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Failure Analysis of a Bridge Embankment with Cracked Approach Slabs and Leaking Sand |
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| Authors: | Dar-Hao Chen Soheil Nazarian John Bilyeu |
| Affiliation: | 1Professor, School of Highway Engineering, Changsha Univ. of Science and Technology, Chiling Road 45#, Changsha, Hunan P.R. China 410076; and, Pavement Engineering Supervisor, Texas Dept. of Transportation, 4203 Bull Creek #39, Austin, TX 78731 (corresponding author). E-mail: dchen@dot.state.tx.us 2Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968. E-mail: nazarian@utep.edu 3Transportation Engineer, Material and Pavements Section, Texas Dept. of Transportation, 4203 Bull Creek Rd., Austin, TX 78731. E-mail: jbilyeu@dot.state.tx.us |
| Abstract: | This paper describes a successful failure analysis to determine the causes of loss of backfill sand from a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall, and cracks on the concrete approach slabs on top of it. The Texas Department of Transportation was concerned that the cracks on the approach slabs may be related to the excessive loss of backfill from behind the MSE walls, and that the embankment structure may be unsafe due to potential voids under the concrete slab. Several cubic meters of sugar sand had washed out of the wall and deposited adjacent to the paneled walls. A series of destructive and nondestructive tests were carried out to determine the causes of the problems. It was found that the cracking of the approach slab and the loss of backfill were unrelated. Suggestions for resolving both problems were made based on this study. |
| Keywords: | Sand Radars Failures Cracking Bridges Embankment Backfills |