TY - GEN
T1 - Numerical study of deformation behavior for a geosynthetic-reinforced soil bridge abutment under static loading
AU - Zheng, Yewei
AU - Fox, Patrick J.
AU - Benson Shing, P.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© ASCE 2015.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - The geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) bridge abutment is a new technology that has many advantages over traditional abutment designs, including cost savings, relatively easy and fast construction, and good performance with regard to differential settlements. The GRS bridge abutment is a complex system that includes a lower GRS wall, bridge seat, and upper GRS wall, with the bridge superstructure load applied directly to the backfill for the lower GRS wall. This paper presents numerical simulations of the static response of a typical GRS bridge abutment during construction and service. The numerical simulations include soil-reinforcement, soil-block, block-block, and soil-bridge seat interactions. Analyses were performed in stages to simulate the abutment construction process. A uniform surcharge load was applied on the bridge deck and approach roadway to simulate traffic loads during service. Results for construction and in-service conditions are presented and discussed, with particular focus on wall facing lateral displacements and bridge seat settlements. The effect of bridge load on the deformation behavior of the GRS bridge abutment was also investigated. Numerical results indicate that the abutment has good performance under static loading conditions with relatively small lateral deflection and settlement, and relatively large load bearing capacity.
AB - The geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) bridge abutment is a new technology that has many advantages over traditional abutment designs, including cost savings, relatively easy and fast construction, and good performance with regard to differential settlements. The GRS bridge abutment is a complex system that includes a lower GRS wall, bridge seat, and upper GRS wall, with the bridge superstructure load applied directly to the backfill for the lower GRS wall. This paper presents numerical simulations of the static response of a typical GRS bridge abutment during construction and service. The numerical simulations include soil-reinforcement, soil-block, block-block, and soil-bridge seat interactions. Analyses were performed in stages to simulate the abutment construction process. A uniform surcharge load was applied on the bridge deck and approach roadway to simulate traffic loads during service. Results for construction and in-service conditions are presented and discussed, with particular focus on wall facing lateral displacements and bridge seat settlements. The effect of bridge load on the deformation behavior of the GRS bridge abutment was also investigated. Numerical results indicate that the abutment has good performance under static loading conditions with relatively small lateral deflection and settlement, and relatively large load bearing capacity.
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U2 - 10.1061/9780784479087.136
DO - 10.1061/9780784479087.136
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84925061900
T3 - Geotechnical Special Publication
SP - 1503
EP - 1512
BT - IFCEE 2015 - Proceedings of the International Foundations Congress and Equipment Expo 2015
A2 - Anderson, J. Brian
A2 - Iskander, Magued
A2 - Suleiman, Muhannad T.
A2 - Laefer, Debra F.
PB - American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
T2 - International Foundations Congress and Equipment Expo 2015, IFCEE 2015
Y2 - 17 March 2015 through 21 March 2015
ER -