Relationship between Earth Pressure and Thermally Induced Movement of Integral Abutments

Abstract

Movements and lateral earth pressure of integral abutment bridges are mainly affected by seasonal thermal variations. To investigate this aspect, a test bridge was constructed with integral abutments as stub type abutments founded on flexible piles, and abutment movement, earth pressure, and thermal exchange were monitored from 2000 to 2002. Based on long-term monitoring of the test bridge, several relationships for integral abutments, which are the relationships between abutment movement and thermal exchange, abutment movement and earth pressure, and earth pressure and thermal exchange, were proposed. In addition, a three-dimensional finite-element study was conducted to verify the moving behavior of the integral abutment, and its results showed that the integral abutment had rotated and laterally displaced.