Affiliations: Department of Civil Engineering, West Virginia University – Institute of Technology, Montgomery, WV, USA | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author. Eric V. Monzon, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, West Virginia University – Institute of Technology, 405 Fayette Pike, E502, Montgomery, WV 25136, USA. Tel.: +1 775 354 6003; Fax: +1 304 442 3391; E-mail: evmonzon@gmail.com
Abstract: Integral abutment bridges have certain advantages over conventional seat-type abutment bridges due to increased redundancy, higher damping, smaller displacements, and, thus, the elimination of unseating potential. However, there is a lack of information on their seismic modeling, system response, and seismic design. This paper presents the recommended guidelines for the seismic design of steel bridges with integral abutments. These guidelines are based on extensive analytical investigations as well as available experimental research. Contrary to the common assumption in analysis and design, nonlinear finite element analyses showed that the typical girder-to-abutment connection is not rigid and can influence the overall seismic response of the bridge. A procedure for calculating the minimum required embedment length of the girder into abutment stem to achieve a rigid connection is proposed. A procedure to evaluate the steel pile ultimate lateral displacement capacity is also proposed. The use of the system-level damping due to yielding and inelastic response of the various components including the soil behind the abutments and around the piles is discussed.
Keywords: Integral abutment bridges, seismic design, steel piles, seismic behavior
