List of Abutment Design Standards: [Show]
 

Eurocodes
 
 • EN 1991-1-1: Actions on Structures - General Actions
 • EN 1991-1-5: Actions on Structures - Thermal Actions
 • EN 1991-1-7: Actions on Structures - Accidental Actions
 • EN 1991-2: Actions on Structures - Traffic Loads on Bridges
 • EN 1992-1-1: Design of Concrete Structures - General Rules
 • EN 1992-2: Design of Concrete Structures - Bridges
 • EN 1993-5: Design of Steel Structures - Piling
 • EN 1997-1: Geotechnical Design - General Rules
 • EN 1998-2: Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance - Bridges
 • EN 1998-5: Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance - Geotechnical
  Aspects
 • Each document is accompanied by a National Annex
 
British Standards
 
 • BS 5400: Part 2: Specification for Loads
 • BS 5400: Part 4: Code of Practice for the Design of Concrete Bridges
 • BS 8500: Concrete - Complementary British Standard to BS EN 206-1
 • BS 8666: Specification for scheduling, dimensioning, bending and cutting of
  steel reinforcement for concrete
 
Design Manual for Roads and Bridges
 
 • BD37: Loads for Highway Bridges
 • BA41: The Design and Appearance of Bridges
 • BA42: The Design of Integral Bridges
 • BD57 and BA57: Design for Durability
 
Technical Papers
 
 • CIRIA Report C660 - Early-age thermal crack control in concrete.
 

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Choice of Pier

Wherever possible slender piers should be used so that there is sufficient flexibility to allow temperature, shrinkage and creep effects to be transmitted to the abutments without the need for bearings at the piers, or intermediate joints in the deck.
A slender bridge deck will usually look best when supported by slender piers without the need for a downstand crosshead beam. It is the proportions and form of the bridge as a whole which are vitally important rather than the size of an individual element viewed in isolation.


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Different Pier Shapes


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Different Pier Shapes


Design Considerations

Loads transmitted by the bridge deck onto the pier are :

  1. Vertical loads from self weight of deck

  2. Vertical loads from live loading conditions

  3. Horizontal loads from temperature, creep movements etc and wind

  4. Rotations due to deflection of the bridge deck.

The overall configuration of the bridge will determine the combination of loads and movements that have to be designed for. For example if the pier has a bearing at its top, corresponding to a structural pin joint, then the horizontal movements will impose moments at the base, their magnitude will depend on the pier flexibility.
Sometimes special requirements are imposed by rail or river authorities if piers are positioned within their jurisdiction. In the case of river authorities a 'cut water' may be required to assist the river flow, or independent fenders to protect the pier from impact from boats or floating debris. A similar arrangement is often required by the rail authorities to prevent minor derailments striking the pier. Whereas the pier has to be designed to resist major derailments. Also if the pier should be completely demolished by a train derailment then the deck should not collapse.
 

Bridge Components