THE DESIGN OF INTEGRAL CONCRETE BRIDGES

This article, which is a practitioner's approach to the design of integral bridges, reviews the history of its development, discusses its various aspects, and notes that the structural continuity typical of integral bridges alter the distribution of secondary effects (shrinkage, creep, thermal gradients, etc.), the lateral and longitudinal loads applied to superstructures, and superimposed dead and live loads. This continuity induces secondary effects due to the generation of passive pressures in the abutment backfill. It is pointed out that the design of integral bridges should be simplified and standardized by following 3 steps: the basic bridge details should be crafted to minimize secondary effects (by following certain steps here listed); the application range for such bridges should be limited until initial design standards have been proven; the continuity connections at abutments and over the piers should be standardized for the established application ranges.