United States Department of Transportation
i
Development of Semi-Integral Bridge Abutment Details for Texas Conditions
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2025-01-01
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[PDF-68.33 MB]
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Edition:August 2016 – August 2023
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Abstract:Semi-integral bridges constitute a promising alternative to conventional TxDOT bridges because they eliminate the need for deck expansion joints, which may significantly reduce bridge maintenance costs and potentially result in significant savings over the bridge service life. Adopting semi-integral bridges is particularly relevant to Districts with comparatively cold winters (e.g., Amarillo), where the use of deicing salts has resulted in significant joint maintenance problems. However, the elimination of expansion joints requires careful consideration because of the soil-structure interaction between the bridge structure and abutment backfill caused by the bridge’s daily and seasonal thermal expansion/contraction. In this research, the data collected from the monitoring of two pilot semi-integral bridges in Texas, USA, are presented and evaluated. In this study, the effect of daily and seasonal temperature changes on the displacement of various bridge components, changes in abutment earth pressure, foundation interaction, ratcheting, backfill settlement, etc., have been successfully captured. Among the findings are increased backfill lateral earth pressure due to ratcheting, continuous settlement of the backfill, loss of vertical support for the approach slabs, asymmetric expansion/contraction of the bridge, and slight displacement of the bridge superstructure toward one end of the bridge. In addition, it was found that the thermal expansion/contraction of the bridge deck results in cyclic lateral loading of the abutment caps and the bridge foundations despite a lack of rigid connection between the foundations and the superstructure.
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