Modelling granular soil to predict pressures on integral bridge abutments

Abstract

Presented here is a granular soil model created to investigate the soil pressureswhich develop behind integral bridge abutments. The problem is introduced along with a briefsummary of the fundamental behaviour, the model produced, and the initial validation. The paperlooks at the initial outcome of the final validation procedure where experimental behaviourof an abutment is compared to the modelled behaviour, and the influence of the Young’smodulus profile applied is investigated. The results show that the model behaves as expectedproducing lateral stresses close to those measured experimentally. Comparisons show that theYoung’s modulus profile adopted influences the resultant lateral stresses sufficiently to warrantfurther investigation