PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF INTEGRAL ABUTMENT BRIDGES

To establish a maximum safe length and design details for zero skew steel and concrete bridges with integral abutments, a survey of the highway departments of all 50 states was conducted. The findings of the survey include maximum lengths of integral abutment bridges being constructed, advantages and disadvantages of these bridges as perceived by the various states, and the extent of field observations done. The variation in the design assumptions and length limitations used as well as the problems associated with thermal movement experienced by the various states are discussed. A critique of the design and construction practices of the states that have pioneered the use of integral abutment bridges is also presented.