RETROFITTING

OF
WELL FOUNDATION

Shri. M.Suyambulingam , IRSE,

Chief Engineer/ S.Railway
 SYNOPSIS
 Well foundations are deep foundations having heavy mass
& constructed to high standards and hence have enormous
reserve capacity in carrying loads.
 whenever steel girders are programmed to be replaced into
PSC girder/ slab bridges having heavy dead load
retrofitting is necessary. Also to carry heavy haul trains,
25t axle load etc., foundation need to be strengthened.
 In this paper, for enhancing the carrying capacity of well
foundation, system of secondary foundation in the form of
under reamed piles combined with jacketing of the piers &
wells are suggested and designed for adoption.
 WELL FOUNDATION
Well Foundations are very strong and sturdy
foundations suitable for,
 Carrying heavy axle loads.
 Stable against sliding, overturning etc.,
 Due to heavy mass below ground level, C.G is
lowered & gets anchored.
 More suitable to carry earthquake loads.
 Has enormous reserve capacity/ strengthen all
directions.
 RETROFITTING OF WELL FOUNDATION
 Well foundations often get exposed at many locations due to
large amount of scour / sand mining problems
(Br.No.482,Br.No.167;kuzhithurai river Br.161…. etc.,).

 Strength of existing well foundations which need to be

augmented to carry (cc+8+2) , 25t loading…etc.,

 The existing old well foundations are proposed to be

strengthened using RCC Ring / Grade Beam surrounding the
well upto the scoured Bed level supported by under reamed
piles of required capacity at suitable centers below the ring
grade beam.

 The piles are taken atleast upto the bottom level of well
foundation.
 THE LOAD TRANSFER MECHANISM

 The annular RC capping slab (Ring beam) acts as a spread

footing and carries/transmits part of the super imposed
loads.

 The jacketed pier distributes the load over large bearing

area and hence the intensity of loading gets reduced.

 Self weight of pier is assumed to be carried by well

structure itself.

To be continued…
 continues….

 As per IS 2911 para 5.2.7.2, spacing of U/R piles

is < 1.5Du and >3m.
 Hand augured cylindrical piles (without under
reaming) can also be used in the case of non
clayey soil.
 Due to large annular bearing area at the base of
the eroded bed level, stability of the well gets
enhanced.
 IS-2911 provide a ready table for the carrying
capacity of small diameter U/R piles for various
diameter & bulbs (Table1).
 Well foundation-superior structural
system
 Foundation adopted where soil strata comprise
of sand or stiff clay.
 Size and shape of well depends on the size of
pier, feasibility of dredging….etc.,
 Weight/m2 of peripheral surface is higher
which facilitates sinking of well.
 Load transfer is by end bearing and SBC of
soil determines the size of well.
 When strengthened by piles all round
during ground motion
 Vertical hold-down improves and hence response
during ground motion.
 Soil- structure interaction gets enhanced.
 Capacity design is achieved by inhibiting undesirable
in-elastic deformation during earthquake.
 Tests conducted at SERC / Chennai has proved that
Dynamic characteristics such as natural
frequencies.
%damping, resonant acceleration response
and normalized resonant displacement
response are superior when SCC is used.
 SCC for Under reamed piles
 Self compacting concrete(SCC) can be
advantageously used for these hand bored
piles.
 SCC when mixed with admixture give early
strength & exhibit better characteristics and
denser concrete.
 53 grade OPC with SCM (supplemental
cement material) as partial replacement
produced higher durable concrete up to 80
Mpa.
 THE INCREASE OF LOAD INTENSITY
(Steel girder if replaced into PSC ‘U’)
 Vertical load due to ‘U’ type PSC girder for 18.3m of
railway span is of the order of 145 t (compared to approx.
26t due to steel girder) =500% increase.

 The lateral forces due to earthquake oscillation get

increased by 150%.

 LL for double span condition = 81.4 t. Total load= 447t.

 Longitudinal force = 2x14.99t on the well.

 Water pressure = 4.5t .

 Total lateral force = 34.57t.

Piles (8 NO.S 500mm dia
OR 16 No.s 300mm Dia
 STRENGTHENING OF WELL FOUNDATION-
ANALOGY
 The newly provided under reamed piles are designed to carry
80% - 100% of the loads.

 The well portion is strengthened by jacketing around the well

as per RDSO drg.no. EDO/B/1997/ALT-4.

 2 layers of ISMC channels bent to shape are also clamped

vertically around the well, fully tightened so as to confine the
exposed portion of well above the scoured bed level.

 Due to load, when well starts settling/ sinking, the ISMC

acting as belt around, holds the well back into the embedded
concrete. To be continued….
CONTINUES….
 The triangle shaped concrete with dowels surrounding the well
transmit loads/forces to the annular ring beam.

 The ring beam transfers load to the U/R piles & resting at the
scoured bed level.

 Capping ring beam supported on fully - compacted gravel /

quarry dust also provide additional bearing area for load
transfer (Not considered in design).

 Buoyancy effect on this ring beam is neglected.

 Increase in strength due to ageing of concrete is also not

considered.
BR.NO.167 (Span -11 X 18.29m)
MAS – GDR SECTION
(Sullurpettai)

WELL FOUNDATION
Retrofitted with
U/R PILES- DOUBLE REAMED
 STRENGTHENING OF EXG. OLD WELL FOUNDATION
WITH RING BEAM AND UNDER REAMED PILES: (P8 & P11)
500∅ Double Under Reamed Piles (P8 & P11- Shallow wells):
- Depth below Scoured Bed level = 9.58m.
- Piles upto the bottom of well foundation.
- No. of Piles = 8 No.s
- Well Diameter = 3.66m
- Ring beam / girder at scoured bed level = 1500 x 800 thick
(4/16 ∅ reinf. at top
4/125 ∅ reinf. at bottom
10∅ reinf. 4 legged
stirrups at 150cm.)
- Piles = 12 / 12 ∅ Reinf. Rods.
(8 ∅ reinf. Rings @
300cm.)
- Capacity of 8 no.s of 500 ∅ Double under = 796 t
reamed piles > 447 t
- Capacity of 8 no.s of 500 ∅ piles in horizontal = 43.20 t
direction >34.57 t
 STRENGTHENING OF EXG. OLD WELL FOUNDATION
WITH RING BEAM AND UNDER REAMED PILES: (P8 & P11)
For pier no. P8:
- Depth below Bed level = 7’ + 31’ + 4’ = 44’ = 13.41m
- Depth below Scoured Bed level = 13.41 – 3.83 = 9.58m
- Diameter of well = 4.250m
As per table 1 of IS 2911-3
- Diameter of pile d = 30cm
- Underreamed of Pile=2.5d = 75 cm
- Length of Double Under reamed Pile = 3.5m
- Compression load for Double under = 24 t ( from IS 2911, table .1)
reamed pile
- Increase per 30cm length = 1.40 t
- Length of grip (depth)9.58 – 3.5 = 6.08 m
- Multiples of 30cm 6.08 / 0.30(hence = 20.27 x 1.40 = 28.378 t
extra capacity.
- Capacity of each pile = 24 + 28.378 = 52.378 t
 STRENGTHENING OF EXG. OLD WELL FOUNDATION
WITH RING BEAM AND UNDER REAMED PILES: (P8 & P11)
As per table 1 of IS 2911-3
- Spacing = 2.0 x 0.75 =1.50m
Clause 5.2.7 of IS:2911 (Part III)
- Circumference of well along pile centre = 21m
- No. of under reamed pile = 21/1.50 = 14 say 16 no.s
- Capacity = 16 x 52.378 =838 t > 447 t
- Lateral thrust capacity for double under = 2.4 t
- For 16 No's ,total lateral capacity. = 16 x 2.4 = 38.4 t > 34.5 t(i.e.,
longitudinal force)
Design of circular Grade Beam: (Double ‘D’ shaped grade beam)
- Dia. of grade beam = 5.00m
- Moment coefficients in circular grade beam:
- Load /m run:(DL =142t+LL=81.65t=223.6t) = 223653/(п x 5.00) = 14245 Kg/m
- With piles as columns(-ve B.M@ support) = 0.0342 w. l

- With piles as columns (+ve B.M @ support) = 0.0176 w. l

- Span l = 50 / 2 = 2.5 m.
IS 2911 – Part III - 1980
 STRENGTHENING OF EXG. OLD WELL FOUNDATION
WITH RING BEAM AND UNDER REAMED PILES: (P8 & P11)
Design of circular Grade Beam: (Double ‘D’ shaped grade beam)
- Max. Twisting Moment = 0.0053 w.l
- Max. –ve moment @ support = 0.0342 x 223653 x 2.5
= 19122 Kg m
- Max. +ve moment @ centre of span = 0.0176 x 223653 x 2.5
=9841 Kg m
- Max. torsional moment @ 15°12’ from = 0.0053 x 223623 x 2.5
either support (T). =2963 Kg m
- Shear Force @ support section v = (14245 x 2.5 x (п/4)) / 2
=27957 Kg
Design of support section: (600 x 1000)
- Effective ‘d’ = 600 – 75 – 12.5 = 512.5
- Equivalent Shear Force ‘Ve’ = V + (1.6T)/b
- = 27957 + (1.6 )(2963) (100)
100
= 32698 Kg
 STRENGTHENING OF EXG. OLD WELL FOUNDATION
WITH RING BEAM AND UNDER REAMED PILES: (P8 & P11)
Design of support section: (600 x1000)
- Equivalent nominal shear stress Zve = 32698 / (50 x 71.25)
= 9.18 Kg/cm2 < 19 Kg /cm2
(for M 25 grade concrete)

Longitudinal Reinforcement:
- Equivalent Bending Moment Me1 = M + Mt
- M = B.M @ cross section
- Mt = T (1 + D/b) / 1.7
- Where ‘T’ is the Torsional moment, ‘D’ is the overall depth and ‘b’ is the
Breadth of beam
Mt = 296300 (1 + 80/50) / 1.7
=453165 Kg.cm
Me1 = 453165 + 1912200
=2365365 Kg.cm
A ∅t = 2365365 / (2000 x 0.894 x 51.25)
=25.81 cm2
 STRENGTHENING OF EXG. OLD WELL FOUNDATION
WITH RING BEAM AND UNDER REAMED PILES: (P8 & P11)
Longitudinal Reinforcement:
- Provide 4/25 ∅ rods (25.81 cm2
- 100 x A st / bd = (100 x 19.625) / (50 x 51.25)
=0.551
- Zc = 3.26 Kg /cm2
- Distance between the centres of corner = 50 – 2(5+1.25) = 37.5 cm – b1
bars parallel to the width
- Distance between the centre of corner = 80 – 2 (5 + 1.25) = 67.5 cm = d1
bars parallel to the depth
Transverse Reinforcement ( Cl. 41.4.30 IS 456)
- Two legged closed Loops enclosing the corner longitudinal bars shall have on
Area of cross section
Asu, given by = (T Sv / b1d1 σ sv) +
(V Sv / 2.5 d1 σ sv)
3.14 = 0.073 Sv + 0.103 Sv
Therefore, Sv = 17.84 cm
 STRENGTHENING OF EXG. OLD WELL FOUNDATION
WITH RING BEAM AND UNDER REAMED PILES: (P8 & P11)

Total traverse reinforcement shall not be less than

- (Zve – Zc) b. Sv / σ sv = (10.51 – 3.26) (50) (15) /1600.Sv
- Therefore, Sv = 3.40 cm2
- Provide 10mm ∅ 4 –leg stirrups @ 150mm Centre to centre
- Steel for moment @ mid span
- Moment = 9841 Kg m
- (9841 x 100 )/( 2000 x 0.894 x 71.25) = 7.72 cm 2
- Provide 4 / 16 t. Rod = 8.03 cm 2
- With 250 ∅ Piles (ALTERNATE)
- Min. Spacing = 1.5 Du
- Generally = 2.0 Du
- Du = 2.5 D = 2.5 x 0.25 = 0.625m
- Spacing = 2 x 0.625 = 1.25m
 STRENGTHENING OF EXG. OLD WELL FOUNDATION
WITH RING BEAM AND UNDER REAMED PILES: (P8 & P11)

With 16 No.s of double underreamed piles Increase in capacity beyond 3.5m

length
= 6.08 / 0.30 x 1.15 = 23.31 t
Capacity of 1 pile = 18 + 23.31 = 41t
Capacity of 16 No.s of piles = 16 x 41
(vertical load) =656 t > 447 t
Capacity for lateral thrust = 16 x 1.8 = 28.8 t only < 34.57 t.
Inadequate.
Min. No.s of piles required. = 20 O.K. since capacity is
(from lateral load point of view) 20x18=36t .Hence ok.
Min. Spacing = 1.5 x 0.625 = 0.94 m
21/ 20 = 1.05m spacing
Adopt 16 No.s. of 300mmΦ U/R piles
BR.NO.482 (Span -7 X 12.20m)
TVC – NCJ SECTION
( Nambe River)

WELL FOUNDATION
Retrofitted with
U/R PILES- DOUBLE REAMED
 THE PROBLEM
 Due to sand mining by local villagers the well
foundation has got a deep scour of 3m.

 Very tall bridge with 7.5m pier above the well.

 Well is resting on silty sandy bed.

 Steep bed slope and heavy water flow.

THE SOLUTION

 Ring beam supported on U/R pile foundation

WELL FOUNDATION REST ON
SILTY SAND
7.5m PIER ABOVE THE WELL
I shall be glad to share technical points if you may pen
to
M.Suyambulingam, IRSE,
Chief Bridge Engineer,
Southern Railway
Park Town, Chennai-600003
(or)
Email- suyambulingamm58@gmail.com
(or)
Contact : 044-25353477(BSNL)
THANK YOU...!