Integral abutment bridges (IABs) have been adopted only for short to medium-long bridges because thermal displacements of IABs limit the bridge length. To lengthen the IAB, pile-topilecap performance is one of the most important parts of the bridge design because IABs have no expansion joints and their flexible weak-axis oriented supporting piles take the place of the expansion joint. Using numerical analysis this study intended to develop four new types of pile-to-pilecap connections to improve IAB performance. Rebars around the concrete pile can be installed and used easily, but the analysis results showed that the horizontal reaction forces of the connection under horizontal displacements due to thermal loads were the same as a conventional connection. The horizontal reaction forces in the connection cause axial forces in the superstructure, and this should be reduced. Additionally, this study devised four more types of connection: (1) cylindrical holes embedded in the pilecap; (2) an HP pile, but with the flanges embedded in the pilecap removed; (3) an HP pile having reduced flanges below the pilecap; and (4) an HP pile having reduced flanges below the pilecap with spiral rebar. The developed connections allowed larger displacement without pilecap concrete cracking and reduced the reaction forces.
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