Research on mechanical behaviors of multi-span jointless bridge with link slabs over piers and abutments

Deck joints are commonly used to accommodate the thermal movements of the superstructure. However, deck joints easily cause deterioration due to the leakage. One kind of jointless bridge with link slabs over the piers and abutments which could eliminate all deck joints was taken into account in this paper. Finite element models of three bridge types including bridge with deck joints over the piers and abutments, bridge with link slabs only over the piers, and bridge with link slabs over the piers and abutments were built by MIDAS-CIVIL to study their mechanical behaviors. The results showed that bridge with link slabs can retain the mechanical behaviors of simply supported girder bridge, but secondary internal force would be increased by temperature effect. The link slab over the piers and abutments could reduce the vertical deflection and the stress of girders under vehicle load, which can increase the smoothness of bridge deck and improve the driving comfortableness. But due to the earth pressure behind the abutments under uniform temperature variation, the secondary internal force, the vertical deflection and stress of girder and link slab would be increased in bridge with link slabs over the piers and abutments.