1-495 in Wilmington, Delaware USA - The Leaning Towers; Lateral Squeeze Effects on Pile Supported Bridge Piers Due to Mudwave; Emergency Response and Retrofit

摘要

In 2014, the Delaware Department of Transportation was notified of a potential problem with a bridge that was part of the interstate system. After preliminary investigation it was determined that a stockpile located adjacent to the bridge piers caused lateral squeeze effects deforming the pile groups and causing the bridge piers to tilt and displace laterally. Because of the importance of this bridge, an emergency plan was established to enable removal of the stockpile, geotechnical investigations, and design to occur simultaneously. Instrumentation of the bridge was critical to provide real-time monitoring of the existing structure and to modify construction and design decisions. Geotechnical investigation and analysis, design, and construction were completed sufficiendy by August 23, 2014 to safely open both directions of the interstate.