Behavior of Abutment Piles in an Integral Abutment Bridge

摘要

This is a report on the field study of the behavior of abutment piles in an integral abutment bridge. The bridge studied has integral: abutments, piers, concrete box girders and concrete deck. The 450 foot length is made up of six 75 foot spans. To compensate for the anticipated thermal movements, two unique features were built into the bridge. First, expansion joint material was placed between the backside of the abutment and the soil backfill and second, compressible material was placed on the webs of the abutment piles creating low soil resistance to pile movement. Over a one year period, monthly readings were taken on the following: length of bridge by steel tape, gap between soil backfill and backside of abutment, openings in the expansion joints on the concrete approach slabs, vertical elevation of abutments and piers, slope indicator readings on the four corner abutment piles to a depth of 35 feet, and temperatures of concrete deck and air.