Integral　abutment　bridges　(IABs)　are　jointless　bridges　where　the　girder　or　the　deck　is　continuous　and　monolithically　connected　to　the　abutments.　A　usual　and　important　problem　in　the　design　of　IABs　is　how　to　deal　with　the　soil-structure　interaction　behind　the　abutments　and　next　to　the　foundation　piles:　this　can　be　considered　as　a　fundamental　aspect　to　reach　a　thorough　understanding　of　this　type　of　structure,　which　requires　iterative　and　nonlinear　analysis.　In　this　paper,　a　2D　simplified　finite-element　model　of　a　real　400-metre-long　IAB,　built　in　the　Province　of　Verona-Italy,　is　implemented　and　used　to　perform　non-linear　analyses　on　the　bridge,　the　structural　response　of　which　is　then　examined　in　detail.　A　parametric　study　based　on　the　variation　of　the　soil　properties　behind　the　back-walls　and　around　the　piles　is　then　performed.　Furthermore,　a　temperature　pushover　analysis　(non　linear　static　analysis　for　positive　and　negative　temperature　variations)　is　carried　out　to　assess　the　failure　pattern　of　the　bridge　caused　by　a　temperature　change,　considered　as　one　of　the　key　parameters　in　IAB　design.　Lastly,　the　effect　of　abutment　stiffness　is　also　discussed.　©　2010　Elsevier　Ltd.