Title: Performance of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Walls Supporting Bridge and Approaching Roadway Structures
Abstract:This paper describes a unique field application in which a geosynthetic-reinforced soil system was designed and constructed to support both the foundation of a two-span bridge and the approaching road...This paper describes a unique field application in which a geosynthetic-reinforced soil system was designed and constructed to support both the foundation of a two-span bridge and the approaching roadway structure. The reinforced soil system not only provides bridge support, but it was also designed to alleviate the common bridge bump problem. This structure was considered experimental and comprehensive material testing and instrumentation programs were conducted. These programs would allow assessment of the overall structure performance and evaluation of CDOT and AASHTO design assumptions and procedures for reinforced soil structures supporting both bridge foundations and approaching roadway structures. Large-size direct shear and triaxial tests were conducted to determine representative shear strength properties and constitutive relations of the gravelly backfill used for construction. Three sections were instrumented to provide information on external movements, internal soil stresses, geogrid strains, and moisture content during various construction stages and after the structure opening to traffic. Results from a pilot (Phase I) instrumentation program and some preliminary results from a more comprehensive (Phase II) instrumentation program are presented in the paper. The results suggest that current design procedures lead to a conservative estimation of both the backfill material strength and horizontal earth pressures, and that the overall performance of this structure, before its opening to traffic, has been satisfactory.Read More
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-07-24
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 71
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