An Investigation of Sources of Asymmetric Thermal Expansion Behavior in Semi-Integral Bridges
Publication: Geo-Congress 2024
ABSTRACT
The typically poor long-term performance of deck expansion joints and the high cost of maintenance of these bridge components have led to an increased utilization of jointless bridge systems such as integral and semi-integral bridges. However, the elimination of expansion joints leads to some adverse secondary effects due to the cyclic interaction of the bridge with the abutments. This soil-structure interaction can cause gradual settlement of the backfill, backfill earth pressure increase, and lateral loading of the foundations. In addition to these issues, it has been observed that integral and semi-integral bridges do not necessarily experience the symmetrical thermal expansion and contraction that is typically assumed in design, even if the structure appears symmetrical in design. As a result, jointless bridges may expand more toward one abutment than the other in response to daily and seasonal changes in temperature. In this paper, some of the potential causes of the asymmetrical expansion of integral and semi-integral bridges are identified and discussed through analysis of some of the past field monitoring data as well as the available data published in literature. The identified causes include minor differences in foundation soil stiffness, depth of the foundation, environmental forces, and more.
Get full access to this chapter
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
REFERENCES
Abendroth, R. E., Greimann, L. F., Lim, K.-H., Sayers, B. H., Kirkpatrick, C. L., and Ng, W. C. (2005). Field Testing of Integral Abutments. Iowa State University Center for Transportation Research and Education, Ames, IA.
Abendroth, R., Greimann, L., and LaViolette, M. (2007). An Integral Abutment Bridge with Precast Concrete Piles. Iowa State University Center for Transportation Research and Education, Ames, IA.
Burke, M. P. (2009). Integral and Semi-Integral Bridges. Wiley-Blackwell.
Hoppe, E. (2005). Field study of integral backwall with elastic inclusion. Viriginia Transportation Research Council.
Hoppe, E. J., and Gomez, J. P. (1996). Field study of an integral backwall bridge. Virginia Transportation Research Council.
Huffaker, C. D. (2013). Behavior and Analysis of an Integral Abutment Bridge. Master’s thesis, Utah State University.
Huntley, S. A., and Valsangkar, A. J. (2013). “Field monitoring of earth pressures on integral bridge abutments.” Can. Geotech. J., 50 (8): 841–857. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2012-0440.
Jorgenson, J. L. (1974). “Behavior of Abutment Piles in an Integral Abutment in Response to Bridge Movements.” Transportation Research Record, (903): 72–79.
Lawver, A., French, C., and Shield, C. K. (2000). “Field Performance of Integral Abutment Bridge.” Transportation Research Record, 1740 (1): 108–117. SAGE Publications Inc. https://doi.org/10.3141/1740-14.
Mofarraj, B. (2022). Field Study of Thermally-Induced Soil-Structure Interactions in Semi-Integral Bridge Structures, Ph.D. dissertation, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Mofarraj, B., and Zornberg, J. G. (2022). “Field Monitoring of Soil-Structure Interaction in Semi-Integral Bridges.” Geo-Congress 2022, ASCE, Charlotte, NC, 33–42. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784484067.004.
Mofarraj, B., and Zornberg, J. G. (2023). “Long-Term Field Monitoring of Lateral Loads in Semi-Integral Bridge Foundations”, Geo-Congress 2023, ASCE, Los Angeles, CA, 114–123.
Ooi, P. S. K., Lin, X., and Hamada, H. S. (2010). “Field Behavior of an Integral Abutment Bridge Supported on Drilled Shafts.” J. Bridge Eng., 15 (1), 4–18. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000036.
Purvis, R. L., and Berger, R. H. (1983). “Bridge Joint Maintenance.” Transportation Research Record, 899, 1–10.
Steinberg, E., Sargand, S. M., and Bettinger, C. (2004). “Forces in wingwalls of skewed semi-integral bridges.” J. Bridge Eng., 9 (6): 563–571. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0702(2004)9:6(563).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
History
Published online: Feb 22, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Architectural engineering
- Bridge abutments
- Bridge components
- Bridge decks
- Bridge engineering
- Bridge management
- Building management
- Decks
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Integrals
- Joints
- Maintenance and operation
- Mathematics
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Thermal properties
- Thermodynamics
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.