Erosion Mitigation of Bridge Abutment Backfill during Flood Events
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Volume 37, Issue 6
Abstract
The erosion of the structural backfill behind bridge abutments subjected to water flow conditions representative of extreme and overtopping floods was examined through scaled water tank testing using physical hydraulic models. The erosion behavior of the unreinforced backfill materials, embankment material, and structural backfill was tested. Based on the observed patterns of erosion and embankment failure of these tests, the proposed construction practices, including geosynthetics and riprap, were examined in the laboratory with the objective of reducing erosion and the probability of failure during flood events. The input flow rate, flow velocity, and upstream and downstream waterheads were controlled and measured during the tests. The research results indicated that slope failure before overtopping can be mitigated by using a riprap on the slope. Geosynthetics, including geogrids and geotextiles, effectively prevented global failure during flood events if the reinforced core of the backfill was appropriately wrapped.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and codes generated or used during the study appear in the published paper.
Acknowledgments
This work was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation under work order agreement E04005. The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the time of publication. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The research team acknowledges the efforts of several undergraduate students, including Nicholas Crociata and Jack Payne. The authors also acknowledge the help of Dan Zeroka and Carl Bowman, technician and instrumentation and system specialist, respectively, at Lehigh University’s Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems Engineering Research Center.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 37 • Issue 6 • December 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 11, 2023
Accepted: Jul 24, 2023
Published online: Sep 25, 2023
Published in print: Dec 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Feb 25, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Backfills
- Bridge abutments
- Bridge components
- Bridge engineering
- Bridge tests
- Construction engineering
- Construction methods
- Engineering fundamentals
- Erosion
- Excavation
- Failure analysis
- Field tests
- Floods
- Geology
- Geotechnical engineering
- Material failures
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials characterization
- Materials engineering
- Structural engineering
- Tests (by type)
- Water and water resources
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