Bridge Bearing

Bearing is a mechanical device placed between

superstructure and substructure to transmit vertical and
horizontal load allowing some translational and rotational
movement.

Translational and rotational movement of bridge

superstructure may be due to
• Shrinkage of concrete
• Elastic shortening of concrete due to prestressing
• Creep of concrete
• Temperature expansion and contraction
• Movement due to external load

Translational and rotational movement of bridge deck may be in

longitudinal or transverse or other direction of bridge
Types of Bridge Bearing

Bearing Fixed Bearing –

Bearing, which allows rotational movement
Free Bearing (Expansion Bearing) –
Bearing, which allows horizontal and rotational movement

Metalic Bearing –
Bearing made up of Metal i.e. steel or cast iron
Elastomeric Bearing –
Bearing made up of artificial rubber (Neoprene)
Metalic Bearing
 Roller Bearing
Single Roller Bearing
Single Roller
Multiple Roller
Multiple Roller Bearing
 Rocker Bearing
Linear Rocker
Point Rocker
Rocker Cum Roller Linear Rocker Bearing
Cylindrical Knuckle Bearing
 Knuckle Bearing
Cylindrical Knuckle
Spherical Knuckle Point Rocker Bearing
Spherical Knuckle Bearing
Pin Knuckle
Leaf Knuckle
 Sliding Plate Bearing
Slide Plate Bearing

Elastomeric Bearing Pin Knuckle Bearing

 Pad
Elastomeric Pad Bearing
 Pot

Elastomeric Pot Bearing

Leaf Knuckle Bearing
Loads on Bearing
Vertical load
• DL from superstructure
• LL from superstructure
• Vertical load due to braking effort
• Vertical Seismic load
• Vertical wind load

Horizontal load
• Wind load from superstructure
• Load induced by creep, shrinkage and temperature effect
• Braking load
• Vertical load due to seismic effect

These loads are combined according to the load

combinations specified by IRC 6 and bearing is
designed for critical combination of loads
Load Combination
 DESIGN OF ELASTOMERIC BEARING

• Elastomeric bearing is made of synthetic rubber. Elastomer is the

trade name of Neoprene. Elastomeric bearing is designed to be
sufficiently soft horizontally to allow translation and sufficiently
stiff vertically to prevent appreciable changes in their height
under variable loads.

• Bearing may be reinforced or unreinforced. In reinforced bearing,

mild steel plates are embedded. Unreinforced bearing may only
be used at support of slab culverts or slab bridges.

• Elastomeric bearings are not expensive, easy to install and

maintain.
• Life of bearing is about 25 years. So there should be provision of
replacement of the elastomeric bearings after about 25 years.
Elastomeric Bearing
Elastomeric Bearing with
and without Pin
Design of Elastomeric Bearing

Geometrical Design
Find overall length (lo), breadth (bo) and thickness (h) of elastomeric pad. Find number
of internal layers of elastomer(n), thickness of internal layers of elastomer (hi), number
of steel plates (ns), thickness of steel plates (hs), effective cover to steel plate (he) and
side cover (c). Approximate sizing of bearing is done on the basis guidelines provided by
IRC 83 Pt. II (Refer Table Appendix. I)

bo hs

hi Cross Section of Bearing

h
he
Steel plate
c
c
l Plan of Bearing
lo

b
Table Appendix I, IRC 83 Part II

Standard Plan Dimensions and Design Data of Elastomeric Bearing

• The thickness of the internal layer of elastomer hi, the thickness of the steel plate
hs, and the elastomer cover at the top and bottom he should correspond to the
following dimensions.
hi (mm) 8 10 12 16
hs (mm) 3 3 4 6
he (mm) 4 5 6 6

• The side cover (c) of elastomer for the steel laminates is 6 mm.

Check the geometrical dimensions of bearing as follows.

• h ≥ bo / 10 and h ≤ bo / 5

• Bearing stress in concrete below bearing ≤ Allowable bearing stress in concrete

Where, Allowable bearing stress = 0.25(fck)1/2

• Shape factor (S) >6

≤12
Where, S = l x b / 2 ho(l + b )
 Design
bo
1. Check bearing for shear strain ∆b
Total shear strain in bearing ≤ 0.7
h
γd = ∆b /h ≤ 0.7
Where,
Total shear strain (γd) = Strain due to creep, shrinkage and Translational Movement
temperature variation + shear strain due to horizontal load of Bearing

2. Check bearing for rotation

Maximum rotation of girder ≤ Permissible rotation
αd ≤ β n αbi,max
Where, αd
αd = maximum rotation, which may be taken as 400 Mmax L/(EcI) 10-3
n= number of internal elastomer layers h
β = (σm/σm,max)
σm = average compressive stress ; σm,max = 10N/mm2 bo
αbi,max = (0.5 σm hi )/(bs2)
M - Maximum BM at mid span Rotational Movement
L- span of girder of Bearing
Ec – Modulus of elasticity of concrete [In short term loading ; Ec = 5000(fck)1/2 ]
I = Gross moment of inertia of main girder
 3. Check bearing for friction

• Total Shear Strain (γd) ≤ 0.2 + 0.1 σm

• Normal stress ‘σm ‘ ≥ 2 N/mm2 and ≤ 10 N/mm2

Where,
σm = Normal compressive stress
σm,max = 10 N/mm2

4. Check bearing for Shear Stress

Total shear stress due to normal and horizontal loads and rotation ≤ 5 N/mm2
τc + τr + τα ≤ 5 N/mm2
Where,
Shear stress due to normal load (τc ) = (1.5 σm )/S
Shear stress due to horizontal load ( τr ) = Total shear strain
Shear stress due to rotation( τα ) = 0.5(b/hi)2 αbi max

Design Example
DESIGN OF METALLIC BEARING
Metallic bearing usually made of mild steel, cast steel and
stainless steel. It may be free or fixed.

Sliding or rolling surfaces of bearings are coated with Teflon,

which significantly reduces the friction and consequently reduces
horizontal forces acting on pier/abutment.
In straight bridges, the following types of metallic bearings are
used.
• Sliding plate bearing
• Steel roller bearing
• Steel roller cum rocker bearing
• Steel rocker bearing
• Steel knuckle bearing
Design of Metallic Bearing Geometrical Design
• Diameter of roller (D) ≥ 75mm
• L/D ≤ 10
• Lug width ≥ 10mm
• No. of lug = 2 for L/D ≤ 6
= 3 for L/D > 6
L • P ≥ 50mm
Top • t ≥ 20mm or ¼ of S
Rocker Plate

d ≥ 16 mm 2.5mm
R t
0.5d
Rocker Pin
t
0.5d
≥ 1.1d or
D Saddle Plate
d + 2.5mm
Roller P Lug for Roller
S Bottom
Rocker Pin
Plate
Rocker cum Roller Bearing

• The width of plates shall not be less than 100 mm or the distance between outermost
rollers plus twice the thickness of the plate plus 10 mm.
• The top plates of sliding bearings shall project on all sides over the bottom plate by at
least 10 mm.
Design

1. Check bearing stress in concrete and steel

Area of plate is determined with respect to the permissible bearing stress of concrete

2. Check radius of rocker

Radius of rocker is determined by

Vertical design load per unit length ≤ 170R2σy3/E2

3. Check working load on roller

Working loads per unit length of rollers should less or equal to
For Mild steel
Single and double rollers 8D N/mm of length
Three or more rollers 5D N/mm of length
For Cast steel
Single and double rollers 11D N/mm of length
Three or more rollers 7D N/mm of length

4. Check thickness of plate σb ≤ σbt

5. Check rocker pin for shear τv ≤ τva Design Example