Abutment with seismic restraints
OwnerRobert K. Barrett, Albert C. Ruckmaninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An abutment especially adapted for use with a bridge is provided which incorporates lateral containment elements which prevent undesirable lateral shifting or movement of the bridge during a seismic event. The lateral containment elements are constructed of varying materials, and form an integral part of the bridge abutment. The lateral containment elements are positioned laterally of the bridge sill and in abutting relationship with the lateral ends of the sill. The lateral containment elements may include mechanically stabilized earth, concrete blocks, concrete blocks with micropile tie downs, reinforced concrete blocks with shear keys which extend below ground, or steel piles or beams which are secured in the ground.
Claims21
An abutment for use in a bridge that interconnects a roadway extending along a centerline, said abutment comprising:
- a facing wall extending substantially vertically from the ground and substantially perpendicular to the centerline;
- a retaining enclosure formed in said facing wall, said retaining enclosure having a horizontally extending sill aligned substantially perpendicular to said centerline, said sill having first and second side walls forming opposing ends of said sill, and a rear wall interconnecting said side walls;
- a first lateral containment element connected to said first sidewall;
- a second lateral containment element connected to said second sidewall;
- and
- said lateral containment elements each including a wing wall extending laterally away from the respective ends of said sill and laterally beyond the roadway, and mechanically stabilized earth filling gaps defined by spaces between the wing walls, the respective ends of the sill, and edges of the roadway, said lateral containment elements being designed to handle a seismic load that can be applied to said elements during a seismic event said design incorporating a seismic coefficient, a total mass of the bridge, and frictional resistance to lateral displacement.
An abutment for use in a bridge that interconnects a roadway extending along a centerline, said abutment comprising:
- a facing wall extending substantially vertically from the ground and substantially perpendicular to the centerline;
- a retaining enclosure formed in said facing wall, said retaining enclosure having a horizontally extending sill aligned substantially perpendicular to the centerline, said sill having first and second side walls forming opposing ends of said sill, and a rear wall interconnecting said side walls;
- a first means for limiting lateral displacement of the bridge connected to one end of said sill;
- a second means for limiting lateral displacement of the bridge connected to the other end of said sill;
- and
- wherein said first and second means for limiting lateral displacement of the bridge are sized in design to satisfy seismic design standards including a design that incorporates a seismic coefficient α and a total mass of the bridge wm, the seismic coefficient and total bridge mass substantially determining a seismic horizontal load Ph which could be applied to said first and second means for limiting lateral displacement of the bridge during a seismic event.
An abutment for use in a bridge that interconnects a roadway extending along a centerline, said abutment comprising:
- a facing wall extending substantially vertically from the ground and substantially perpendicular to the centerline;
- a retaining enclosure formed in said facing wall, said retaining enclosure having a horizontally extending sill aligned substantially perpendicular to said centerline, said sill having opposing ends, and said retaining enclosure further including at least one wall extending perpendicularly from said sill;
- a first lateral containment element connected to a first end of said sill;
- a second lateral containment element connected to the other end of said sill;
- said lateral containment elements each including a concrete reinforced block placed in abutting relationship with a corresponding end of the sill, said concrete block extending laterally away from the respective end of the sill;
- and
- wherein said first and second lateral containment elements are sized and designed to satisfy seismic design standards including a design that incorporates a seismic coefficient and a total mass of the bridge, the seismic coefficient and total mass of the bridge substantially determining a seismic horizontal load that can be applied to said first and second lateral containment elements during a seismic event.
An abutment for use in a bridge that interconnects a roadway extending along a centerline, said abutment comprising:
- a facing wall extending substantially vertically from the ground and substantially perpendicular to a centerline;
- a retaining enclosure formed in said facing wall, said retaining enclosure having a horizontally extending sill, said sill having first and second ends;
- means for limiting lateral displacement of the bridge at each end of said sill, said means for limiting lateral displacement including structure that extends laterally away from the ends of the sill, said structure being designed to withstand forces caused by lateral displacement of the bridge during a seismic event, said design including one that incorporates a seismic coefficient and a total mass of the bridge, the seismic coefficient and total bridge mass substantially determining a seismic horizontal load which is experienced during the seismic event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.