Nonlinear Analysis of Integral Abutment Bridges

Abstract

A state‐of‐the‐art, three‐dimensional, nonlinear finite element algorithm is developed and used to study piling stresses and pile‐soil interaction in integral abutment bridges. The finite element idealization consists of beamcolumn elements, with geometric and material nonlinearities for the pile, and nonlinear springs for the soil. An idealized soil model (a modified Ramberg‐Osgood cyclic model) was introduced in this investigation to obtain the tangent stiffness of the nonlinear spring elements. Several numerical examples, including results on an existing bridge, are presented. The finite element model and the computer software developed are found to give reliable results.