Performance of Piles Supporting Integral Bridges

Cyclic lateral load tests simulating 75 years of bridge life were performed on an H-pile, a pipe pile, and a prestressed reinforced concrete pile by applying over 27,000 displacement cycles. The data from the tests indicate that steel H-piles loaded on the weak axis are the best pile type for support of integral abutment bridges. Concrete piles are not recommended for integral bridge support because, under repeated lateral loads, tension cracks progressively worsen and significantly reduce vertical load carrying capacity of these piles. Steel pipe piles are stiffer than H-piles loaded on the weak axis, and therefore induce higher stresses in the abutment where they are embedded.