Journal: Applied Ocean Research

Authors: Rajan KC, Keshab Sharma, Prishati Raychowdhury, Indra Prasad Acharya, Monu Lal Burnwal, Jibendra Misra

Abstract:

Caissons and piles are two primary foundation types for deep-water bridges. Caissons are suitable for long-span bridges, deep alluvial deposits, liquefiable soils, and sufficient vessel collisions, but can be problematic due to sinking issues and inadequate earthquake resistance. Pile foundations are not suitable for deep water because of their extensive length, reduced rigidity, low vessel collision resistance, and difficulties in construction. A solution to the above problem can be a combination of caisson and piles, known as a Composite Caisson-Pile Foundation (CCPF), which considers the advantages of both foundation types, increasing their strengths without their flaws. After the caisson has reached the required depth, piles may be driven into it to construct a CCPF. Existing caisson foundations can be retrofitted using this approach. However, CCPFs have not been extensively employed due to a lack of thorough study on their geotechnical and structural behavior. This article reviews studies on CCPF systems under various loading condition types (static, cyclic, and dynamic) using different research methodologies (experimental, analytical, and numerical). Overall, this article provides basic insights into CCPFs and the studies related to bridges supported on CCPFs. The outcome of this study can benefit the foundation engineering community and provide a collective idea of this newly developed, innovative foundation system.