A PROPOSED BRIDG

2. Establish the design criteria and

specifications
(General Notes)
- Design Specifications / Standards
- Design live load
- Design Stresses
- Seismic design criteria :
Ground acceleration
coefficient., A
Importance classification, IC
Seismic Performance Category,
SPC
- Materials specifications

3. Final selection of the type of

structures.
Superstructures & substructures :
-

span lengths
height of substructures
size limitations

Foundations :
- depth of scour
- depth of hard strata
- liquefaction potential of
foundation
materials
- magnitude of loads from
superstructure

4. Design of superstructures
- Deck slab (interior & exterior slab)
Slab thickness
Steel reinforcement (main rebars,
distribution
rebars )
- Design of main girders & cross beams
(RCDG, prestressed I-girder, steel or
concrete box
girder, composite plate girder, etc.)
- Design of steel trusses
Main members (top & bottom chords, vert.
& diag.)
Floor system (stringers & floor beams)
- Miscellaneous designs
Bearings, railings, expansion dams,

5. Design of Substructures
- Check for depth of scour.
- Check for liquefaction potential.
- Create a stick model of the bridge for
structural
analyses (see Fig.5)
- Analyze for various combination of loads
(see AASHTO Table 3.22.1A for load
combinations)
- Design pier coping and columns.
- Design pier footings and foundations.
- Detailing

FIG. 5 STICK MODEL FOR STRUCTURAL ANA

IV. DESIGN REVISIONS

1. When are revisions of bridge design
necessary ?
(Revision of Superstructure Design)
- To facilitate construction and/or
shorten e.g.,
Revision from cast-in-place girder
construction to
precast / prestressed girders.
- Change in span length or elevation.
- To update the design with current /
revised code
provisions.
- Faulty design sometimes resulting from

(Revision of Substructure and Foundation

Design)
- When actual soil conditions do not
correspond
with the design assumptions.
- Insufficient penetration of test piles.
- Required bearing capacity at footing
elevation
could not be attained.
2. Requirements for approval of revised
- Non-availability of materials /
plans :
equipment for
construction.
- Reasons/justifications
for the proposed
revisions
- Revised structural analysis

- Boring Data / Pile Driving Data

- Hydraulic analysis
- Copy of approved plans
- As-staked survey data
Other Requirements :
- Redesigns could be done by the original
designer/
consultant, the implementing office
or the
contractor when it is necessary for proper
project
implementation.
- Redesigns shall have the concurrence
of the

Thank You
and
God Bless !!!