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Bearings for Bridges

Dr. Shahzad Rahman
NWFP University of Engg & Technology, Peshawar
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Bridge Bearings
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Bridge Bearings
Function Of Bearings
Bridge bearings are used to transfer forces
from the superstructure to the substructure,
allowing the following types of movements of
the superstructure:
Translational movements; and
Rotational movements

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Bridge Bearings
Until the middle of this century, the bearings used
consisted of following types:
Pin
Roller
Rocker
Metal sliding bearings
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Pin Bearing
A pin bearing is a type of fixed bearings that accommodates
rotations through the use of a steel
Translational movements are not allowed.
The pin at the top is composed of upper and lower
semicircularly recessed surfaces with a solid circular pin
placed between.
Usually, there are caps at both ends of the pin to keep the pin
from sliding off the seats and to resist uplift loads if required.
The upper plate is connected to the sole plate by either
bolting or welding. The lower curved plate sits on the masonry
plate.

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Pin Bearing
Steel Pin
Rotational Movement is allowed
Lateral and Translational Movements are Restricted
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Roller Type Bearings
Multiple Roller Bearing Single Roller Bearing
AASHTO requires that expansion rollers be equipped with substantial side bars
and be guided by gearing or other means to prevent lateral movement, skewing,
and creeping (AASHTO 10.29.3).
A general drawback to this type of bearing is its tendency to collect dust
and debris.
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Roller Type Bearings
Roller Type Bearing with Gear Arrangement
Longitudinal movements are allowed
Lateral Movements and Rotations are
Restricted
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Rocker Type Bearing
A rocker bearing is a type of expansion bearing that comes in a great
variety.
It typically consists of a pin at the top that facilitates rotations, and a
curved surface at the bottom that accommodates the translational
movements
Rocker and pin bearings are primarily used in steel bridges.
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Sliding Bearings
A sliding bearing utilizes one plane metal
plate sliding against another to
accommodate translations.
The sliding bearing surface produces a
frictional force that is applied to the
superstructure, substructure, and the
bearing itself.
To reduce this friction force, PTFE
(polytetrafluoroethylene) is often used as a
sliding lubricating material. PTFE is
sometimes referred to as Teflon, named
after a widely used brand of PTFE
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Sliding Bearings
Sliding Bearings be used alone or more often used as a component in other
types of bearings
Pure sliding bearings can only be used when the rotations caused by the
deflection at the supports are negligible. They are therefore limited to a span
length of 15 m or less by ASHTTO [10.29.1.1]

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Knuckle Pinned Bearing
It is special form of Roller Bearing in which the Knuckle pin is provided for easy
rocking. A knuckle pin is inserted between the top and bottom casting. The top casting
is attached to the Bridge superstructure, while the bottom casting rests on a series of
rollers
Knuckle pin bearing can accommodate large movements and can accommodate
sliding as well as rotational movement



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Pot Bearings
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Pot bearing
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Pot Bearings
A POT BEARING consists of a shallow steel
cylinder, or pot, on a vertical axis with a neoprene
disk which is slightly thinner than the cylinder and
fitted tightly inside.
A steel piston fits inside the cylinder and bears on
the neoprene.
Flat brass rings are used to seal the rubber between
the piston and the pot.
The rubber behaves like a viscous fluid flowing as
rotation may occur.
Since the bearing will not resist bending moments, it
must be provided with an even bridge seat.

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Plain Elastomeric Bearings
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Laminated Elastomeric Bearings
Elastomeric material interspersed with steel plates
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Laminated Elastomeric Bearings
consist of a laminated elastomeric bearing
equipped with a lead cylinder at thecenter of
the bearing.
The function of the rubber-steel laminated
portion of the bearing is to carry the weight
of the structure and provide post-yield
elasticity.
The lead core is designed to deform
plastically, thereby providing damping
energy dissipation.
Lead rubber bearings are used in
seismically active areas because of their
performance under earthquake loads.
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Other Types of Bearings
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Selection of Bearing Type
AASHTO LRFD provides guidelines for selection of suitable
bearings for bridges as per requirements in Table 14.6.2-1
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Selection of Bearing Type
Long Trans Long Trans Vert Long Trans Vert S L R U
L L S S L L L L 2 6 0 0 18
S S S S L L L L 4 4 0 0 20
U U U U U L L S 1 2 0 5 7
S S S S L L L S 5 3 0 0 21
S S U U S R R S 4 0 2 2 14
R R S S S R R S 4 0 4 0 16
R R U S U R R S 2 0 4 2 10
R R S S L S R S 4 1 3 0 17
R R S S U R R S 3 0 4 1 13
R R S S L S S S 5 1 2 0 19
S U U S U U R S 3 0 1 4 10
U U U S U S R S 3 0 1 4 10
S U U S U U R S 3 0 1 4 10
S U U U U U U S
2 0 0 6 6
Score
Rank
Type of Bearing
S = suitable, U = unsuitable, L = suitable for limited applications, R = may be suitable, but requires special considerations or additional
elements such as slider or guideways.
Bearing Suitability:
Disk bearing
Pot bearing
Rocker bearing
AASHTO Table 14.6.2-1
Axis indicated
Single roller bearing
Multiple roller bearing
Rotation about bridge
Resistance to Loads
Curved sliding spherical
bearing
Curved sliding cylindrical
bearing
Double cylindrical bearing
Knuckle pinned bearing
Fiberglass reinforced pad
Cotton duck reinforced pad
Steel-reinforced elastomeric
bearing
Plane sliding bearing
Movement
Plain elastomeric pad
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Loading Data
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Corrected for skew
mgr = r
skew
x mg
Where,
r
skew
= Correction Factor for Skew
mg = Uncorrected Distribution Factor neglecting skew
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
826 . 0 =
MI
V
mg
Uncorrected Distribution Factor =
For Shear, Interior Beams
762 . 0 =
SE
V
mg
Uncorrected Distribution Factor =
For Shear, Exterior Beams
746 . 0 =
MI
M
mg
Uncorrected Distribution Factor =
For Moment, Interior Beams
762 . 0 =
SE
M
mg
Uncorrected Distribution Factor =
For Moment, Exterior Beams
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Correction Factor for Skew
For skewed bridges the Distribution Factor for Shear may be modified by
Multiplying it with a Modification Factor given as: [A4.6.2.2.3 c-1]
u tan 2 . 0 0 . 1
3 . 0
3
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
Kg
Lts
r
skew
o
30 = u
0 . 1
3
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
Kg
Lts
( ) 115 . 1 ) 577 . 0 ( 0 . 1 2 . 0 0 . 1
3 . 0
= + =
skew
r
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Correction Factor for Moment
For skewed bridges the Distribution Factor for Moment may be modified by
Multiplying it with a Modification Factor given as: [A4.6.2.2.2 e]
5 . 0 25 . 0
3
1
5 . 1
1
25 . 0
) (tan 0 . 1
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
+ =
L
S
Lts
Kg
c
c r
skew
u
o
30 = u
mm S mm L
Lts
Kg
2440 , 670 , 10 , 0 . 1
3
= = =
|
.
|

\
|
948 . 0 ) 30 (tan 0 . 1
5 . 1
1
= = c r
skew
12 . 0
10670
2400
1 25 . 0
5 . 0
25 . 0
1
=
|
.
|

\
|
= x x c
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Modified Distribution Factors for Shear and Moment
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Bearing Load Calculation
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Bearing Load Calculation
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Maximum Longitudinal Movement at the Abutment
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Preliminary Thickness of Bearing
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Preliminary Thickness of Bearing
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Preliminary Thickness of Bearing
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
Check Stresses in Trial Bearing Size
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
0.033
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
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Elastomeric Bearing Design -Example
15mm
7mm
0.6mm
L = 240 mm
62.4mm
FINAL DESIGN