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Why Rebuild It When

You Can Reuse It?

An Introduction to
Foundation Reuse

Andy Boeckmann
University of Missouri
Motivations for Foundation Reuse
• Lifespan of foundation generally
exceeds lifespan of overlying structure
• Reduce project costs (save money)
• Reduce project duration (save time)
• Minimize mobility impacts
(transportation)
• Historic preservation
• Ground congestion
Bridge 91 Closed

Guardrail 
Bound‐up

1-3/4”
Slides credit: 
Mohammed Mulla, NCDOT Joint Separation
Stabilizing Bent 7

How much movement is


tolerable?

Yadkin River

Alluvium

Residual

Weathered Rock

Gneiss
23
32
More #Motivations: Trending
• Reliability: A used foundation is a tested foundation
• Reuse is fundamentally sustainable
• Reuse “fits” with sound asset management
• By reducing project cost, helps preservation efforts

Cost of new needs


$
(per unit Infrastructure
time)
“debt”
Investments

Time
Cost of new needs
$
(per unit Better engineering
time) Asset management
Innovation
Foundation Reuse

Time
Slide credit: 
Pete Connors, MassDOT
Challenges for Foundation Reuse
Four were identified by TRB Committee AFP30:
1. Condition assessment
2. Load capacity
3. Remaining service life predictions
4. Design codes
Add a pair:
1. Nature of risk is different
2. Assumption of risks is unclear
Condition Assessment Techniques
• As-built records
• Excavation
• Core drilling of foundation
• Pile integrity testing (e.g. sonic echo)
• Surface geophysical methods
• Borehole geophysical methods
• Others?
• Evaluated field site with two 4-ft (1.2-m)
diameter by 50-ft (50-m) long drilled shafts
• Linear array of 23 geophones, next to (not in
line with) shafts, strikes with 20-lb hammer

Nguyen, T. D., K.T. Tran and M. McVay (2016), “Evaluation of Unknown


Foundations Using Surface-Based Full Waveform Tomography,” ASCE Journal of
Bridge Engineering, Vol. 21, No. 5
Improvement Techniques
• Enlarged footing
• Additional foundation elements:
– Piles, shaft, micropiles, tiebacks
• Replacement of backfill with
lightweight fill
• Ground improvement
• Pier stem widening
• Electrochemical chloride extraction
I-95 Richmond, VA (Virginia DOT)
• 10 bridge
replacements
• Pre-constructed
superstructures
(reduced dead
load)
• Repaired some
pier caps,
replaced others

Project information and graphics from Joe Hardee, AECOM (formerly URS)
Slide credit:
Joe Hardee,
AECOM (URS)
Electrochemical
Chloride
Extraction
Decision Methods (Europe)
• Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine
(SPEAR) – “bullseye” figure
• Reuse of Foundations for Urban Sites
(RuFUS) – flowchart
• Construction Industry Research and
Information Association (CIRIA)
Document C653 – simple flowchart
• Hybrid method by Laefer and Farrell
(2015) – modified SPEAR plus chart
Laefer, D. and K.-A. Farrell
(2015), “A hybrid method for
foundation reuse evaluation,”
Environmental Geotechnics,
Institute of Civil Engineers (UK),
Vol. 2, Issue EG4, p. 224-236
Hurricane Deck Bridge Replacement
• 2012 MoDOT project at the Lake of the Ozarks
• Original bridge built in 1920s and 1930s on
pneumatic caissons

Axtell, P.J. and T.C. Siegel


(2014), “Sustainability and
Consideration of the Re-
use of Foundations for the
Hurricane Deck Bridge,”
Proceedings of the 39th
Annual Conference of the
Deep Foundations
Institute, p. 163-170.
Investigation Concrete/
bedrock
interface
Hurricane Deck: Design Alternatives
• Baseline: Reuse caisson foundations
1. Construct new superstructure on temporary foundations
2. Reroute traffic to new superstructure during demolition
3. Move new structure to original alignment
• Alternative Technical Concepts (ATCs) allowed
• One ATC: new permanent bridge alignment with
shorter spans. Supported on new shafts.
• Ultimately this ATC was selected. Cost 1% less than
lowest baseline bid.
• Conclusion: sustainability versus economy – false
choice?
NCHRP Synthesis 47-03 Survey
• Objectives:
– Capture reuse experience and
examples – all instances, not just most
notable ones
– Document policies and procedures
(geophysical methods, etc.) for reuse
• Survey of all state agencies, case
examples, literature review
• Will be published in early 2017
Questions?

Contact information:
Andy Boeckmann
boeckmanna@missouri.edu
573-424-0017

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