The　piles　represent　the　most　vulnerable　structural　components　in　Integral　Abutment　Bridge　(IAB).　They　must　adsorb　the　thermal　deformation　and　the　seismic　loading　transferred　from　the　superstructure　to　the　substructure.　The　use　of　pre-holes　filled　with　high-damping　material　represents　a　possible　solution　for　enhancing　the　dissipative　performance　of　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　piles　in　IABs.　This　paper　presents　the　experimental　tests　of　four　RC　pile　specimens　backfilled　with　different　damping　material　to　assess　their　effect　on　the　soil-structure　hysteretic　response.　The　authors　developed　a　physical　hysteresis　model　of　the　soil-pile　interaction　to　assess　the　optimum　length　of　the　damping　pre-hole.　Firstly,　the　model　is　calibrated　to　the　experimental　tests.　Then　the　authors　extrapolated　the　hysteresis　models　to　full-scale　specimens　to　estimate　their　optimum　design　in　practical　applications.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd