DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPROVED SEISMIC DESIGN AND RETROFIT PROCEDURES FOR BRIDGE ABUTMENTS

This study focused on developing and implementing improved seismic design and retrofit procedures for bridge abutments. An idealized abutment-soil system was modeled, and numerical analyses were conducted to determine the passive earth pressures for various bridge abutment height and backfill soil combinations. These were then compared with available classical passive earth pressure solutions. A multiple spring gapping element mechanistic model was then developed and coded in order to provide for a mechanistic simulation of the non-linear characteristics of the load displacement behavior of abutments. A sensitivity study was then conducted to evaluate the influence of conventional existing abutment modeling procedures on the seismic response of a typical highway bridge.