SUBSTRUCTURE

AND
FOUNDATION
CODE
Second Revision 2013
Corrected –CS 1

SPB-1
 SCOPE

• Applied to Design & Construction of Sub-

structure & foundation of Railway Bridge
• Checking the existing sub-structures

• Structural Design as per relevant IRS

Codes

2
 HYDROLOGICAL DESIGN
INVESTIGATION
• Estimation of design discharge
– For 50 years recurrence interval
– Can be decreased for less important
lines/siding
• Method of estimation
– From actual data
– Computed statistically
– By unit hydrograph
– By synthetic Hydrograph
– By other methods
3
• Design discharge for foundation,
protection works and training works
except free board
– should be increased by suitable factor
based on catchments area

Area Increase
Less than 500 sq. Km 30%
500-5000 sq. Km 30% - 20%
5000 - 25000 sq km 20% - 10%
more than 25000 sq km < than 10%
4
• Design of Waterway
– width of spread between stable banks
– extra for spill discharge if depth of spill is
appreciable
– constricted water way for wide & shallow
rivers
– By Lacey’s formula for alluvial beds &
sustained floods
• Pw = 1.811 CQ
– For sub-mountain rivers
• depends on configuration of active
channels/channels
• cost of diversion/training these channels
– Increase by twice the weighted width of
submerged piers
5
• Depth of Scour
– Shall be estimated considering local
condition
– Wherever feasible, sounding be taken
specially for flashy rivers and with beds
having boulders or gravels
– Scour depth be increased for
• Design discharge being more than
observed discharge
• Increase velocity due to constriction
• Increase in scour near
pier/abutments
6
Depth of Scour

– For alluvial rivers

• Waterway more than Lacey’s width
D = 0.473 (Qf /f) 1/3
• Waterway less than Lacey’s width

D = 1.338 (qf2 /f)1/3

– Shall increase for foundation, protection &
river training works as per table in clause no
4.6.6
7
 Increase in depth of scour (4.6.6)
Nature of the river Depth of scour
In a straight reach 1.25 D
At the moderate bend conditions 1.5 D
e.g Along apron of guide bunds

At a severe bend 1.75 D

At right angle bend or at nose of 2.0 D
pier
In severe swirls eg. Against 2.5 TO 2.7 D
mole head of a guide bund
8
• Afflux ( Increase in water level at upstream due to
obstruction by structure )

– For non erodable beds

h = [v2/17.88 + 0.01524] x[ (A /a )2- 1 ]

– Full afflux as per formula may not occur

in case of erodable beds

9
• Clearance
– Minimum clearance for bridges excluding arch bridges,
syphons, pipe culvert and Box culverts

Discharge (cumecs) Vertical clearance (mm)

0 - 30 600
31-300 600 – 1200 (Pro-rata)
301 - 3000 1500
Above 3000 1800

– For arch Bridge, Minimum clearance measured to crown

shall be

Span of Arch Clearance

Less than 4 m Rise or 1200 mm
4.0 to 7.0 m 2/3 rise or 1500mm
7.1 to 20.0 m 2/3 rise or 1800 mm
Above 20.0 m 2/3 rise
10
• Clearance cont.
– Clearance can be relaxed by CE/CBE provided
• adoption of prescribed clearance results in heavy
expenditure or serious difficulties
• clearance can be safely reduced to

Discharge (cum) Clearance (mm)

Less than 3 300
3 to 30 300 - 400 (Pro-rata)
31 to 300 400 - 1200 (Pro-rata)

– Retain existing clearance for works other than

rebuilding
– Factors of tendency of rising stream bed to be taken
into account
11
• Free Board
– Minimum free Board from water level of design
discharge to formation level of Railway
embankment or top of guide bund shall be one
meter

– suitably increased if heavy wave action is expected

– CE/CBE can relax Free Board in special

circumstances to
Discharge (cumecs) Min free board (mm)
Less than 3 600
3 to 30 750
More than 30 No relaxation

12
 FREEBOARD

• 4.9.3 While executing works other

than rebuilding a bridge or extending
it for doubling purposes, the existing
freeboard may be retained after
taking measures for safety as
considered necessary by Pr. Chief
Eng./CBE.

13
•Danger Level
– is that level which when reached, safety of the bridge is
likely to be adversely effected.
– Traffic shall remain suspended till a responsible officials
as per para 706 inspects and declares it safe for running
traffic.
– Shall be fixed by Divisional Engineer for each bridge
with great caution & with due regards to conditions
obtaining at site.
• shall be a level which is lower of
followings
– provides adequate vertical clearance
– Provides minimum free board to approach banks and
guide bunds
– Level of water which is likely to cause unduly large afflux
say more than 0.5m

14
 threat, following can be taken as
broad guide

i)Girder/Slab Bridge lines for fixing

D.L. Water Way Clearance below
bottom of girders/slab
< 6.1m 150 to 300mm
> 6.1 < 12.2m 450mm
> 12.20 < 30.5 600mm
> 30.50 < 61.0m 750mm
> 61.00mm 1200mm
ii)Arch bridges
Span < 4m Springing Level
Span > 4m or 2/3rd rise below
multiple span crown level

15
iii)Box Culverts
Bottom of Slab
iv)Pipe Culverts
Top of inside pipe

v)Balancing culverts and bridges

50mm below top of pier/abutments in case of

culverts with girder/slabs or crown intrados
of the
arch
– Above guide lines are for general guidance and should be
used where specific guide lines are not issued.
– In case floods higher than danger level occurred several
times without causing damage to bridge, revision of D.L. may
be examined.
– Factors of tendency of rising stream bed to be taken into
account

16
 LOADS, FORCES AND STRESSES
• Loads & effects of forces be taken as per Bridge
Rules
• Loaded length be chosen to give most adverse
effect
• Forces due to gradient effect be taken
• Dead Load
– Load of superstructure
– Permanent load on it
– Use IS 1911 for unit weights
( Schedule of unit weight of building materials)

17
• Live Load
– As per bridge rule

– Use 25 T/DFC/RMG/A Class Loading

– Live load reaction on abutment of simply

supported span

• Gravity type - 50% of total EUDL for shear

• Non gravity type - minimum vertical reaction
corresponding to maximum LF

– Live Load reaction for piers on simply supported span

- to be worked out for

• One span fully loaded

• Both span fully loaded
18
Live Load ( contd.)

– Pier of gravity type

• For one span loaded - 50% of total EUDL for

shear
• Both span loaded for equal span - 50% of
total EUDL for BM

– For non gravity piers/gravity piers

supporting unequal span

• Appropriate axle load giving maximum LF

19
•Dynamic Augment
– On top of bed block  as per Bridge rule
– For gravity type substructure, further multiply by
Bottom of bed block 0.5
Top 3m below bed block 0.5 to 0
Beyond 3m No impact
– For non gravity type
Up to scour level, full dynamic effect as on top
of bed block
– Slab top culvert with no bed block
Top 300mm considered as bed block.
– For ballast wall
upto 1.5m depth 0.5
beyond 1.5m No DA

20
• Longitudinal forces
– As specified in Bridge rules and as applicable in design
calculations
• Temperature effect
– Need not be considered if superstructure is free to
expand/contract
• Frictional resistance of expansion bearings
– Equal to vertical reaction due to DL+LL multiplied by
frictional coefficient.
– Frictional coefficient as per Bridge rule

PSC/RCC slab on unyielding piers/abutments

– DL * 0.5 for concrete with bitumen layer in between
– DL * 0.6 for concrete not roughened
21
• Earth Pressure
– Earth retaining structure be designed for
active pressure from earth fill
– Active earth pressure as per Colomb’s
formula
Pa = 1/2 wh2 Ka
• Acts on earth face at h/3 above section under
consideration with an angle δ to normal to
the back face
• Formula is for granular back fill with effective
drainage

22
– Passive earth pressure as per Colomb’s
formula
Pp = 1/2 wh2 Kp
• Acts on front face at h/3 above section under
consideration with an angle ϕ to normal

– For checking stability of abutments, 1/3rd

passive pressure can be allowed up to scour
level.( Modified for old bridges vide C.S no. 23)
– Semi-empirical methods can be used for
structures up to 6m fill above foundation or
checking existing sub-structures where
• Granular track fill/drainage condition is not satisfied
• Not practicable to follow theoretical method
23
EP due to surcharge
– On account of LL+DL shall be considered as equivalent to
load placed at formation level extending upto front face of
ballast wall
– Surcharge due to L.L. for different standards of loading

Standard of Surcharge Width of uniform

loading Kg/m ‘S’ distribution at
formation level (m) ‘B’

MBG 13700 3.0

MMG 9800 2.1

MGML 9800 2.1
NG ‘A’ Class 8300 1.8
24
• Forces due to water current
• Applied on any part of Bridge substructure
submerged under running water
– Water pressure on piers parallel to direction of
water current
P = KAV2
• Suitable cut water be provided to reduce water
pressure
– Max. mean value of velocity (V) is taken from
past records
– In absence of past record
• For alluvial beds, calculated by formula
V = [ Q f2 / 140 ]1/6 [ A/a]
– In absence of data assume 3m/sec
• For other than alluvial beds
– Estimate from observation / Past record of adjacent
sites
25
• Forces due to water current Cont.
– Where current strikes at an angle, velocity be
resolved in two component, one parallel and
other normal to pier and pressure calculated
– To take care possible variation in direction of
current, 20% water pressure be assumed to act
as additional force in normal direction to pier.
– For supports made of two or more piles or
trestle column, treat group as solid rectangular
pier of same overall width with taking K as 66

26
• Buoyancy Effect
– For Designing of Foundation
• Full buoyancy effect upto HFL or LWL, depending on
most critical combination.
• Can be reduced upto 50% of buoyancy at the
discretion of Engineer if foundation are resting on
rock and have adequate bond with it.
– Checking stability against overturning
• Effect of buoyancy upto HFL
– For calculation of foundation pressure
• Upto LWL for max. foundation pressure
• Upto HFL for min. foundation pressure
– Design of submerged masonry / concrete
substructure
• Buoyancy effect through pore pressure upto 15% of
full buoyancy
– Upto LWL for checking compressive strength
– Upto HFL for checking tensile strength 27
• Wind Pressure
– For span 18m and above as per Bridge rule.
• Seismic Forces
– Bridge as a whole and every part be design to
resists stress by seismic force as per bridge rule
– The stresses be calculated as effect of forces
applied vertically or horizontally at the centre of
mass of elements of structure
– Conveniently divided from design purpose
– No seismic force for slab, box and pipe culvert
– Seismic force considered for substructure in
different zones
– Zone II to III For bridges of length > 60m

and Span > 15m

– Zone VI & V For Bridges of all spans
28
– Seismic forces on substructures above scour
depth shall be
• Horizontal and vertical seismic forces due to self
weight of structure ignoring reduction due to
buoyancy and uplift
• Hydrodynamic forces
• Increase in Earth Pressure
• Horizontal and vertical seismic forces due to D.L. of
superstructure and L.L. as specified in Bridge rules
transferred from superstructure to substructure
through bearings.
– Substructure be designed for worst case
assuming horizontal seismic force to act either
parallel or perpendicular
• to the direction of Traffic
• to the face of pier / abutment for skew substructure.
– Bridges should not be founded on loose or
poorly graded sands in Zone III, IV & V unless
suitable methods of compaction or
stabilization are adopted.
29
• Combination of Loads and Forces
– Combination I  Worst Possible
combination of DL, LL, I, LF,CF,
EP,WC&B, TMP where considered and
EXB to movements
– Combination II  Combination I + WL
– Combination III  Combination I + SF
– Combination IV  Forces During
erection +WL or SF

30
• Permissible Stresses
– For brick/stone masonry substructure are
specified in para 5.14.3 of sub-structure code.
– For plain or reinforced cement concrete, it is
specified in IRS concrete Bridge Code
• If concrete substructures are but in stages,
permissible tensile stress be limited to 80%
– Permissible increase in stress
• For various combinations of loads, permissible
stress shall be increased as
– Combination I Nil
– Combination II&III 33 1/3%
– Combination IV 40%

31
 CERTIFICATION OF EXISTING
MASONRY/CONCRETE SUBSTRUCTURE

• Shall be based on physical condition of pier

and abutments
• Certification for new types locos, rolling stock
and train composition causing increase in
T.E. & B.F.
– Criteria for Masonry abutments / piers
• 100% overstressing in compression allowed subject to
good condition of masonry
• 200% overstressing in compression allowed subject to
good condition of masonry and close observation of
Bridges as directed by CE

32
 • For more than 200% overstress in compression, Bridge be
strengthened / rebuild to appropriate loading
• If Max tensile stress exceed 100% tensile zone be
neglected and equivalent compressive stress be workout

– Criteria for Mass Concrete abutments/piers

• In bending compression, 50% overstress permitted
subject to good condition of masonry
• If maximum tensile stress exceeds 100%
– Calculate equivalent comp. stress neglecting
tensile zone.

33
• For gauge conversion
– Checking substructure
• Existing gravity type substructures be retained provided
max. stresses do not exceed permissible stresses by
(i) 100% in comp. in masonry
(ii) No overstress in comp. in concrete
(iii) 100% in tension in masonry/concrete

– Foundations
• The pressure on soil at the base of foundation shall not
exceed the safe/allowable bearing pressure

34
 EQUIVALENT STRESS

• Rectangular Base
– Tension develops if e>B/6
– For e<B/6
• q= F/A(1+-6e/B)
– For e>B/6
• q= F/A{4B/(3B-6e)}
q=0 at 3(B/2-e)

35
 EQUIVALENT STRESS

• Circular Base
– Tension develops if e>r/4
– For e<r/4
• q= F/A(1+-4e/r)
– For e>r/4
• q= K F/A where K is

e/r .25 .30 .35 .40 .45 .50 .55 .60 .65 .70 .75 .80 .90

K 2 2.2 2.43 2.70 3.10 3.55 4.22 4.92 5.90 7.20 9.20 13 80

36
 FOUDATIONS
• General Design Criteria
– Preferably locate on a firm ground having
stable strata.
– Should fulfill following basic requirements
• Safety against strength failure.
• Safety against deformation and differential
settlement.
• Allowable bearing pressure shall be taken lessor of
– Net ultimate bearing capacity / 2.5
– maximum allowable pressure on foundation without
causing excessive settlement(>25mm or excessive
differential settlement)
• In open foundations
– Resultant lie within middle third
– Depth of foundation in soil > 1.75m below scour level.
– Shall not normally rest on compressible soils.
37
• Sub- soil Investigations
– Scope
• To determine nature, extent and engineering
properties of soil/ rock strata and ground water table.
• Use IS:1892, 6935, 2720,1498, IRC:78 for guidance
– Subsurface investigation be carried out during
three stages
• Reconnaissance Survey
– Bad locations for foundations are avoided
– Reliable data from geological and topographical maps
scrutinized
• Preliminary Survey
– scope restricted to determine depth, extent,
composition,characteristics of various strata
• Final Location Survey
– Detail tests to design safe and economical structure.
38
– Information to be obtained during sub-
surface investigation
• Site Plan
• Cross Sections along the proposed bridge
• Environmental factor
• Geo-technical Information
• Modulus of elasticity and Modulus of sub-grade reaction
• A review of performance of a similar structure
• Assess possible effects on existing structure

39
– Open Foundations
• Trial Pit Method.
• Soil classification by visual inspection or simple classification
tests.
• Safe bearing capacity can be assumed from Table-6, as a guide.
– Deep Foundations
• Exploratory bore holes and samples at every 1.5m or change of
strata.
• If undisturbed samples can not be taken, in situ field tests may
be done.
• Normally depth of boring extends to 1.5 to 2.0 times foundation
width below foundation level.
• Soft strata shall be penetrated completely
• Guidance may be taken from IS 2132 & IS58763

40
Foundation in Non-cohesive strata
– Bearing Capacity - can be determined
by several methods
• Plate load test (For shallow depths only)
• dynamic cone penetration test
• standard penetration test.
• Guidance of IS 6403, 2911 (Pt.I&IV), 2131, 4968 (Pt
I&III), 1888 & 1904 may be taken

41
• Settlement/ can be determined by
• Plate load test
• Standard Penetration Test
• Settlement taken place very quickly and over for
dead load during construction stage.

– Allowable bearing pressure

• Judiciously decided keeping in view importance of
structure and criteria mentioned earlier.

42
Foundation in cohesive strata
– Foundation
• can be determined as in case of non-cohesive strata
– Settlement
• settlement takes place over a long period of time
• settlement below foundation should be computed for dead loads only
P = Pi + Poed + Ps

Pi – immediate settlement
Poed - Primary consolidation settlement
Ps - Secondary settlement

43
– Time Rate of settlement
• Computed as per IS:8009(Pt.I)based on Terzaghi’s one
Dimensional Consolidation Theory
• In practice consolidation takes place much faster due to
• i) Three dimensional consolidation
ii) Release of hydrostatic pressure out side the footing area
iii) Horizontal permeabilities are usually much higher than
the vertical
• Rate settlement be therefore corrected by a factor of 3 to 5
times faster
• Actual rate of settlement in the area from similar cases can
help to predict the rate accurately.

44
– Allowable Bearing Pressure
– Based on criteria given in para 6.1
– In cohesive soil due to spread of settlement
over a long period, measures to tackle the
balance settlement at the time of placement of
super structure be considered.

45
Foundation on Rock
– Shall be designed taking into consideration
• Nature of Rock formation
• Dip and strike of the rock strata.
• Presence of faults and fissures
• Should not be founded on faulted strata likely to slip
• Fissured strata shall be stabilized by grouting
– Bearing Capacity shall be computed
• From shear strength properties
• Shear strength may be determines by unconfined compression test
• ultimate bearing capacity shall be taken as 4.5 times the unconfined
compressive strength

46
– Allowable Bearing pressure
• Shall be decided after taking into consideration
weakness of rock strata such as
– Sloping rock surface
– Stratification of alternate layers of sound & weak rock
– Presence and extent of joints
– Planes of weakness such as bedding planes, faults,
cavities etc
– Factor of safety of 3 be adopted for sound rock
– Allowable bearing pressure be further reduced based on
weakness of rock

47
Non-Homogeneous and Unsound Rocks
– A factor of safety of 6 to 8 on unconfined
compressive strength is normally adequate
– For badly disintegrated or very soft rocks ( core
recovery < 35% & test cylinders not available),
• Adopt methods prescribed for soil

• Take guidance of IS 4464, 5313, 6926, 11315(Pt II)

48
• Permissible increase in allowable bearing pressure
– May be increased for combinations of loads
• Combination I NIL
• Combination II 33.33%
• Combination III 40%

• Condition of stability
– Following factor of safety be adopted
• Against overturning - Combination I 2.0
- Combination II or III 1.5
• Against sliding - Combination I 1.5
- Combination II or III 1.25

49
• Design of Deep Foundations
– Bottom of foundation be taken to provide
adequate grip
– Depth of foundation below water level for
design discharge shall not be less than 1.33
times of max. depth of scour
– Effect of skin pressure be taken for calculation
of foundation pressure except in seismic
zones IV & V
– Dynamic augment need not be considered
– For design of well foundation, methods
described in Appendix-V may be used

50
51
 Clearance/ Free Board
• Clearance
• Is the vertical distance between water level of the
design discharge including afflux and the point on the
bridge super-structure where the clearance is required
to be measured

• Free Board
• Is the vertical distance between the water level
corresponding to the design discharge including afflux
and the formation level of the approach bank or the top
level of guide banks

52
f = 1.76 m 53
54
55
 Hydrodynamic Forces

F = Ce h We
Where
Ce = A Coefficient (table 5)
h = Design horizontal seismic
coefficient
We = Weight of water of enveloping
cylinder

56
Height of Submerged portion Value of Ce
of pier(H) : Radius of
Enveloping Cylinder

1.0 0.390
2.0 0.575
3.0 0.675
4.0 0.730

C1 C2 C3 C4
0.1 0.410 0.026 0.9345
0.2 0.673 0.093 0.8712
0.3 0.832 0.184 0.8103
0.4 0.922 0.289 0.7515
0.5 0.970 0.403 0.6945
0.6 0.990 0.521 0.6390
0.8 0.999 0.760 0.5320
1.0 1.000 1.000 0.4286 57
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