Welcome

To
Presentation
Course Code: CE414
Course Title: Structural Analysis and Design Sessional II

Course Teacher
Shabbir Ahmed Osmani
Senior Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering,
Leading University, Sylhet.
Presentation On
Bridge Pier
Prepared By
Tajul Islam
ID: 1512060013
Semester: 8th
Batch: 10th
Department of Civil Engineering
Leading University, Sylhet.
Introduction

Piers provide vertical supports for spans at intermediate

points and perform two main functions transferring
superstructure vertical loads to the foundations and resisting
horizontal forces acting on the bridge. Although piers are
traditionally designed to resist vertical loads, it is becoming
more and more common to design piers to resist high lateral
loads caused by seismic events. Even in some low seismic
areas, designers are paying more attention to the ductility
aspect of the design. Piers are predominantly constructed
using reinforced concrete. Steel, to a lesser degree, is also
used for piers. Steel tubes filled with concrete (composite)
columns have gained more attention recently.
What is Bridge?
A bridge is a structure that is built over a railway, river, or
road so that people or vehicles can cross from one side to
the other.
Component of Bridge
Every bridge can be divided broadly into three
parts.
1. Superstructure
2. Substructure
3. Foundation

Superstructure
Superstructure that part of the structure which
supports traffic and includes deck, slab and girders.
All the parts of the bridge which is mounted on a
supporting system can be classified as a Super
structure.

Substructure
Substructure that part of the structure, piers and
abutments, which supports the superstructure and
which transfers the structural load to the
foundations.
Foundation

Foundation is the component which transfers loads from the

substructure to the bearing strata. Depending on the
geotechnical properties of the bearing strata, shallow or deep
foundations are adopted. Usually, piles and well foundations
are adopted for bridge foundations.

Now let’s know about the five major parts of R.C.C bridge.
Beam / Girder
Beam or girder is that part of superstructure which is under
bending along the span. it is the load bearing member which
supports the deck.

Bearing
Bearing transfers loads from the girders to the pier caps. Bearing
is a component which supports part of the bridge and which
transmits forces from that part to another part of the structure
whilst permitting angular and/or linear movement between parts.

Pier Cap / Headstock

Pier Cap / Headstock is the component which transfers loads from
the superstructure to the piers. Pier cap provide sufficient seating
for the Bridge girders and disperse the loads from the bearings to
the Piers.
Pier
Pier is that part of a part of the substructure which supports
the superstructure at the end of the span and which transfers
loads on the superstructure to the foundations. Piers are
compression members. Depending on the loading and bearing
articulations, piers may be subjected to bending as well.

Pile cap and Piles

Pile foundation is the most commonly used foundation system
for bridges. Pile is a slender compression member driven into
or formed in the ground to resist loads. A reinforced concrete
mass cast around the head of a group of piles to ensure they act
together and distribute the load among them it is known as pile
cap.
Now let’s discuss about “Bridge Pier”.
What is Bridge pier?

Bridge Pier support the spans of the bridge and transfer the loads
from superstructure to the foundation. Piers should be strong
enough to take the vertical load and horizontal forces. Its main
function is to transfer the load from the bridge superstructure to
foundation. They are subjected to huge axial loads and bi-axial
moments and shear forces in transverse and longitudinal direction.
Said that, pier are usually compression elements of a bridge.
Types of Pier?

Type of piers to be used in the bridge depends upon the type of

bridge, sub-soil conditions as well as the procedure adopted for the
construction of bridge. The bridge pier can be broadly divided into
two parts:
1. Solid piers
2. Open piers

1. Solid piers
These piers have solid and impermeable structure. The generally used
materials used for the construction of these type of piers are bricks,
stone Masonry, Concrete or RCC, etc. They may be further classified
as:

a. Solid masonry pier.

b. Solid RCC pier.
Solid masonry pier

Masonry piers are normally provided in residential buildings to

support the ends of beams. Once the length of a wall becomes less
than 3 times its thickness it is called a pier (or column) rather than
a wall.
Solid masonry pier.
Solid R.C.C. pier

The solid piers which are constructed with the reinforcement are
called R.C.C. piers. These piers are generally rectangular in cross-
section and are generally used where the height of the piers are
more and the solid masonry piers.

Solid R.C.C. pier.

2. Open piers

The piers which are open also allows the water to

pass through the structure are called as open piers.

Open piers can be classified into the following types:

a. Cylindrical piers
b. Column bents
c. Trestle piers or Trestle bent
d. Pile bents
e. Special or typical framed piers
Cylindrical piers

The piers which are

constructed with the mild
steels or cast iron cylinder in
which the concrete are filled
are known as cylindrical piers.
These are used for bridges
having moderate height.
Sometimes horizontal and
diagonal steel bracing are also
provided for additional Cylindrical piers.
stability.
Column bents
A rigid frame commonly made of reinforced concrete or
steel that supports a vertical load and is placed transverse to
the length of a structure. Bents are commonly used to
support beams and girders. An end bent is the supporting
frame forming part of an abutment. The vertical members of
a bent are columns or piles.

Column bents.
Trestle piers or Trestle bent

It consist of column with bent cap at the top. As per the

latest recommendation the hinges may also be provided.
It is generally used for flyovers and elevated roads. These
are suitable for bridges where water current is slow and
river bed is sufficiently firm.

Trestle bent.
Pile piers or Pile bents
These are used where the ground is unstable and the low
piers are required. In these type of piers number of steel or
RCC piles are driven into the ground provided with the
cap at their top to support the main girder. It is the
common variation of multicolumn bent. It is generally used
for the type of bent on low height and short span structure.

Pile bent.
Typical Framed Piers
These are the latest type of piers used in the
bridges. In these piers the effective span length
for girders get reduced. Hence the construction
will be economical.

Typical Framed Piers.

Classification of Bridge Piers based on Force Transfer
Mechanisms
Based on the type of forces the pier is subjected to bridge piers are classified
as:
1. Fixed piers.
2. Free piers.

Fixed pier
This is actually be R.C.C. pier. When a bridge pier casting with girder or slab
simultaneously, this is call fixed pier.
Fixed piers.
Free pier
Free pier is one kind of
timber pier. When a bridge
pier be timber and the slab
or girder just stay above in
this pier without any fixed
joint, this is called free pier.

Free pier.
Some other types of bridge piers

Hammerhead piers
It is also called as solid shaft piers. It have a single solid
concrete cross section that support the cap. In this pier, it
is seen that the major axis of the pier and the direction of
steam flow is approximately same. It is recommended to
use circular or small rectangular cross section when the
flow is not in the same direction as the major axis. Spread
footing are generally used for this type of piers.
Hammerhead Pier.
Multicolumn or Pile bent
It has two or more column that support the cap. There is a problem
of debris collection when the water is allowed to flow between the
columns. Combined footing may be used where the column spacing
is less & isolated footing where the spacing is greater. It also known
as frame bent.

Multicolumn or Pile bent.

Some other special shaped pier.
Special Shaped Bent.
V Shaped Steel pier
Architectural pier
A pier, in architecture, is an
upright support for a structure
or superstructure such as an
arch or bridge. Sections of
structural walls between
openings (bays) can function as
piers.

Architectural pier.
Requirements of Bridge Piers
It should effectively transfer loads from Superstructure to foundation without
failure.
It should withstand all force actions.
The material for the piers should be easily available
It should have pleasant appearance.
Its design should be simple.
The piers should be durable against weathering, impacts and corrosion.
The cost of construction should be cheap.
It should have minimum repair and maintenance cost.
It should have stability against the lateral and longitudinal force actions
Seismic, Wind, Ice, Currents, Impacts.
Typical cross-section shapes of piers.
Loads and Force acting on Pier
Dead loads.
Live loads and impact from the superstructure.
 Wind loads on the structure and the live loads.
Centrifugal force from the superstructure.
Longitudinal force from live loads.
Drag forces due to the friction at bearings.
Earth pressure.
Stream flow pressure.
Ice pressure.
Earthquake forces.
Thermal and shrinkage forces.
Ship impact forces.
Force due to pre-stressing of the superstructure.
Forces due to settlement of foundations.
 Common Reinforcement distribution on pier

Interlocking bar arrangement.

Normal bar arrangement.

2D view of normal and interlocking bar distribution.
Failure of Pier

Weld failure of column longitudinal reinforcement, 1995

Kobe Earthquake
Shear failure of columns during the 1971 San Fernando
earthquake (Moehle et al., 2000) Fig. 17: Shear failure of
a column of Shinkansen bridge. 2004, Japan, (Moehle et
al., 2000).
 Bond failure of lap
slices of bridge pier.
Failure for scouring.
In river for scouring
sometimes the support of
pier will removed and this
failure be occur, this is
called scouring failure of
pier.
Repair procedures of shear failure.
The repair procedures were similar for all the damaged
pier specimens and can be summarized as follows:

(1) The damaged concrete in and around the damage

region should removed, and the pier surface of the
damage region cleaned using a high-pressure air gun.

(2) The buckled longitudinal bars are straightened by

pounding them with a rubber hammer, and then the
fractured spiral bars in specimens are welded together
using new similar reinforcing bars.

(3) Early-strength concrete of damage region is cast,

and the surface of the pier specimens is finished to their
original shape and dimension.
Note: This can be done in flyover bridge pier and building pier. But in river it
might not done for due to some limitations.
 Repair process of bond failure.

Covering the failure pier with steel.

The bonding failure can repair by
covering the failure pier by steel materials
although it’s costly . And it requires
experienced people for work.
Selection criteria of pier.
Selections of proper pier type depend upon many
factors. First of all, it depends upon the type of
superstructure. For example, steel girder
superstructures are normally supported by
cantilevered piers, whereas the cast-in-place
concrete superstructures are normally supported by
monolithic bents. Second, it depends upon whether
the bridges are over a waterway or not. Pier walls
are preferred on river crossings, where debris is a
concern and hydraulics dictates it. Multiple pile
extension bents are commonly used on slab bridges.
Last, the height of piers also dictates the type
selection of piers. The taller piers often require
hollow cross sections in order to reduce the weight
of the substructure. This then reduces the load
demands on the costly foundations.
References:

A.RAHAI and M.AREZOUMANDI The 14th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering October 12-
17, 2008, Beijing, China “EFFECT OF VERTICAL MOTION OF EARTHQUAKE ON RC
BRIDGE PIER”

Atsuhiko MACHIDA And Khairy H ABDELKAREEM “EFFECT OF SHEAR REINFORCEMENT ON

FAILURE MODE OF RC BRIDGE PIERS SUBJECTED TO STRONG EARTHQUAKE
MOTIONS”

Deyuan Zhou, Ruiwen Li, Juan Wang, and Changtuan Guo Received 29 November 2016; Revised 16
April 2017; Accepted 9 May 2017; Published 16 July 2017 Hindawi Shock and Vibration
Volume 2017, Article ID 7085392, 12 pages “Study on Impact Behavior and Impact Force of
Bridge Pier Subjected to Vehicle Collision”

Kazuyuki Mizuguchi, Norimasa Higashida, Koji Osada, Gaku Ohashi, “ Design and Construction
Highway Piers with Interlocking Hoops in Japan”

Jain, J. K.; Saxena, A. K.; and Shrivastava, Sanjay Kumar, "Pier Failure of Bridge and Geotechnical
Investigation − A Case Study"(1998). International Conference on Case Histories in
Geotechnical Engineering. 11.

Engr. Md. Abdur Rahman Bhuiyan,” Strength and Ductility of Reinforced Concrete Highway
Bridge Pier” National Seminar on Performance Based Design of Reinforced Concrete
Structures.