Wing walls

Failure of bridge
abutments

The breast (stem) wall may fail by tensile

cracks, crushing or shear;
The wall may tilt forward due to excessive
overturning moment due to earth pressure;
The wall may slide forward due to earth
pressure
if
the
vertical
forces
are
inadequate;
Failures may occur along a curved surface
by rupture of the soil due to inadequate
shear resistance.