Study and Compare Effect of Active (Ka), Passive (Kp) and Design (K*) Earth Pressure on Integral Abutment Bridges by Soil-Structure Interaction

Integral abutment bridges (IABs) are increasingly being used to eliminate undesirable effects of bridge joints on the long-term performance of bridges. Soil-structure interactions at the abutments occurring during loading of a bridge are complex in skewed and long span IABs. The goal of this study was to better understand the complex soil-structure interactions that occur in IABs and to develop design guidelines. Horizontal movements of the superstructure cause deformations in the infrastructure, resulting in a complex interaction with the soil. Geotechnical concerns may occur as a result of this interaction, compromising the bridge’s and approach embankments’ serviceability. The occurrence of bump at the end of the bridge (a difference in settlement between the abutment and the earth) is increased in IABs by reaching the active stress condition during deck contraction. The lateral earth pressure, on the other hand, increases as the deck expands. Ratcheting occurs behind the abutment as a result of the cyclic stress of the earth.