Overview and Preliminary Study of Approach - Slab Design Concept for Bridges

Settlement has been an issue when construction on soft soils is concerned. Many types of soils are classified as soft soft soils such as peat soils, soft clays and organic soft soils. Local and federal authorities in Malaysia responsible with road construction are always faced with undulating effects when roads meet bridges and those which are constructed on soft soils such as peaty and soft clays. Thus, it is of utmost important to study the effect of bridge designs and choice of structures for a particular condition. In this research, differential settlement between bridges and pavements will be study to understand the behaviour of soils and bridge structures. Bridge approach slab is a concrete transitional roadway between the bridge deck and the asphalt pavement. It is designed to reduce the vehicle dynamic effects on the bridge. However, growing numbers of rough riding and cracked approach slabs with heavy maintenance requirements is sufficient to convince highway agencies that a serious problem exists. The complaints usually describe a ‘bump’ that motorists feel when they approach or leave bridges. This bump results in reduction of steering response, distraction to the driver, amplified truck impact and dynamic response in bridge decks, and expense to maintenance operations. The introduction of approach slabs by many engineers has reduced some of the problems at the interface sections but only for a short period of time. The simulation using PLAXIS computer software and field geotechnical studies will be lead to the development of a proposed new interface road bridge test-bed at RECESS Malaysia, UTHM acronym IRB Test Bed as a full scale testing.