Cyclic loading of sand behind integral bridge abutments

Integral bridge abutments offer an attractive solution to designers who wish to avoid problems associated with bearings and expansion joints. However, the slow cyclic temperature induced expansion or contraction of the bridge deck will cause particle orientation in the fill behind the abutment and additional lateral loading on the wall. Designers need to understand these mechanisms and be able to quantify their effect. A combination of centrifuge model testing and numerical analysis has been used to investigate the soil structure interaction, and insight obtained has led on to proposals for the design of maintenance-free bridge abutments. (A)