Distribution of Ground Contact Pressure under Rigid Foundation of Large Pneumatic Caisson

The records of field instrumentation, which have been performed on the pneumatic caisson used for substructure of the Youngjong Grand Bridge, were analyzed to investigate the ground contact pressure under rigid foundation of large pneumatic caisson embedded in various ground layers. During sinking the pneumatic caisson, the resisting force was mobilized against sinking the caisson at the contact area between bottom of the caisson and the ground. The resisting force could be measured by the reaction force gauges instrumented under the edge of bottom of the pneumatic caisson. And the ground contact pressure could be estimated by use of the measuring records of the resisting force. The ground contact pressure under rigid foundation of large pneumatic caisson shows concave distribution on bedrock, while convex distribution was shown in marine deposit soil layer as well as weathered rock layer. And, the ground contact pressure in various ground layers was distributed axis-symmetrically. The distribution shape of the ground contact pressure determined by the maximum pressure acting on foundation of the large pneumatic caisson showed good coincidence with the distribution shape proposed for rigid foundation by Kgler(1936) and Fang(1991).