Performance-Based Evaluation of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Thickness in Integral Abutment Bridges

Project No: 130260

Target Completion Date: January 31, 2029 Structures

About the project

The objective of this study is to establish performance-based framework for calculating the required thickness of Expanded Polystyrene elastic inclusion at integral bridge abutments. The results will be implemented in Chapter 17 of VDOT's Manual of the Structure and Bridge Division. Reductions in integral bridge construction and maintenance costs are expected to be derived from this study.

Project team

Principal investigators

Edward J. Hoppe, Ph.D., P.E.

Co-Principal investigators

Project manager

Project monitor

Edward J. Hoppe, Ph.D., P.E.

Members

Other investigators

Alba Yerro-Colom, Ph.D., Eric Jacques, Ph.D.

Last updated: October 1, 2026