One of the most commonly discussed problems regarding bridges with integral abutments is the influence of longitudinal elongation of the superstructure as a result of seasonal temperature variations. A bridge built with integral abutments is often supported by a row of piles made of steel or concrete. The longitudinal elongation of the superstructure induces a displacement and a rotation at the...

Sonic Echo (SE) testing method is a well-known, versatile method to gather information pertaining to unknown bridge foundations. Many studies on the applicability and methodology improvement of SE tests to evaluate individual piles and foundations supporting the superstructure have been reported previously. However, there is a rare opportunity for obtaining the performance of SE tests without t...

The problem of soil±pile±foundation±superstructure interaction is examined, and a simple rational procedure to analyse the response of a structure supported on pile groups is presented. This procedure combines theories for the computation of the dynamic impedances and kinematic±seismic response factors of pile foundations with a multi-degree-of-freedom structural model. The procedure is applied...

Nowadays, vehicle-induced vibration is a subject matter interest in the bridge monitoring field. As compared to other types of excitation such as earthquake and accidental impact, the vehicle-induced vibration is often being less considered during the design process of the bridge. The newly implementedcode also does not emphasize on the vibration check for vehicular bridge and requires the engi...

Steel sheet piling, typically used for retaining structures in the United States, is a potential alternative for use as the primary component in low-volume road (LVR) bridge substructures. To investigate the viability of sheet pile abutments, a demonstration project was performed in Black Hawk County, Iowa. The project involved construction of a 40 ft single-span bridge utilizing axially loaded...

A new bridge that will replace the existing Woodrow Wilson Bridge is under construction over the Potomac River in Washington, DC. The river piers are supported on cylindrical steel piles of 72, 54 and 48 inches in diameter. The longest piles (at the bascule piers) are approximately 200 ft long. Outside the river, nearly all piers are supported on 24-inch square prestressed concrete piles. Altho...

Piles used in bridges, structures and marine environments are typically produced using concrete, steel, and timber. High repair and replacement costs of these piles have led North American highway agencies and port authorities to investigate the feasibility of using durable materials such as fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) in pile applications. This paper presents a new generation of composite ...