Seismic performance of integral abutment bridges with prestressed ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) girders, considering soil-structure interaction (SSI): a comparative analysis

The seismic performance of integral abutment bridges (IAB) with precast/prestressed ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) girders is compared to conventional concrete designs. IABs offer advantages in terms of less challenging construction, lower maintenance requirements, and enhanced seismic performance due to their continuous framework between the superstructure and substructure. With its outstanding mechanical and durability characteristics, UHPC offers an opportunity to optimize these systems further for seismic applications. This study evaluates the performance improvements attainable by UHPC implementation through comparative analysis and parametric assessment. The methodology incorporates girder design optimization using UHPC, three-dimensional finite element modeling considering nonlinear soil-structure interaction (SSI) properties, and nonlinear static and dynamic seismic analyses. In this study’s framework, the findings indicate that UHPC positively impacts material efficiency (up to 44% concrete volume reduction) and improves several seismic performance metrics, including increased lateral capacity margins, diminished internal forces, and smaller longitudinal displacements. Longer spans and stiffer foundation soil conditions demonstrate the most evident performance advantages. Nevertheless, standard sections designed for conventional concrete are inefficient and fail to achieve UHPC’s full potential. By illustrating how advanced materials can contribute to improved seismic resilience and resource efficiency in transportation infrastructure, the results present opportunities for the development of standard sections for UHPC, resilient urban transportation networks, and sustainable infrastructure objectives.