Predicting the Earth Pressure on Integral Bridge Abutments
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 17, Issue 2
Abstract
The soil adjacent to integral bridge abutments experiences daily and annual temperature-induced cyclic loading owing to expansion and contraction of the bridge deck. This causes a particular soil response and complicated soil-structure interaction problem, with considerable uncertainties in design. This paper describes a method of calculating the effects of thermal cycling by using the results of laboratory cyclic stress-path testing within a numerical model. Samples of stiff clay and sand were tested in the triaxial apparatus under stress paths that are typical behind an integral abutment. Distinct behavior was observed for the two soils, with stiff clay showing relatively little buildup of lateral stress with cycles, whereas sand stresses continued to increase, exceeding at-rest pressure and approaching full passive pressures. To explore the implications of these findings on soil-abutment interaction and to estimate the lateral stresses acting on the abutment as a whole, a numerical i.e., (finite difference) model was developed with a soil model reproducing the sand behavior at element level. The numerical model gave good agreement with published centrifuge and field data, indicating that the stress profile specified in some current standards is conservative. The influence of abutment stiffness and wall friction is also quantified.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful for the research supported received from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of the United Kingdom, Mott MacDonald, a PRC/Hong Kong Postgraduate Scholarship, and an Overseas Research Studentship from Universities UK. The second author also wishes to thank the support from the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, Ministry of Education of China.
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Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 17 • Issue 2 • March 2012
Pages: 371 - 381
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 2, 2010
Accepted: Apr 21, 2011
Published online: Apr 25, 2011
Published in print: Mar 1, 2012
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