Geologic Survey and Stability Analysis for the South Tower Pier of Jiangyin Yangtze Highway Bridge

Jiangyin Yangtze highway bridge is a suspension bridge with main span 1 385 m. The south tower pier is located on a 70 m bedrock slope with bedding plane of strata tipping to the river channel and several weak intercalated layers. The stability of the tower pier is one of the main engineering geologic problems. On the basis of investigation and survey of relevant geologic condition analyses, the geomechanical model experiments are carried out for stability study of various foundation alternatives’ advantages and disadvantages. Pile foundation has been finally adopted and constructed, and this is justified by practice.