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Things Moving

Things Moving

Things Moving

(OP)
Don't you hate it when this happens...

Dik

RE: Things Moving

I didn't realize that Pablo Picasso was an SE! Or maybe that was Salvador Dali.  Yikes.

RE: Things Moving

This is a classic example of why AASHTO does not allow teenagers in motorcycles with subwoofers to have parties on public structures.  Deplorable, just deplorable...  Very poor enforcement by the party police here.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: Things Moving

So ( foundation failure) the pier actually settled ?

RE: Things Moving

Are those beams pinned to the pier?

It looks like the pier's bottom oozed toward the water, and compression in the landed beam is all that's holding it upright.


 

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: Things Moving

I don't like things moving, especially when those things are bridges, overpasses, buildings or other structures which I have designed.

The Red River floods every year.  The entire area is flooded each and every spring.  In the Winnipeg area, extreme caution is required to prevent this type of failure.  It is not an easy problem to contend with.  But it would be interesting to learn what type of foundation was used for this particular bridge.

BA

RE: Things Moving

(OP)
Bridge is outside St.Adolphe, Manitoba, Canada.  At the time the photo was taken, the combined translation and rotation was in the order of 4'-5'.

Dik

RE: Things Moving

Any idea what the pier was bearing on?

BA

RE: Things Moving

Ah.  I keep forgetting about really cold weather.

Ice can do stuff like that, especially when it decides to leave.

 

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: Things Moving

Looks to be more of a slope failure issue to me.  From the newspaper picture I think I see a crack up slope from the distressed pier.  After this springs flooding, I'm sure alot of soil may have been moved.  I live 220 miles up stream from there.

Greg

RE: Things Moving

(OP)
Most foundations in this area are supported on end bearing caissons or friction piles.  Likely with the loads anticipated, the bridge is supported on end bearing caissons... but judging from the movement, I'm not sure.

Dik

RE: Things Moving

(OP)
The unofficial story is that there was a lack of maintenance in replacing stone riprap at the base of the failed pier.  The soil scoured away and a bank failure ensued.  The lateral force from the bank failure caused a shearing failure of the piers.

For the want of a nail...

Dik

RE: Things Moving

(OP)
That should have read 'piles' not piers.

Dik

RE: Things Moving

In California we have this tongue in cheek saying that CalTrans builds all there brides with "buried treasure".  

Meaning that they put so much effort and expense into the design of the foundations that no one ever sees.

I used to think of that as something of a derogatory term, but whenever I see foundation failures like this I learn to appreciate the value of the buried treasure.

Josh    

RE: Things Moving

(OP)
Might be a maintenance issue...

Dik

RE: Things Moving

I always thought some of those California brides looked a bit plastic.

RE: Things Moving

(OP)
Seems like when they have a little 'shake' they don't seem to hold up too well...

RE: Things Moving

California bridges are what I was referring to with respect to the "buried treasure".  

But, as hokie pointed out, California brides may be hiding some treasure as well.  :)  

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