Review of the hydrodynamic challenges in the design of elevated pile cap foundations for sea-crossing bridges

Abstract

With the increasing demand for land transportation in coastal areas, the number of sea-crossing bridges has increased rapidly. In the construction of sea-crossing bridges, the elevated pile cap foundation is one of the most commonly used foundation types. This paper summarizes four main aspects of the research on the hydrodynamic effects on elevated pile cap foundations through timing analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis. The relevant studies are reviewed from the aspects of waves, currents, and their interactions; the hydrodynamic load on the elevated pile cap foundation; fluid-structure interactions; and the structural responses of bridges that are supported by elevated pile cap foundations. Finally, the following future prospects for hydrodynamic studies of elevated pile cap foundations for the sea-crossing bridge have been discussed, which include wave-current interaction mechanism, wave-current load, fully coupled fluid-structure interactions, and structural dynamic response under hydrodynamic combined with the other hazards.