CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, cilt.32, sa.4, ss.726-738, 2005 (SCI-Expanded)
This paper presents an analytical approach for predicting the length limits of integral bridges built on cohesive soils based on the flexural strength of the abutments and the low cycle fatigue performance of the steel H-piles at the abutments under cyclic thermal loading. First, H-piles that can accommodate large inelastic deformations are determined considering their local buckling instability. Then, a damage model is used to determine the maximum cyclic deformations that such piles can sustain. Next, nonlinear static pushover analyses of typical integral bridges subjected to cyclic thermal variations are conducted to study the effect of various geometric, structural, and geotechnical parameters on their performance. Equations are derived by using the analyses results to determine the maximum length limits of integral bridges built on cohesive soils. It is found that the maximum length limits of integral bridges is affected by the stiffness of the deck, height of the abutment, properties, and orientation of the piles as well as stiffness of the cohesive soils.