Shallow Foundations for Highway Structures: Fid-Bau Portal

Shallow Foundations for Highway Structures

H. E. Wahls

This synthesis will be of special interest to foundation designers, bridge engineers, geotechnical specialists, and others seeking information on the use of shallow foundations for transportation structures. Detailed information is presented on selection, design, construction, and maintenance of shallow foundations. Foundations represent a considerable portion of the construction costs for structures such as bridges, walls, culverts, and sign supports. Where suitable for the site, shallow foundations such as spread footings, mats, or rafts are typically less costly than deep foundations such as piles or caissons. Nevertheless, procedures used by many agencies do not allow for adequate consideration of shallow foundations. This report of the Transportation Research Board is intended to facilitate proper consideration and greater application of shallow foundations. Current practices and performance criteria are discussed, and case histories are presented to demonstrate cost comparisons between different types of foundations.