Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea ISSN:1229-3059(Print) 2287-2302(Online) 한국전산구조공학회 논문집

This study investigates the behavior of a jointless bridge that integrates superstructure and abutment without an expansion joint. Based on the sensitivity analyses conducted in previous studies, a shell-based model was determined to be the most suitable numerical analysis model for jointless bridges due to the similarity of the model’s results compared with the obtained displacement shape, which was influenced by relative errors, precision, and practical aspects. Accordingly, the behavior of a jointless bridge was analyzed at various wall depths using shell element-based and solid element models. In addition, the results of MIDAS Civil and ABAQUS analysis programs were compared. In the case of semi-integrated bridges (A and B), the displacement decreased as the wall depth increased due to the ground reaction force in Case 1 under a linear spring condition and +30°C. In the case where temperature was -30°C, the change in displacement was small because the ground reaction did not occur. As for bridge C (a fully integrated alternating bridge) and bridge D (an integrated chest wall alternating bridge), the displacement decreased as the wall depth increased at both +30 and -30°C due to pile resistance. As for the comparison between the analysis programs used, the relative error in Case 1 was small, whereas a significant difference in Case 2 was observed. The foregoing variation is possibly due to the difference in the application of the nonlinear spring in the programs.