Masters Theses

Date of Award

5-1999

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Civil Engineering

Major Professor

David W Goodpasture

Abstract

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has routinely designed and constructed jointless bridges with integral abutments for many years. Due the constant need of constructing longer jointless bridges and more accurate design approach, TDOT has sponsored a research project with University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The project involved five steel H-piles to be driven into ground with integral abutment slabs cast on top.

The first four piles were instrumented with weldable strain gages and pressure sensors, while the last pile was only instrumented with weldable strain gages. A slow lateral loading simulated the thermal movement of the bridge substructure. The testing program consisted of field tests that achieved a ground deflection of the pile of ½" and 1", and tests involved cyclic loading and loading to a point where failure warranted the determination of testing. The deflections, load, and reaction were monitored during testing.

The data were analyzed using elastic theory. Moment vs. depth curves were constructed using a six-order polynomial to best fit the moment points. The pressure vs. depth curves were obtained by differentiating the moment vs. depth equation twice. Another set of pressure vs. depth curves was constructed using the pressure sensor data. The purpose of the pressure vs. depth curves was the determination of the zero pressure point. The zero pressure points obtained from both sets of pressure vs. depth curves were analyzed and compared. Although different factors affected the accuracy of the field data, this study provided a better understanding of piles supporting integral abutments.

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