Seismic Design of Deep Bridge Pier Foundations in Seasonally Frozen Ground

Abstract

<p>In the field of bridge engineering, columns supported on cast-in-drilled-hole (CIDH) shafts are common due to the elimination of a column-foundation connection, simplicity of construction and reduced construction costs. Due to these benefits, this combination of column and foundation is frequently used in high seismic regions. However, the modeling of lateral load behavior of the column-shaft system is a complex matter due to the effects of soil-foundation-structure-interaction (SFSI) and temperature effects. The research presented within this project report identifies numerous challenges associated with the current state of practice of accounting for SFSI in cohesive soils, develops a new method that accounts for SFSI in cohesive soils, examines the current state of cohesionless soil models, examines temperature effects on construction material behavior and provides a design methodology for columns supported by CIDH shafts.</p>