Effect of regional land subsidence on engineering structures: a case study of the 6 km long Su-tong Yantze River Bridge

The article reports a study of the influence of regional land subsidence on the 6.05 km long Su-tong Yangtze River Bridge. The characteristics of the major compressive geological layers and their potential to settlement are discussed in the light of the past and continuing groundwater exploitation in the area. A numerical model for land subsidence quantification was developed and used to predict the differential settlements along the bridge axis to 2050. There is a significant difference in the settlement occurring in the north and south areas of the bridge, in part due to the variation in the Quaternary alluvial sediments. The case study highlights the importance of considering both site specific and regional subsidence conditions when designing large structures in such an area.