Design of Pier cap

The pier cap is the block resting over the top of the pier. A pier cap is a horizontal structural element
placed on top of a pier (a vertical support) in a bridge or elevated structure. Its primary function is
to distribute the loads from the superstructure—such as girders or beams—evenly onto the pier
beneath.

Functions of a Pier Cap:

Load Distribution: It spreads the concentrated loads from the girders or bridge deck to the pier
shaft.

Alignment: It ensures correct alignment of the superstructure elements (like bearings and beams).

Support for Bearings: Bearings (which allow for thermal movement of the bridge deck) are usually
placed on top of the pier cap.

The number of bearings on a pier cap depends on the width of the carriageway. Usually, for a two-
lane bridge, load of the superstructure span is transferred to a pier cap through two bearings.

Pier cap designed as RCC raft slab. At the top of the pier cap three combinations of load have been
considered.

Case 1: Dead load + Live load + Impact load + Water current forces + Braking effects + Centrifugal
forces + Buoyancy + Earth pressure + Wind load

Case 2: Case 1 loads + Temperature effects

Case 3: Case 2 loads + Earthquake loads

These load combinations ultimately gives vertical load and moment (Mxx, Myy). The magnitude of
Mxx is comparatively small, and can be neglected for the design.

Design the pier and well foundation for a balance cantilever bridge for the following data:

Main span: 30m, Suspended span: 15m, Cantilever span: 7.5m, Loading: IRC class A loading
Footpath load: 2kN/m2, Road width: 8m, Footpath width: 1.5m, Maximum design discharge:
6000 m3/sec, Avg. velocity of flow: 1.5 m/sec, Dead load of main span: 4500 kN, Allowable soil
pressure: 450 kN/m2, Area of elevation: 150 m2, Formation level of bridge: 480.00 m, Bed level:
462.50 m, H.F.L: 473.50 m, Level of bearing pins: 475.45 m, Level of the base of bearing:
475.20 m, Width of bearing: 500 mm, length of outer edges of bearings: 4.0 m

Depth of foundation

Linear waterway, 𝐿 = 𝐶√𝑄 𝑚 (𝐶 𝑖𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 4.5 𝑡𝑜 6.5)

C is 4.5 to 5 for rocky soils. Assuming C = 4.8

 𝐿 = 4.8√𝑄 = 4.8√6000 = 371.8 𝑚

𝑄 1/3
Normal scour depth, d = 0.473 ( 𝑓 ) , Where, f = Lacey’s silt factor = 1

𝑑 = 8.6 𝑚

Maximum scour depth, D = 2d = 17.2 m

𝐷 17.2
Grip length = = = 5.73 𝑚
3 3

Depth of the base of foundation below HFL = 17.2+5.73 = 22.93≈ 23 m

Preliminary dimensions of pier and well

Top dimensions of pier, Width = Bearing width + clearance on either side = 0.5 +(2×0.25) = 1.0 m

Length = Length between the outer edges of bearings + 1.0 m + nose

= 4+1+1 = 6.0 m

Dimensions of pier cap

Width = 1+(2×0.2) = 1.4 m (Assuming 200 mm projection beyond pier top)

Length = 6+0.4 = 6.4 m

Thickness = 0.8 m (assumed)

Bottom dimensions of pier:

Height of pier = 475.20-462.50-0.8 = 11.9 m

Slope of sides = 1 in 12
11.9
Width = 1+(2× ) = 2.98 ≈ 3 m
12

11.9
Length = 5 + (2× )+3 = 10 m
12

Dimensions of well:

Consider well foundation for pier

External dia = 10m

Internal dia = 7m

Thickness of steining = 1.5 m

Thickness of well cap = 1.2 m

RL of foundation = 473.50-23= 450.50 m

Depth of foundation below bed level = 462.50 – 450.50 = 12 m

Height of well = 12 – 1.2 = 10.8 m

Load calculations:

1. Dead load
From main span (30 m) = 4500 kN
4500
From suspended span (15 m) = = 2250 𝑘𝑁
2
4500
From cantilever span (7.5 m) = = 1125 𝑘𝑁
4
2. Live load
Loading = IRC Class A (IRC 6 – 2017, page no 12)

CG of load from 6.8 tonnes =

(2.7×(20+21.1))+(11.4×(24.3+25.5))+(6.8×(29.8+32.8+35.8+38.8))+(2.7×(58.8+60.2))
(4×2.7)+(5×6.8)+(2×11.4)
= 28.6 𝑚 from 6.8 tonnes

But due to internal hinge at B, 68 kN cannot transferred to pier at D.

Therefore CG from 2.7 tonnes (omitting 6.8 tonnes ) =
(2.7×(1.1))+(11.4×(4.3+5.5))+(6.8×(9.8+12.8+15.8+18.8))+(2.7×(38.8+40.2))
(4×2.7)+(4×6.8)+(2×11.4)
= 11.8 𝑚 from 2.7 tonnes

Distance of 27 kN from point B = 15+7.5-11.8 =10.7 m

10.7 11.8 36.3

Live load = (27 × (1.25 × ( 15 + ))) + (114 × (1.25 × (1 + 37.5))) + (68 ×
15

32 29 26 23 3 1.6
(1.25 × ( + 37.5 + 37.5 + 37.5))) + (27 × (1.25 × (37.5 + 37.5))) = 584.54 𝑘𝑁
37.5
Load act at an eccentricity of 4-0.15-2.3-0.6 = 0.95 m

Footpath load on one pier = 2 × 1.5 = 3 𝑘𝑁/𝑚 = 3 × (15 + 7.5) = 67.2 𝑘𝑁

1.5
Act on an eccentricity of = 4 + = 4.75 𝑚
2

3. Impact load (Section 208, IRC 6 – 2014)

4.5
Impact factor = 6+𝐿
4.5
Impact factor of main span = 6+30 = 0.125

4.5
Impact factor of suspended span = 6+15 = 0.214
4.5
Impact factor of cantilever span = 6+7.5 = 0.333
0.125+0.214+0.333
Average Impact factor = = 0.224
3
Impact load = impact factor ×Live load = 0.224 × 584.54 = 130.94 𝑘𝑁

Impact load reduce to zero at a depth of 3 m below the top of pier cap.
4. Wind load
On dead load:
Case 1: No water condition
Height of center of area in elevation above bed level = 480-1.75-462.5 = 15.75 m
From table 5 IRC 6 – 2014
For elevation 15.75, p = 0.518 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2 , v = 105.72 km/hr
Horizontal force = 1.09×exposed area = 0.518×150 = 77.7 kN
Case 2: Water at HFL
Height of center of area in elevation above HFL = 480-1.75-473.5 = 4.75 m
From table 5, p = 0.463 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2 , wind force = 0.463×150 = 69.45 kN
Case 3: When wind speed exceeds 130 km/hr, live load is not considered because: It's unlikely
for both high wind and high flood to occur simultaneously.
Thus, the wind force is considered only on the dead load and, where applicable, on live load
without water current forces.
For 130 km/hr, p= 0.747 kN/m2, wind force = 0.747×150 = 112.05 kN
For wind force on live load:
The lateral wind force against any exposed moving live load is taken as 4.5 kN/m for highway
bridges carrying tramway, acting at a height of 1.5 m above the roadway.
Wind force on live load = 4.5×40.2 = 180.9 kN (40.2 is length of live load)