Parametric study regarding the interaction between direct foundations for bridge piers and foundation soil

摘要

Flexible piers with two or more columns supported by individual or continuous foundations are used for bridges, viaducts and urban passages made of precast slabs or entire precast upper structure. The continuous foundations can be either flexible or rigid. The calculus of the flexible foundations can be made either by simplified methods without taking into account the foundation-soil interaction or by methods considering it. The authors approach the interaction between the pier flexible foundations of bridges and the foundation soils by applying a variational procedure. Therefore, a parametric study regarding the influence of the terms related to the foundation soil geometry and the mechanical behaviour of the beam-soil system is presented in order to facilitate the optimal configuration of continuous foundations for bridge piers with two columns. The variational procedure analyzing the foundation-soil interaction is a relatively new approach which provides well adjusted solutions, from practical viewpoint, when compared to the ones from more complex numerical models. The obtained results can be utilized for arbitrary loads in preliminary evaluations.