Integral　abutment　bridges　commonly　employ　flexible　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　piles　to　mitigate　structural　lateral　deformations.　However,　RC　piles　have　a　limited　capacity　for　horizontal　deformation　and　are　susceptible　to　cracking　and　are　difficult　to　retrofitting　under　seismic　effects.　Therefore,　the　use　of　flexible　abutments　to　accommodate　structural　lateral　deformations　has　emerged　as　a　promising　development　direction　for　integral　abutment　bridges.　To　investigate　the　dynamic　interaction　mechanisms,　failure　patterns,　and　seismic　response　characteristics　of　an　integral　bridge　with　a　flexible　abutment,　a　shaking　table　test　was　conducted　on　a　flexible　abutment-RC　pile-soil　system　using　the　Maluanshan　Integral　Abutment　Bridge　in　Shenzhen　as　an　example.　The　experimental　results　reveal　that　under　minor　seismic　actions,　the　integral　abutment　bridge　with　a　flexible　abutment-RC　pile　structure　does　not　exhibit　cracking　and　only　experiences　soil　settlement.　As　the　ground　motion　intensifies,　minor　cracks　appear　at　the　boundary　between　the　abutment　top　and　girder,　as　well　as　at　a　depth　of　-1.　69　m　in　the　pile　foundation.　However,　these　micro-cracks　were　nearly　automatic　closed　after　the　seismic　motion　ceases.　During　seismic　events,　owing　to　the　lateral　movement　of　the　soil　behind　the　abutment,　the　first-order　vibration　mode　of　the　flexible　abutment-RC　pile-soil　system　involves　the　outward　protrusion　of　the　abutment　and　pile　foundation　together.　This　behavior　explains　the　＂bulging＂failure　observed　in　several　thin-walled　abutments　in　the　practical　engineering.　The　maximum　acceleration　and　displacement　responses　occur　at　the　bottom　of　the　abutment,　rather　than　at　the　top　of　the　abutment　or　pier.　When　the　abutment　bottom　experiences　peak　displacement,　the　deformation　of　the　flexible　abutment-pile-soil　system　is　dominated　by　the　first-order　vibration　mode,　with　characteristics　of　the　second-order　mode.　By　contrast,　when　the　abutment　top　experiences　peak　displacement,　the　third-order　vibration　mode　is　dominant.　At　both　aforementioned　instances　of　peak　displacements,　the　abutment　body　exhibits　considerable　shear　deformation,　with　the　shear　displacement　angle　between　the　elastic　and　plastic　displacement　angles.　©　2025　Chang＇an　University.　All　rights　reserved.