Soil Around the Pier Below the Bed Level of River

Year : 2026 | Volume : 13 | Issue : 01 | Page : 64 70
    By

    Birendra Kumar Singh,

  1. Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

Abstract

This study presents the evaluation of vertical and lateral loads acting on a bridge pier–pedestal system subjected to self-weight and vehicular loading. The pier, having a height of 25 m, length of 20 m, and thickness of 1 m, was found to carry a self-weight of 1200 t. When combined with a vehicular load of 2000 t, the total vertical load on the pier becomes 3200 t. Considering lateral force effects, 21.7% of the total load was applied as lateral load, resulting in 694 t acting over the full height and length of the pier. The pedestal supporting the pier, with dimensions 20 m × 20 m × 3 m, contributes an additional self-weight of 2880 t. Consequently, the combined load of the pier and pedestal amounts to 6080 t, producing a lateral load of 1319 t acting over a height of 20 m. Further, below 30 m from the riverbed level, the additional pedestal mass increases the total load to 10,400 t, resulting in a lateral load of 2257 t acting over a 30 m height. The analysis highlights the significant influence of self-weight accumulation with depth on lateral load demand, emphasizing the importance of accurate load estimation for safe pier and foundation design.

Keywords: Bridge pier, foundation design, lateral load, load intensity, pedestal, self-weight, structural stability, vehicular load

[This article belongs to Journal of Geotechnical Engineering ]

How to cite this article:
Birendra Kumar Singh. Soil Around the Pier Below the Bed Level of River. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. 2026; 13(01):64-70.
How to cite this URL:
Birendra Kumar Singh. Soil Around the Pier Below the Bed Level of River. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. 2026; 13(01):64-70. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/joge/article=2026/view=241520


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Issue 01
Received 02/02/2026
Accepted 23/02/2026
Published 13/02/2026
Publication Time 11 Days
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