Integral Abutment Bridges Under Thermal Loading: Numerical Simulations and Parametric Study

LaFave, James M.; Fahnestock, Larry A.; Wright, Beth A.; Riddle, Joseph K.; Jarrett, Matthew W.; Svatora, Jeffrey S.; An, Huayu; Brambila, Gabriela

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/91028 Copy

Description

Title

Integral Abutment Bridges Under Thermal Loading: Numerical Simulations and Parametric Study

Author(s)

• LaFave, James M.
• Fahnestock, Larry A.
• Wright, Beth A.
• Riddle, Joseph K.
• Jarrett, Matthew W.
• Svatora, Jeffrey S.
• An, Huayu
• Brambila, Gabriela

Issue Date

2016-06

Keyword(s)

• Integral Abutment Bridges
• Skewed Bridges
• Thermal Loading
• Steel I-Girders
• Steel H-Piles
• Pile Strain
• Girder Stress
• Superstructure-Substructure Interaction
• Effective Expansion Length
• Numerical Models

Geographic Coverage

Illinois

Abstract

Integral abutment bridges (IABs) have become of interest due to their decreased construction and maintenance costs in comparison to conventional jointed bridges. Most prior IAB research was related to substructure behavior, and, as a result, most limit states that have been considered in design guidelines have been based on substructure considerations. However, integral abutment construction also affects superstructure behavior and demands, and superstructure properties directly influence substructure behavior. This report presents numerical simulations evaluating the behavior of IABs with composite steel I-girders subjected to temperature changes consistent with seasonal fluctuations in the state of Illinois. Nonlinear bridge models are introduced in which key parameters are varied, such as span length, pile size, and skew. Other parameters that were deemed of less importance, like various pile and soil conditions, are studied as well. Three-dimensional finite element model results indicate that longitudinal bridge movement is directly dependent on IAB effective expansion length (EEL), regardless of other bridge design parameters. Structural responses such as girder superstructure elastic stress and pile substructure inelastic strain are influenced by EEL, pile type and size, superstructure rotational stiffness, and bridge skew. Results presented herein suggest that superstructure geometry—including bridge skew—should be considered in IAB substructure design and that thermally induced stresses and strains should be considered in superstructure and substructure design.

Publisher

Illinois Center for Transportation/Illinois Department of Transportation

Series/Report Name or Number

Illinois Center for Transportation Series No. 16-015; Research Report No. FHWA-ICT-16-014.

ISSN

0197-9191

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/91028

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Illinois Department of Transportation, R27-115

Copyright and License Information

No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161

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