Integral Abutment Connections with Grouted Reinforcing Bar Couplers and Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 8
Abstract
Use of precast elements in the design and construction of bridges, especially for accelerated bridge construction (ABC), has been gaining traction to minimize the impact of closures resulted from cast-in-place construction. One such element being investigated is the integral abutment. This is to eliminate the need for expansion joints between the substructure and the superstructure, where the penetration of water and deleterious agents can cause long-term performance issues. The integral abutment alleviates the need for an expansion joint by having the superstructure rigidly connected to the foundation, ensuring that they act together in response to traffic loads, as well as thermal expansions and contractions. Due to this connection needing to be heavily reinforced, congestion issues often arise. Moreover, the construction tolerance and weight of the integral abutment can introduce practical challenges. Addressing such issues, especially for ABC applications, was the main motivation for the current study, in which two novel integral abutment connection details were investigated. The developed details included grouted reinforcing bar couplers, along with normal-strength and ultrahigh-performance concrete materials for the joint. As a control specimen, a cast-in-place integral abutment was investigated as well. The performance of the connection details was evaluated through full-scale laboratory tests, in which simulated thermal and live loads were applied to the specimens. A complementary set of three-dimensional finite-element simulations were also conducted to further extend the findings obtained from the laboratory experiments. This was with a focus on the couplers and how they contribute to the structural response. The outcome of this study provides original information, particularly to improve the connection details used in integral abutments.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This project was supported by the Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (ABC-UTC) and the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT). The findings and conclusions provided in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of the funding agencies. The authors would like to thank Dr. Brent Phares and Dr. Shahin Hajilar for their technical assistance. The help of Doug Wood and Owen Steffens with the full-scale tests in the ISU's Structures Laboratory is also gratefully acknowledged.
References
Ahn, J.-H., J.-H. Yoon, J.-H. Kim, and S.-H. Kim. 2011. “Evaluation on the behavior of abutment–pile connection in integral abutment bridge.” J. Constr. Steel Res. 67 (7): 1134–1148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2011.02.007.
Arockiasamy, M., N. Butrieng, and M. Sivakumar. 2004. “State-of-the-art of integral abutment bridges: Design and practice.” J. Bridge Eng. 9 (5): 497–506. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0702(2004)9:5(497).
Briseghella, B., and T. Zordan. 2015. “An innovative steel–concrete joint for integral abutment bridges.” J. Traffic Transp. Eng. 2 (4): 209–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtte.2015.05.001.
Chen, L., and B. A. Graybeal. 2012. “Modeling structural performance of second-generation ultrahigh-performance concrete Pi-girders.” J. Bridge Eng. 17 (4): 634–643. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000301.
Cui, Z., A. Alipour, and B. Shafei. 2019. “Structural performance of deteriorating reinforced concrete columns under multiple earthquake events.” Eng. Struct. 191: 460–468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.04.073.
Culmo, M. 2009. Connection details for prefabricated bridge elements and systems. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration, Office of Bridge Technology.
Culmo, M. 2011. Accelerated bridge construction: Experience in design, fabrication and erection of prefabricated bridge elements and systems. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration, Office of Bridge Technology.
Culmo, M., H. Boyle, S. Nettleton, V. Chandra, M. Tadros, and J. Mallela. 2013. Engineering design, fabrication and erection of prefabricated bridge elements and systems. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration, Office of Bridge Technology.
Dahlberg, J., and B. Phares. 2015. Iowa ABC connections. Ames, IA: Iowa State Univ. Bridge Engineering Center.
Dayton. 2016. “Perform with precision™.” Accessed August 20, 2018. http://www.daytonsuperior.com/.
Dopko, M., M. Najimi, B. Shafei, X. Wang, P. Taylor, and B. Phares. 2018. “Flexural performance evaluation of fiber-reinforced concrete incorporating multiple macro-synthetic fibers.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2672 (27): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118798986.
Dopko, M., M. Najimi, B. Shafei, X. Wang, P. Taylor, and B. Phares. 2020. “Strength and crack resistance of carbon microfiber reinforced concrete.” ACI Mater. J. 117 (2): 11–23.
Graybeal, B. A. 2006. Material property characterization of ultra-high performance concrete. Rep. No. FHWA-HRT-06-103. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration.
Haber, Z. 2013. Precast column-footing connections for accelerated bridge construction in seismic zones. Sacramento, CA: California DOT.
Huffaker, C. D. 2013. Behavior and analysis of an integral abutment bridge. Logan, UT: Utah State Univ.
Indiana DOT. 2015. “Integral abutment design. Load and resistance factor design (LRFD) examples.” Accessed August 20, 2018. www.in.gov/dot/div/contracts/design/lrfd/.
Iowa DOT. 2014a. Bridge design manual. Ames, IA: Iowa DOT.
Iowa DOT. 2014b. Special provisions for ultra high performance concrete. Ames, IA: Iowa DOT.
Jansson, P. 2008. Evaluation of grout-filled mechanical splices for precast concrete construction. Lansing, MI: Michigan DOT, Construction and Technology Division.
Kapur, J., M. Keever, W. P. Yen, J. Sletten, W. Dekelbab, D. Tobias, and M. S. Saiidi. 2012. Best practices regarding performance of ABC connections in bridges subjected to multihazard and extreme. Washington, DC: National Cooperative Highway Research Program.
Karim, R., M. Najimi, and B. Shafei. 2019. “Assessment of transport properties, volume stability, and frost resistance of non-proprietary ultra-high performance concrete.” Constr. Build. Mater. 227: 117031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117031.
Karim, R., and B. Shafei. 2021. “Performance of fiber-reinforced concrete link slabs with embedded steel and GFRP rebars.” Eng. Struct. 229: 111590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111590.
Khatami, D., and B. Shafei. 2021. “Impact of climate conditions on deteriorating reinforced concrete bridges in the US midwest region.” J. Perform. Constr. Facil 35 (1): 04020129. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0001528.
Kim, S.-H., J.-H. Yoon, J.-H. Kim, W.-J. Choi, and J.-H. Ahn. 2012. “Structural details of steel girder–abutment joints in integral bridges: An experimental study.” J. Constr. Steel Res. 70: 190–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2011.07.009.
Kim, W., and J. A. Laman. 2012. “Seven-year field monitoring of four integral abutment bridges.” J. Perform. Constr. Facil 26 (1): 54–64. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000250.
Kim, W., J. Lee, and C. Jeoung. 2013. “Concrete crack control of pile-to-pile cap connection in integral abutment bridges under cyclic bridge movement.” Adv. Mater. Res. 753–755: 462–466. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.753-755.462.
LaFave, J. M., L. A. Fahnestock, G. Brambila, J. K. Riddle, M. W. Jarrett, J. S. Svatora, and H. An. 2017. Integral abutment bridges under thermal loading: Field monitoring and analysis. Champaign, IL: Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
LaFave, J. M., L. A. Fahnestock, B. A. Wright, J. K. Riddle, M. W. Jarrett, J. S. Svatora, and G. Brambila. 2016. Integral abutment bridges under thermal loading: Numerical simulations and parametric study. Champaign, IL: Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Nelson, J. 2014. “Iowa accelerated bridge construction history.” In Proc., 60th Anniversary PCI Convention and National Bridge Conf., 1–29. Washington, DC: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.
Paraschos, A., and A. M. Amde. 2011. A survey on the status of use, problems, and costs associated with integral abutment bridges. College Park, MD: Univ. of Maryland.
Rouse, J., and B. Phares. 2013. Laboratory and field testing of an accelerated bridge construction demonstration bridge: US highway 6 bridge over keg creek. Ames, IA: Iowa State Univ., Bridge Engineering Center.
Rowell, S. 2009. High strain-rate testing of mechanical couplers. Rep. No. ERDC TR-09-8. Vicksburg, MS: USACE.
Shafei, B. 2011. “Stochastic finite-element analysis of reinforced concrete structures subjected to multiple environmental stressors.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of California.
Shafei, B., M. Kazemian, M. Dopko, and M. Najimi. 2021. “A state-of-the-art review of capabilities and limitations of synthetic and glass fibers used in fiber-reinforced concrete.” J. Materials 14 (2): 409. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020409.
Shi, W., M. Najimi, and B. Shafei. 2020a. “Reinforcement corrosion and transport of water and chloride ions in shrinkage-compensating cement concretes.” Cem. Concr. Res. 135: 106121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2020.106121.
Shi, W., M. Najimi, and B. Shafei. 2020b. “Chloride penetration in shrinkage-compensating cement concretes.” Cem. Concr. Compos. 113: 103656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103656.
Shi, W., B. Shafei, Z. Liu, and B. Phares. 2020c. “Longitudinal box-beam bridge joints under monotonic and cyclic loads.” Eng. Struct. 220: 110976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.110976.
Shi, W., B. Shafei, Z. Liu, and B. Phares. 2019. “Early-age performance of longitudinal bridge joints made with shrinkage-compensating cement concrete.” Eng. Struct. 197: 109391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.109391.
SIMULIA. 2014. Abaqus user’s manual 6.14. Providence, RI: SIMULIA.
Tabatabai, H., H. B. Magbool, and C. Fu. 2017. Criteria and practices of various states for the design of jointless and integral abutment bridges. Milwaukee: Univ. of Wisconsin.
Unlu, D. 2010. Rapid bridge construction technology: Precast elements for substructures. Madison, WI: Univ. of Wisconsin.
Wipf, T. J., W. Klaiber, and S. Hockerman. 2009. Precast concrete elements for accelerated bridge construction: Laboratory testing of precast substructure components, Boone County Bridge. Ames, IA: Iowa State Univ.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 26 • Issue 8 • August 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 10, 2020
Accepted: Mar 2, 2021
Published online: May 25, 2021
Published in print: Aug 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Oct 25, 2021
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.
Cited by
- Rizwan Karim, Behrouz Shafei, Addition of Partial-Depth Link Slabs to Bridge Structures: Role of Support Conditions, Journal of Bridge Engineering, 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0001890, 27, 7, (2022).
- Maziar Kazemian, Behrouz Shafei, Internal curing capabilities of natural zeolite to improve the hydration of ultra-high performance concrete, Construction and Building Materials, 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.127452, 340, (127452), (2022).
- Austin DeJong, Weizhuo Shi, Behrouz Shafei, Travis Hosteng, Laboratory and numerical investigation of integral abutment connections with pile couplers, Engineering Structures, 10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.113159, 248, (113159), (2021).