Research Project

Testing and Long-Term Monitoring of 9th Street Bridge Over I-235 in Des Moines: Integral Abutments Supported on Steel Pile/Concrete Drilled Shaft in Glacial Clay

Researcher(s)

Principal investigator: Brent Phares, 515-294-5879, bphares@iastate.edu (project list)

Co-principal investigators:

Terry Wipf, 515-294-9501, tjwipf@iastate.edu (project list)

Project status

In progress

Start date: 04/15/06
End date: 04/15/09

Sponsor(s)/partner(s)

Sponsor(s):Iowa Department of Transportation

About the research

Research objective: The 9th Street bridge in Des Moines is the first bridge in Iowa that uses a unique integral abutment design. The integral abutments are supported on steel H-piles that are embedded into concrete drilled shafts, which are seated in glacial clay.

This unique design was developed in an effort to address environemental concerns--namely vibrations from pile driving--while also providing a long-lasting stucture in the form of a jointless bridge.

Although this innovative work is promising, it is unproven and will not become a common option unless adequate testing and monitoring are performed to validate design and behavior assumptions. A total of three pile/shaft elements will be instrumented and monitored over a minimum two-year period.

2711 S. Loop Drive, Suite 4700, Ames, Iowa 50010-8664
Phone: 515-294-9501 ~ Fax: 515-294-0467
The Bridge Engineering Center is administered by Iowa State University's Institute for Transportation.