Experimental Study On The Earth Pressure Behind The Integral Abutment Under The Action Of Rising Temperature

The integral abutment bridge (referred to as IABs) is a type of jointless bridges and mainly depends on the particular bridge abutment construction and the deformation of pavement structure in a certain range after the abutment to release longitudinal deformation of the main beam. This new bridge structure was researched in the United States and China began research regarding the integral abutment bridge in 20 century's ends.Compared with conventional bridges, the main difference of the integral abutment bridge is the rigid connection between the main beam and the abutment. Which the filling earth behind the abutment is forced is the salient feature, so the research on the interaction between the earth and abutment becomes a basic problem.At present, some successful experience of the integral abutment bridge has been accumulated and many scholars have done a lot of work. However, the design and calculations often based on experience, and after the completion there is not enough real bridge monitoring data and a lack of understanding of the actual work on the bridge. So it is difficult to verify the results of calculation or simulation.For resolving these questions, relying on FUYU bridge project, for the distribution of earth pressure behind integral abutment under the increasing temperature, the following aspects has be done in this paper:1. A finite unit model has been created:Based on Broms-method, m-method and p-y curve method advised by Matlock and Reese, this paper to simulated the earth pressure behind abutments and piles by non-linear spring. The calculated Data were analyzed and compared.2. A field test program has been developed:The monitoring data of the earth pressure distribution, the 48-hour continuous monitoring of soil pressure test data and the data of earth pressure under the seasonal changes had been collected. A series of conclusions had been drawn after analysis.3. Several simplified calculation of passive earth pressure methods have been introduced.Based on comparison of model results and experimental data, the simplified calculation of earth pressure method under the temperature increasing of upper structure is discussed.