Foundation system for bridges and other structures

Abstract

A bridge system is provided that utilizes foundation structures that are formed of the combination of precast and cast-in-place concrete. A method of constructing the combination precast and cast-in-place concrete foundation structures involves receiving at a construction site a precast concrete foundation unit having elongated upright wall members that define a channel therebetween, and multiple upright supports located within the channel; placing the precast concrete foundation unit at a desired use location; delivering concrete into the channel while the precast concrete foundation unit remains at the desired use location; and allowing the concrete to cure-in-place such that the elongated upright wall members are connected to the cured-in-place concrete by reinforcement embedded within both the cured-in-place concrete and the upright wall members. The bridge units may be placed before the pouring step to embed the bottoms of the bridge units in the cast-in-place concrete.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of constructing a foundation structure, comprising:
 utilizing a foundation unit having a first elongated upright wall member and a second elongated upright wall member spaced apart from the first elongated upright wall member to define a channel therebetween, and at least first and second upright supports extending laterally across the channel and interconnecting the first elongated upright wall member and the second elongated upright wall member, the first and second upright supports spaced apart from each other in a lengthwise direction parallel to a lengthwise axis of the foundation unit to form a channel cell, wherein an inner side of the first elongated upright wall member includes a first recess facing the channel cell and extending only partially through a lateral thickness of the first elongated upright wall member, and an inner side of the second elongated upright wall member includes a second recess facing the channel cell and extending only partially through a lateral thickness of the second elongated upright wall member and in opposed and aligned relationship with the first recess, where the first recess is elongated in the lengthwise direction and is bounded by upper and lower edges for reinforcement retention, where the second recess is elongated in the lengthwise direction and is bounded by upper and lower edges for reinforcement retention;   inserting at least a first elongated metal reinforcement member into the channel cell such that the first elongated metal reinforcement member extends laterally between the first recess and the second recess;   delivering concrete into the channel cell of the concrete foundation unit; and   allowing the concrete to cure such that the first elongated metal reinforcement member becomes embedded in the concrete.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the delivering and allowing steps are performed at a construction site at which the foundation structure is being installed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the inserting step multiple elongated metal reinforcement members are inserted into the channel cell to extend laterally between the first recess and the second recess, and prior to the delivering and allowing steps, the elongated metal reinforcement members are tied to maintain desired positions of the elongated metal reinforcement members. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inner side of the first elongated upright wall member includes a third recess facing the channel cell and the inner side of the second elongated upright wall member includes a fourth recess facing the channel cell, the fourth recess in opposed and aligned relationship with the third recess, and 
 inserting at least a second elongated metal reinforcement member into the channel cell such that the second elongated metal reinforcement member extends laterally between the third recess and the fourth recess. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first upright support includes a plurality of through openings, the plurality of through openings include a first set of laterally spaced apart through openings at a first height, and a second set of laterally spaced apart through openings at a second height. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  including the steps of, prior to the delivering and allowing steps, inserting a first multiplicity of elongated metal reinforcement members through the first set of laterally spaced apart through openings and inserting a second multiplicity of elongated metal reinforcement members through the second set of laterally spaced apart through openings. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein, prior to the delivering and allowing steps, the first elongated metal reinforcement member is tied to at least one elongated metal reinforcement member of the first multiplicity. 
     
     
         8 . A method of constructing a foundation structure, comprising:
 utilizing a foundation unit having a first elongated upright wall member and a second elongated upright wall member spaced apart from the first elongated upright wall member to define a channel therebetween, and at least one upright support extending laterally across the channel and interconnecting the first elongated upright wall member and the second elongated upright wall member, wherein an inner side of the first elongated upright wall member includes a first recess facing the channel and extending only partially through a lateral thickness of the first elongated upright wall member, and an inner side of the second elongated upright wall member includes a second recess facing the channel and extending only partially through a lateral thickness of the second elongated upright wall member, where the first recess is elongated in a lengthwise direction parallel to a lengthwise axis of the foundation unit and is bounded by upper and lower edges for reinforcement retention, where the second recess is elongated in the lengthwise direction and is bounded by upper and lower edges for reinforcement retention;   subsequent to formation of the foundation unit, inserting at least a first elongated metal reinforcement member into the channel such that the first elongated metal reinforcement member extends laterally between the first recess and the second recess;   delivering concrete into the channel of the foundation unit; and   allowing the concrete to cure such that the first elongated metal reinforcement member becomes embedded in the concrete.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the delivering and allowing steps are performed at a construction site at which the foundation structure is being installed. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein, in the inserting step multiple elongated metal reinforcement members are inserted into the channel to extend laterally between the first recess and the second recess, and prior to the delivering and allowing steps, the elongated metal reinforcement members are tied to maintain desired positions of the elongated metal reinforcement members. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein:
 the inner side of the first elongated upright wall member includes a third recess facing the channel and extending only partially through the lateral thickness of the first elongated upright wall member and the inner side of the second elongated upright wall member includes a fourth recess facing the channel and extending only partially through the lateral thickness of the second elongated upright wall member, and 
 subsequent to casting of the foundation unit, inserting at least a second elongated metal reinforcement member into the channel such that the second elongated metal reinforcement member extends laterally between the third recess and the fourth recess. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the upright support includes a plurality of through openings, the plurality of through openings include a first set of laterally spaced apart through openings at a first height, and a second set of laterally spaced apart through openings at a second height. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  including the steps of, prior to the delivering and allowing steps, inserting a first multiplicity of elongated metal reinforcement members through the first set of laterally spaced apart through openings and inserting a second multiplicity of elongated metal reinforcement members through the second set of laterally spaced apart through openings. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein, prior to the delivering and allowing steps, the first elongated metal reinforcement member is tied to at least one elongated metal reinforcement member of the first multiplicity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein a distance between the first and second elongate upright wall members is at least as great as a span of a bridge unit to be placed thereon.