A survey of current issues on the use of integral abutment bridges

Abstract

An integral abutment is a feasible mechanism with which to transfer temperature- and traffic-induced horizontal loading of bridges, and has been adopted by many highway departments in the new construction of highway bridges. However, nationally accepted design specifications do not exist. Each highway department depends on the experience of its engineers and on limited research conducted recently in the development of design criteria. In this paper, we summarize the cumulative gain in knowledge, through research and experience of the past ten years, on integral abutment bridges. We discuss the integral abutment, the piles supporting the abutment, the connection of the abutment to the superstructure, the soil behind the abutment, the approach slab, the connection details between the superstructure and the abutment, the effects of integral construction on the deck, length limitations on the superstructure and the effect of skew. In addition, we summarize ongoing laboratory and full-scale experimentation on integral abutment bridges.