Cyclic Behaviour of Spread-Base Integral Bridge Abutments

Due to unsatisfactory performance of existing jointed bridges and their relatively high maintenance costs, integral bridge abutments have become more and more popular in many countries. Cyclic behaviour of the abutments resulting from slow thermal expansion and contraction of the bridge deck is a complicated soil-structure interaction problem which warrants detailed investigations. Four centrifuge model tests of a shallow spread-base integral bridge abutment subjected to strain-controlled cycles of various magnitudes were performed. The objective of the tests is to investigate the complex cyclic behaviour of the abutments with particular reference to the influence of wall friction and the density of retained fill.