Field Behavior of Integral Abutment Bridges under Thermal Loading
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 4
Abstract
Integral abutment bridges (IABs) have become popular with departments of transportation throughout the United States due to their lower maintenance and construction costs and longer service life. Nevertheless, IAB design and construction vary widely across the country, and not all aspects of IAB behavior are fully understood. Research has previously been conducted on IABs, but primarily with a focus on substructure behavior. However, recent studies have shown that IAB superstructures may develop significant stresses, which warrant consideration in their design. The work reported herein addresses the need to better understand not only IAB substructure behavior but also superstructure behavior, with a goal of improving design and construction provisions for IABs. Two bridges were instrumented, with primary focus on superstructure behavior and more limited instrumentation of the substructure. Corresponding finite-element models were developed based on modeling techniques and findings from prior parametric studies. It was found that the IAB decks and girders (in the superstructure) and abutments and piles (in the substructure) generally show seasonal and even daily trends with respect to changes in temperature, with the exception of bottom-flange girder stresses that have wider variability not directly related to temperature change. Prior modeling assumptions regarding the rigidity of various IAB connections were also validated through the field monitoring data.
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Acknowledgments
This article was based on Project ICT R27-115, Analysis of Superstructures of Integral Abutment Bridges. ICT R27-115 was conducted in cooperation with the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT); IDOT, Division of Highways; the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA); and the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The contents of this article reflect the view of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the ICT, IDOT, ISTHA, or FHWA. The authors would like to thank the members of the project Technical Review Panel, chaired by Mark D. Shaffer of the Illinois Department of Transportation, for their valuable assistance with this research. Contributions from the following former graduate research assistants are also gratefully acknowledged: Joseph Riddle, Matthew Jarrett, Beth Wright, Jeffrey Svatora, and Huayu An.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 26 • Issue 4 • April 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 30, 2019
Accepted: Sep 24, 2020
Published online: Jan 25, 2021
Published in print: Apr 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jun 25, 2021
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