Review of ridge failure against the confederation bridge

This paper discusses previous ridge keel failure models and uses data from Confederation Bridge to support the need for a new model that incorporates pier profile into the formula. Three independent data sources from Confederation Bridge show that there is a lack of sustained rubble pressure below the waterline cone and this is not predicted by existing keel failure models. The data sources are: regression analysis showing no correlation between load and keel depth, pressure panel data allowing an analysis of pressure distributions, and visual observations showing that sea life on the pier shaft was not scoured off by keels.