Example 9.

2
Design an RCC abutment for supporting a 55 m single span bridge. Geotechnical investigations
indicated that sound rock is available at 13 m depth from the top of the backfill to be retained by
the abutment. The allowable rock pressure is 1500 kN/m2. Consider IRC class 40 R loading.
Assume suitable data not given. Maximum total dead load of the bridge is 1400 kN. Consider
horizontal seismic force in the direction of the traffic, and vertical in the downward direction. The
bridge is located in seismic zone IV.
Solution
I.

It is proposed to rest the foundation of the abutment on the rock. Therefore ,height of abutment =
13m Keeping the height of abutment in view, the design is carried out providing front and back
counterforts as shown in Figs 9.8 and 909. The base of the foundation is rested on rock. Tentative
proportioning of the abutment, foundation slab and counterforts are shown in Fig 9.8.
The design has been carried out assuming,
Unit weight of concrete

= 25 kN/ m3

Unit weight of boulder fill = 20 kN/ m3

Unit weight of backfill

= 18 kN/ m3

Angle of internal friction of backfill soil, = 360

Coefficient of base friction, = 0.65
Angle of wall friction = 2/3 = 240
Horizontal seismic coefficient Ah from Eq. (1.3) =

z I S a 0.24 1.2

2.5 = 0.144
=
2R g
2
2.5

Vertical seismic coefficient, Av = 2/3 0.144 (IS 1893 (part 1) -2002)

II.

Dead load of the bridge = 1400 kN

Reaction on each abutment = 1400/2 = 700 kN
Loading due to one lane IRC class 40 R wheeled load train has been shown in Fig 9.10.
Influence line for reaction on right abutment having fixed bearing will be as shown in Fig 9.11.

Fig. 9.8 Front elevation of the abutment with front and back counterfort

Fig. 9.9 Abutment with counterforts

Fig 9.10 A class 40 R Load train

1.0

5.5 m

Fig. 9.11 Influence line diagram for the reaction of fixed bearing
Due to one lane of IRC class 40 R wheeled load train, with a clear gap of 20 m between two
load trains, the reaction will be, maximum when the first load 120 kN coincides with point A
of influence line diagram (Fig. 9.11).
120 55 + 120 53.93 + 120 49.66 + 70 46.66 + 50 41.73 + 120 21.73
RRT = + 120 20.66 + 120 16.39 + 70 13.37 + 70 12.12 + 50 8.46
= 668.5 kN
55
Reaction on the left abutment, RLT = 1100 668.5 = 431.50 kN
III.

As per IRC: 6 200, for bridges having span more than 45 m , impact factor is 0.154
Therefore impact load on rocker end = 0.154 668.5 = 102.95 kN
Impact load on roller end = 0.154 431.50 = 66.45 kN

IV. Longitudinal forces

a)

Braking effect

The braking effect will be 20 percent of the first class 40 R load train (plus 10 % of the other
train),

= (0.2 + 0.1) 550 =165 kN

This force acts along line parallel to roadway and 1.2 m above it. Therefore moment due to
this

braking force is = 165 (1.2 + 1.75) = 486.75 kN-m

Where, 1.75 m is the height of the road above the bearing pin.
Increase/ decrease in reaction in the right abutment (fixed bearing knuckle)/ left abutment
(free knuckle) respectively = 486.75/55 = moment/ span =8.85 kN
b)

Seismic force horizontal

As the seismic force is taken in the direction of traffic , seismic forces will not be considered
on the live load.
Horizontal seismic force on the dead load transferred from bridge deck
= 0.144 1400 = 201.6 kN
Considering that it acts at the centre of bearing,
Increase in reaction due to their force on rocker bearing = decrease in reaction on roller bearing
= 201.6 (0.25 + 0.75)/ 55 = 3.66 kN
Total reaction on roller bearing = 700 + 431.50 + 66.45 8.85 3.66 + 700 0.096
= 1252.64 kN
Coefficient of friction at roller bearing, = 0.03
Frictional force at roller bearing = 0.03 1252.64= 37.58 kN
Therefore longitudinal force at rocker bearing = (165 + 201.6)/2 + 37.58 = 220.88 kN
V.

Total vertical seismic forces on items [2-10] of the Table 9.2

= 0.096 (181.12 + 17.875 + 7 + 42.70 + 40.95 + 672.75 + 51 + 87.75 + 135 + 39 + 85.40 +
81.90 + 1345.50)
= 0.096 3138.94 = 301.34 kN
Total counter-clockwise moment of vertical seismic forces on items [2-10] of Table 9.2
about point C
= 0.096 (878.46 + 86.69 + 37.80 + 369.35 + 342.38 + 5684.74 + 43.86 + 1039.84 + 405 +
2340 + 738.71 + 700.24 + 11369.4)
=0.096 24036.54 = 2307.51 kN

VERTICAL FORCES
Table 9.2 The computations of vertical forces
Vertical Loads
1)Total dead load, Live load, impact load ,
increase in reaction due to braking effect,
seismic force and vertical seismic force
on dead load
2)Main abutment portion
3)Abutment cap
4)Parapet wall
5)Back counterfort (Thickness = 0.4 m)
6)Approach slab
7)Back wall
8)Front counterfort (Thickness = 0.4 m)
9)Base slab

Loads in kN
700 + 668.5 +102.95 + 8.85
+ 3.66 +0.096 700 = 1551.16
10.35 0.7 1 25 = 181.12
1 .5 + 0 .7
0.65 1.0
25 = 17.875
2
0.4 0.7 1 25 =7
(i) 6.1 3 0.4 0.7 25 = 42.7
6.1 + 6.5
0.65 0.4 25 = 40.95
(ii)
2
(iii) 10.35 6.5 0.4 25 = 672.75
25 6.8 0.3 1.0 = 51.0
25 11.7 0.3 1.0 = 87.75
25 6.0 4.5 0.4 = 135
25 12 1.3 1.0 = 390.0
(i)

10)Boulder fill

20 6.1 0.7 1.0 = 85.40

6.1 + 6.5
0.65 1.0 20 = 81.90
(ii)
2
(iii) 20 10.35 6.5 1.0 = 1345.50

Distance from toe C (m)

Moment
( kN-m)

4.5 + 0.35 = 4.85

7523 .13

4.85

878.46

4.85

86.69

(4.5 + 0.7 + 0.2) = 5.4

(i) 4.5 + 0.7 + 0.4 + 6.1 2 =8.65

37.80
369.35

(ii)

4.5+ 0.7 + 6.50.653.25 0.50.40.650.4 / 3

6.50.65 0.50.40.65

= 8.55
(iii) 4.5 + 0.7 + 3.25 = 8.45
4.5 + 0.7 + 6.8/2 = 8.6
(12 0.15 ) = 11.85
2/3 4.5 = 3.0
6.0
8.65
8.55

342.38
5684.74
43.86
1039.84
405.0
2430
738.71
700.24
11369.47

8.45

Horizontal seismic forces on items [2- 10] of table

= 0.144 3138.94 = 452.00 kN
Moment of horizontal seismic forces on items (2- 10) of table about point C

181.12 (1.3 + 10.35 / 2 ) + 17.875 2 1.5 + 0.70 0.65 + 10.35 + 1.3

3
1.5 + 0.7

+ 7.0 (1.3 + 10.35 + 0.65 + 0.35 ) + 42.7 (1.3 + 10.35 + 0.65 + 0.2 )

10.35
2 6.1 + 6.5 0.65

= 0.144 40.95 1.3 + 10.35 +

+ 672.75 1.3 +

3
2

6.1 + 6.5

+ 51 (1.3 + 11.7 + 0.15) + 87.75 1.3 + 11.7 + 135 1.33 + 6 + 139 1.3

2
3
2

+ 85.40 1.3 + 10.35 + 2 6.1 + 6.5 0.65 + 1345.50 1.3 + 10.35

3
3
6.1 + 6.5

= 0.144 [181.12 6.475 + 17.875 12.014 + 7 12.65 + 42.7 12.5 + 40.95 11.97 +
672.75 6.475 + 51.0 13.15 + 87.75 7.15 + 135 3.3 + 390 0.65 + 85.4 12.5 +
81.9 11.97 + 1345.50 6.475]
= 0.144 [1172.75 + 214.014 + 88.55 + 533.75 + 490.17 + 4356.06 + 670.65 + 627.41 +
445.5 + 253.5 + 1067.5 + 980.34 + 8712.11]
= 0.144 19613.31 = 2824.71 kN m
VI. Substituting the values of = 36o , = 24 o , = 0 o , i = 00 , Ah = 0.144 and Av = 0.096 in Eq 3.3,
we get
Ca = 0.3478.
Equation (3.3) gives the corresponding static earth coefficient ka as 0.2348.
Total seismic active earth pressure = 18 0.3478 132 = 529.0 kN
Total static active earth pressure = 18 0.2349 132 = 357.28 kN
Moment of earth pressure forces about point C
= 357.28 0.42 13 + (529.0 357.28) 0.5 13
= 1950.76 + 1116.18 = 3066.94 kN-m

Summary of computations:
Total vertical force = 1551.16 + 3138.94 + 301.34 = 4991.44 kN
Total moment of the vertical forces
= 7523.13 + 878.46 + 86.69 + 37.80 + 369.35 + 342.38 + 5684.74 + 43.86 + 1039.84 + 405 +
738.71 + 700.24 + 11369.47 + 2307.51
= 21529.18 kN m (counter clockwise)
Total horizontal force = 452 + 529 + 220.88 = 1201.88 kN
Total moment of horizontal forces
= 220.88 (0.25 + 0.65 + 10.35 + 1.3) + 2824.17 + 3066.94
= 8863.15 kN m (clockwise)
Factor of safety against sliding = V / H
= 0.65 4991.44 / 1201.88 = 2.7 [> 1.5 , safe ]
Overturnin g moment 21529.18
=
= 2.43 [ > 1.5 , safe]
Stabilizin g moment
8863.15
Net moment = 21529.18 8863.15 = 12666.03 kN-m
Factor of safety against overturning =

Eccentricity with respect to centre of base = B/2 12666.03/ 4991.44

= 12/2 2.53 = 3.46 m
Maximum base pressure =

4991 .44
6 3.46
1 +
= 1135 kN/m2
12
12

Minimum base pressure =

4991 .44 6 3.46

1
= 303 kN m2
12
12