BA 42-96 (The Design of Integral Bridges)
BA 42-96 (The Design of Integral Bridges)
BA 42-96 (The Design of Integral Bridges)
PART 12
SUMMARY
May 2003
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DESIGN MANUAL FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES BA 42/96
Amendment No. 1
Summary: This Advice Note provides guidance on the design of continuous bridges with
integral abutments.
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Volume 1 Section 3
Registration of Amendments Part 12 BA 42/96
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DESIGN MANUAL FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES
PART 12
Contents
Chapter
1. Introduction
2. General
3. Earth Pressure
4. References
5. Enquiries
May 2003
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Volume 1 Section 3 Chapter 1
Part 12 BA 42/96 Introduction
1. INTRODUCTION
x) Pavement/Abutment interface
xi) Range
xiv) Surface
xv) Surfacing
Implementation
2. GENERAL
2.1 Integral bridges should support all the relevant end screen, or they may be connected to the deck,
dead loading and live loading including all longitudinal, in which case they must be able to resist, or
and in the case of structures which are curved in plan, avoid, the earth pressures arising from their
centrifugal loading, in accordance with BD 37 (DMRB movement relative to the embankment.
1.3.14). They should also accommodate the effects of
thermal expansion or contraction without excessive Longitudinal Movement
deformation of the approach pavements.
2.3 Bridges should be designed to accommodate the
Types of Integral Construction effects of thermal expansion and other longitudinal
forces, with thrusts from structural restraints, earth
2.2 This Advice Note has been drafted for the types pressures and friction. They should also be designed for
of integral abutment illustrated in Figure 2.1 and the effects of thermal contraction, with axial tension
described below: from structural constraint and sliding.
i) The Frame Abutment which supports the vertical 2.4 Multispan integral bridges should not have any
loads from the bridge and acts as a retaining wall expansion joints between spans. Wherever possible,
for embankment earth pressures. It is connected bridge decks should be designed to accommodate the
structurally to the deck for the transfer of effects of continuity and axial thrust or tension. Various
bending moments, shear forces and axial loads methods for achieving continuity between spans are
and supported on foundations. It may be assumed outlined in BA 57 (DMRB 1.3.8).
that the abutment will rock bodily on its
foundation for the purposes of calculating 2.5 The longitudinal movement of integral abutments
thermal movements and earth pressure. If the should be limited to ± 20mm (nominal, 120-year return
back edge at the top of the abutment is behind the period) from the position at time of restraint during
back of the foundation, the design of the construction.
pavement/abutment interface should provide for
vertical movement of the abutment edge during 2.6 The effects of temperature difference, shrinkage,
contraction of the deck. and creep should be considered in accordance with
BS 5400: Part 4 (3), as implemented by BD 24
ii) The Embedded Abutment, such as a diaphragm (DMRB 1.3.1), and BD 37, (DMRB 1.3.14).
wall, which extends to a depth below the retained
fill and is restrained against rocking by the length Load and Material Factors
of embedment.
2.7 Integral bridges should be designed with the load
iii) The Bank Pad Abutment, which acts as an end
factors specified in BD 37 (DMRB 1.3.14).
support for the bridge, moves horizontally during
thermal expansion and contraction of the deck. 2.8 Passive earth pressure forces on abutments
The bank pad must have adequate weight, and the should be calculated in accordance with Section 3 and
end span have adequate flexibility, to avoid uplift treated as a permanent load effect (Combination 1) with
from live loads or from differential settlement. load factors γfL of:
iv) The End Screen Abutment acts only as a 1.5 @ ULS 1.0 @ SLS
retaining wall for embankment earth pressures
and transfer of longitudinal loads. The vertical 2.9 Earth pressure coefficients on abutments should
loads on the deck are supported by separate be multiplied by a material partial safety factor, γm, as
supports. These supports are located within 2m follows:
of the end screen in order to limit the vertical
movement of the end screen when the end span i) disadvantageous forces from backfill γm = 1.0
deflects. The end supports may be isolated
structurally from horizontal movements of the ii) advantageous forces from backfill when resisting
secondary load effects (e.g. braking), γm = 0.5.
2.10 The characteristic thermal strain (expansion or 2.15 Intermediate supports of integral bridges can be
contraction) throughout the UK can be taken as designed to move horizontally with the superstructure
or with a bearing which allows lateral movement
steel (Groups 1 & 2) ± 0.0006 beneath the deck. In the former case the pier has to be
steel with concrete deck (Group 3) ± 0.0005 sufficiently flexible to accommodate the thermal
concrete (Group 4) ± 0.0004 movement to which it would be subjected. Designers
should be aware of the inherent maintenance problems
For the definition of the above-mentioned groups, see associated with the use of bridge bearings and make
Figure 9 of BD 37 (DMRB 1.3.14). However, the 1.3 provision for their maintenance and future replacement.
factor on the design range of movement at the ultimate For further information see Design for Durability,
limit state given in Clause 5.4.8.1 of BD 37, should not BA 57 (DMRB 1.3.8).
be applied to the characteristic thermal strains given
above.
Pre-tensioned Concrete Decks
2.11 The above characteristic strains are based on the
following assumptions: 2.16 In precast pre-tensioned concrete construction, it
is often not possible to comply with Class 1
i) The bridge spans and abutments are joined serviceability requirements of BD 24 (DMRB 1.3.1) in
during construction at a temperature within hogging regions. At integral abutments and over
± 10°C of the mean between extreme minimum continuous supports, it is acceptable to design
and extreme maximum shade air temperatures as prestressed pre-tensioned beams as reinforced concrete
specified in BD 37 (DMRB 1.3.14). providing due allowance is made for compressive
stresses due to prestess.
ii) For concrete and composite decks, concrete
with a coefficient of thermal expansion of Bearings
0.000012/°C has been assumed.
2.17 Where integral bridges are adopted, which
More detailed estimates of thermal strain may be
include bearings in their design, proper provision
appropriate, based on data in BD 37 (DMRB 1.3.14), if
should be made in the design for inspection, any
the design specification does not limit the temperature
necessary testing or monitoring and future replacement.
at the time of joining as above, if other materials are
These provisions should be included in technical
used, or if special circumstances apply.
approval submissions for the initial design of the
2.12 Lightweight aggregate concrete, and other structure. Replacement of bearings should be safely
materials, can have coefficients of thermal expansion accomplished without the need to resort to any traffic
markedly lower than 0.000012/°C and will therefore restrictions on the road carried by the bridge, or the
expand and contract proportionately less than the need for structural modifications. Details of the
strains in paragraph 2.10. Where justified, a lower bearings should be such as to only require minimal
coefficient of thermal expansion may be used in such jacking to remove the load from the bearings, to allow
instances. safe replacement. They should also include provision
for ‘jacking points’ and sufficient access space around
2.13 Special attention should be given to prevent early the bearings to permit inspection, and replacement.
thermal and shrinkage cracking resulting from restraint Detailed method statements for bearing replacement
to the longitudinal movement of deck slabs, by integral must be included in the Maintenance Manual for the
abutments. structure, forming part of the as-built records.
3. EARTH PRESSURE
(b) Full height frame abutment where K0 is the at rest earth pressure coefficient and
the passive earth pressure coefficient Kp is based on
3.5.2 The height of the abutment means that the δ = φ´/2 and taken from Eurocode 7(8). Monitoring of
magnitude of passive pressures acting on the back of this form of structure has been reported by Barker
the wall is likely to be significant (10). Careful design of et al (15).
the abutment is therefore important to ensure the
structure is strong enough to resist lateral pressures that (c) Full height embedded wall abutment
could build up behind the wall, and yet flexible enough
to accommodate movement. 3.5.6 Embedded walls are installed in undisturbed
ground and are more likely to be used in clayey
3.5.3 For a portal frame structure the earth pressures conditions. If the clay is over consolidated, less
on the retained side can be represented by a distribution movement will be required to mobilise full passive
analogous to that employed for calculating compaction pressures: however this is compensated for by initial
stresses in backfill (11). However for integral bridges the concrete shrinkage of the deck which will help to
use of wall friction will lead to higher earth pressures at relieve the high in-situ soil stresses.
the top of the wall which will extend to a greater depth
than compaction effects. The suggested distribution 3.5.7 For an embedded wall, the earth pressure
(see Figure 3.1) comprises: distribution (11) may be represented (see Figure 3.2) by:
• a uniform value of K* over the top half of the • a uniform value of K* over the top two-thirds of
retained height of the wall, with the retained height of the wall, with
• lateral earth pressure then remaining constant • lateral earth pressure then remaining constant
with depth as K* drops towards K0 with depth as K* drops towards K0
• if the lateral earth pressure falls to K0 then below • if the lateral earth pressure falls to K0 then below
that depth pressures are according to the insitu that depth pressures are according to the insitu
value K0. value K0.
The following equation which is based on wall friction K* should be determined from the equation in 3.5.3.
δ of φ´/2 has been used to calculate the relationship
between K*, the retained height (H) and thermal 3.6 Live load surcharge on backfill should be
displacement of the top of the abutment, (d): ignored when calculating the passive earth pressure
mobilised by thermal expansion of the deck. Earth
K* = (d/0.05H)0.4 Kp pressures under live load surcharge in the short term
should be checked at ‘at rest’ earth pressure conditions
3.5.4 Although it is recognised that this formula is with K0 = (1- sinφ´), where φ´ is the effective angle of
derived from static tests and on its own will lead to an shearing resistance from 3.2.
underestimate of stresses in a cyclic situation,
allowance for this has been made by adopting suitable 3.7 Active earth pressures on abutments during
soil strength parameters as given in 3.2. However, K* thermal contraction of the deck are very small as
should not be taken as less than the ‘at rest’ earth compared to passive pressures and may be ignored.
pressure, Ko = 0.6.
Backfill
3.5.5 For a portal framed structure hinged at the base
of its legs, the earth pressure distribution given in 3.5.3
3.8 Backfill material to integral abutments should be
should be applied with the following equation (12) to
free draining selected granular fill with properties and
calculate the relationship between K*, the retained
grading complying with Classes 6N or 6P of Table 6/1
height (H) and thermal displacement of the top of the
of Specification for Highway Works. Backfill material
abutment (d):
shall be compacted in accordance with Clause 612 of
K* = K0 + (d / 0.03 H)0.6 Kp the Specification for Highway Works (2) to limit the
settlement of backfill due to the effects of thermal
movements of the structure.
3.9 The backfill to integral abutments should be a suitable permeable backing behind integral bridge
designed material with specified properties validated abutments and should be properly compacted. However,
during construction. The specification involves a the strength of porous no fines concrete cast insitu and
compromise between stiffness and flexibility. In general precast concrete hollow blocks should be checked to
granular materials comprising compacted rounded ensure they will provide adequate resistance to the
particles of uniform grading can have a peak angle of design passive pressures before being used behind
internal friction, φ´, as low as 35°, and may integral bridge abutments. The permeable backing
accommodate thermal expansion without high earth should be drained with a pipe of at least 150mm
pressures. However, they are somewhat vulnerable to diameter which has a fall exceeding 2% and can be
settlement. Fill of compacted well graded hard angular cleaned readily.
particles can have a peak angle of internal friction as
high as 55° with very high resistance to thermal Foundations
expansion and are less vulnerable to settlement.
Granular backfill to integral bridges exceeding 40m
3.16 Integral abutments can be founded on spread
length should have a peak angle of internal friction j´
footings or on piles.
not greater than 45°, when tested in accordance with the
Specification for Highway Works. 3.17 Piles should be designed to accommodate lateral
movement and/or rocking of the abutment while
3.10 The zone of granular backfill should extend up
supporting axial loads, and to support forces from
from the bottom of the abutment wall to at least a plane
movements of the piles and/or movements of the
inclined at an angle of 45° to the wall.
ground. Raking piles should not be used for foundations
that move horizontally.
Pavement
3.18 Bearing pressures under foundations which slide
3.11 Road pavements should be constructed in while supporting vertical loads, such as bank pads,
accordance with the Specification for Highway Works should be not greater than 50% of the presumed bearing
right up to the back faces of integral abutments. The capacity of the ground for a non-sliding foundation
surfacing can be laid as a continuous layer over the subject to the same loading, in order to avoid settlement
approach roads and over the deck waterproofing. during sliding.
Figure 3.2 Earth Pressure Distribution for Full height Embedded Wall Abutments
4. REFERENCES
1. Design Manual for Roads and Bridges 9. Darley P, D R Carder and G H Alderman (1996).
(DMRB): TSO Seasonal thermal effects on the shallow abutment of an
integral bridge in Glasgow. TRL Project Report 178.
BD 24 Use of BS 5400: Part 4: 1990. (DMRB 1.3.1) Crowthorne: Transport Research Laboratory.
5. ENQUIRIES
All technical enquiries or comments on this Advice Note should be sent in writing as appropriate to:
Divisional Director
Room 913
Sunley Tower
Piccadilly Plaza
Manchester Andrew Jones
M1 4BE Divisional Director