State-of-the-Art: Tracing the history, development, and design of integral abutment bridges

Abstract

Integral abutment bridges (IABs) are a family of jointless bridges that have gained popularity owing to their simplified designs and sustainable construction practices. IABs are small- and medium-span bridges that do not have expansion joints or bearings, thereby reducing the cost of maintenance. The span of IABs is primarily dependent on the magnitude of the thermal stresses considered during the design process. However, the adoption of IABs has been limited globally because of the inherent complexity of the design caused by the large number of indeterminacies originating from rigid connections and soil-spile interactions. This has led to variations in the design of IABs among transportation agencies worldwide. This literature review aims to highlight the variations in major IAB projects constructed worldwide. Additionally, the bibliographic analysis performed for IABs identified key topics studied by researchers, which are discussed in detail in the current state-of-the-art. The objective of this literature survey is to provide practical bridge designers and researchers with an understanding of previous and ongoing developments in IABs.