The bridge piers sagging problem under permafrost subbase degradation conditions and the possible solution

Abstract

Permafrost soils are common for extensive areas of our country and when building engineering structures in such conditions, it is necessary to take into account the factor supporting subbase on the permafrost soil, which may initially have high stress-related characteristics. But the permafrost degradation phenomenon with frost retreat no less common. It can be happening both for natural reasons due to global warming, and for man-made reasons, when interference during construction and further the structure itself initiates subsoil frost retreat. For the most part, permafrost soils lose their strength and elastic properties during the frost retreat, turning into an almost liquid consistency, which entails the failure of the supports in the bearing capability and position stability. With the road network development and the bridge’s construction in the northern regions at the end of the 60s — early 70s of the XX century, the first principle of the design was widely applied. It was for use and maintenance of the subsoil in a frozen state, which means not require a deep foundation required. However, after 20 — 30 years of operation, cases of unexpected and significant bridge piers sagging began to be noted, as it turned out, was the result of permafrost soils frost retreat to the entire depth of the foundation. It was also noted that in some cases the bridge piers sagging is preceded by its frost boil phenomena, which appear shortly before piers sinking and almost complete failure. In this article case of an unexpected bridge piers failure examined on a specific bridge. After 30 years of proper functioning, pierces received such significant sagging, so in just three years that got to the point when it’s not only traffic safety but the cohesiveness of the entire structure. And before that, a frost boil was noted at some of the bridge pierce. The purpose of this study is to analyze the frost boil mechanism and sagging of the bridge pierce’ foundations due to the progressive permafrost degradation and to suggest restoring and maintaining ways for pierces’ operation capacity. Overall, the reasons and principles of permafrost subbase degradation were analyzed in this paper. through calculations using a specific example, significant sagging and bridge pierce bearing capability loss observations were justified and substantiated the effectiveness of the proposed in this article structural reinforcement measures.