INNOVATIVE STRUCTURAL BACKFILLS TO INTEGRAL BRIDGE ABUTMENTS

Investigations have confirmed that most bridge deck expansion joints leak and contribute more than any other factor to deck and substructure corrosion from de-icing salts. For this reason joint-free integral bridges, with the abutments structurally connected to a continuous deck, are more durable and cheaper to maintain. However, thermal strains in an integral deck cause cyclic loading on the soil behind the abutments, which may result in the development of passive soil pressures. One method of avoiding the development of high lateral pressures is to use a low stiffness but compressible elastic backfill as a stress absorbing layer behind the abutment. This report identifies various compressible materials, for example polymeric and geocomposite materials, which may be suitable for use as innovative structural backfill behind integral bridge abutments. (A)

[1]  D R Carder,et al.  EXPERIMENTAL RETAINING WALL FACILITY--LATERAL STRESS MEASUREMENTS WITH SAND BACKFILL , 1977 .

[2]  P. Freakley,et al.  Theory and practice of engineering with rubber , 1978 .

[3]  D. Humphrey,et al.  Water Quality Effects of Tire Chip Fills Placed Above the Groundwater Table , 1997 .

[4]  A. L. Fricke,et al.  RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF RUBBER-MODIFIED ASPHALT , 1995 .

[5]  J. Magnan,et al.  PROPRIETES MECANIQUES DU POLYSTYRENE EXPANSE POUR SES APPLICATIONS EN REMBLAI ROUTIER , 1989 .

[6]  Charles A. Harper,et al.  Handbook of plastics and elastomers , 1975 .

[7]  Terrence S. Ingold.  Retainining Wall Performance during Backfilling , 1979 .

[8]  A. L. Campton.  Design and construction of an embankment incorporating polystyrene and geogrid reinforcement , 1995, Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publication.

[9]  K C Brady,et al.  THIRTY YEAR AGEING OF PLASTICS , 1994 .

[10]  T E Frydenlund,et al.  EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE - THE LIGHT SOLUTION , 1996 .

[11]  John S. Horvath.  Using geosynthetics to reduce earth loads on rigid retaining structures , 1991 .

[12]  Rune Gandahl,et al.  POLYSTYRENE FOAM AS A FROST PROTECTION MEASURE ON NATIONAL ROADS IN SWEDEN , 1988 .

[13]  Dana N. Humphrey,et al.  Shear strength and compressibility of tire chips for use as retaining wall backfill , 1993 .

[14]  D J Lee.  Bridge Bearings and Expansion Joints, Second Edition , 1990 .

[15]  Dana N. Humphrey,et al.  Properties of Tire Chips for Lightweight Fill , 1992 .

[16]  A Stevenson,et al.  Characterisation of rubber vulcanizates for bridge bearings , 1991 .

[17]  J Carswell,et al.  RE-USE OF SCRAP TYRES IN HIGHWAY DRAINAGE , 1996 .

[18]  David E. Newcomb,et al.  ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF SHREDDED TIRES IN LIGHTWEIGHT FILL APPLICATIONS , 1994 .

[19]  A R Price,et al.  REMOVAL AND TESTING OF ELASTOMERIC BRIDGE BEARINGS , 1983 .

[20]  P Lareal,et al.  ACTIVE EARTH PRESSURE REDUCING PNEUSOL: EXPERIMENTAL TESTS , 1993 .

[21]  Stanley Mruk.  The Durability of Polyethylene Piping , 1990 .

[22]  D C Dalton,et al.  TYRE WALLS IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION , 1982 .