ABSTRACT
Jointless bridges have been used for bridges in the United States for years since the beginning of the National Interstate Highway System in 1950s. Through the intervening years, more and more states have utilized Jointless bridge construction in varying degrees establishing national standards and uniform design policy regarding bridge lengths, skews, details or design procedures. Many states since then have moved toward continuous bridges with jointless integral abutments and piers, as standard design and construction practice.
Jointless bridge superstructures are constructed to work integrally with the abutments. Movements due to creep, shrinkage and temperature changes are accommodated by using flexible beatings or foundation and through incorporating relief joints at the ends of the approach slabs. In addition to reduced maintenance costs, other advantages of jointless bridges include improved structural integrity, reliability and redundancy, improved longterm serviceability, improved riding surface, reduced initial cost, and improved aesthetics. In recent times, jointless bridges have been built in seismically sensitive areas.
This paper will attempt to capture the state-of-practice in the United States, but will lean toward practices favored by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) with its long history of continuous bridges in seismic regions. The design and construction practices, seismic design and detailing of jointless bridges have been addressed in this paper.
