NerroNAL

CoOPERATIVE

HrcHwAY

RSSEARCH

Report 432
High-Load Multi-Rotational
Bridge Bearings

JOHN F. STANTON
CHARLES W. ROEDER
and
T. IVAN CAMPBELL

University of Washington
Seattle, WA

Subject Areas
Bridges, Other Structutures, and Hydraulics and Hydrology
Materials and Construction

Research Sponsored by the American Association of State

Highway and Transportation Ottjcials in Cooperation with the
Federal Hi ghway Administration

TnNsponrATtoN ReseaRcFt Bono

NntroHal Rseancs

Coulcr-

NATIONAL ACADEMY
Washington,

D.C.

PRESS

1999

PnocRAM

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 1999

qlrclills
Chrtir: li/rvrc.5tt.krlJinl, Cutuni:tioxr, Ocorgiu l.)O7'
\tice Clrir: i\4ttrtin ll/uchs, I)irctttt, ln.ttiutc o[T*tnsportutiotr Stut!cs, {Jnivcrsit)'ofCulilornio at Bcrkela'
lxcfltive I)ireclor; Ilobart E. Skinnt:r, 'lr',7'riltsPorlulott Ilase<trt:lt Butul

UlltlllEq

SH^lON I). ll\NKS, Gencnl vlortogct, C7i?rrri (Past Clrairrvonran, 1998)

'lllOl\44'S F. BARIY, !11.,'\ec:rctur'oJ-'l'ro)^Port'ttit' Florida DoT
lll.lAN J. l-. BEIlY, I.lovrl Vicl llarknct ReSQ(l Prolessor, IJniversitv ofTexus at Dollqs
SjAIAl C. (IAMPB1.[., Pridcnt, l-ronslvlcuwgcnatt, Inc ' W<tshngron, DC
ANNII P. CANIIY, Se(rclttry ol'l-fturPortution' Dluvurc DOT
ti. DttAN CAILSON, 'Secrctarv, Kunstts DOI'
JOANNE F. CASEY, Prc"-idtl, lnlcnnodtl A.ssocituion <[ North Aue riut' Greenlze ll, MI)

Clnir unrl CEO, Dclott tlonxon & As'ockues, Whinon, DC

Hunltot Pxfexor, Oivil lingnccring, Uilivtt.tity oIVrt1io
JAMIiS t,. -AMMlE, l)ircckr, Purstns l)rinckcrht$J, Inc., Netv York, NY
DF.I,ON I'lAMPl'()N,
l-ES'l llR A. llOE,l,,
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TIIOMAS fr. LAIWlN, Ge:naral i\4tnuger, San [)iego lt|etropolitun'l\ttusir Dat'tlopntettt ounl
IIRADI-EY 1-. M\l,l.OlY, Sc< rdury oJ'l'ruustoretiot\ Pltilj'lvuniu DOI'
.lEIlrREY J. McCi\lC, Pre.\i(len avl CIiO,'lrinac Corporation, Culgart', Alberta, Canaclq
JOSIiPI{ A. MICKES, Missouri D0'l
ivlARSllAt.l- W. MOOIE, DtrctoL Nortlt Dokttt DO'f
.lEFFtlEY l{. MORIILAND, Senior VP, Burlington Nofllrcrn Scuttt Fa Cttrporation
S ID \4ORllSON, S rc r.. f a D, o Tre n.\ )o rt u i o t t, lVa sh i n t o n S t a t e DOT
J()l-lN P. POOIi\'f AN, .\talf Dircctot, CuPitdl Dislritt'l\'utsPoilation Conuittett
ANI)lEA IllNlKEl{, Extculive Diri:t:or, Port ol 'l-autna,'['tttttttttt, WA
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l\4. SAMLJILS, VP-Ope rations

AIll-tls 1'llOM

PSON,

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Pluning & Butlget, Not'folk Soutlt(til CorpQtution, Notfolk, l/A

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DAVID N. WORMLEY, Deun of I:niineering, l'ennst,lvaniu Srqt Unvtrsirv

lvllKE AC01"f, Pre.riden, Nationul t\sphtlt Ptvcntcn As.rocittti (ex ollicio)
iOE N. llAl-l,AIl), Chief <f l:)tgine:rs and Contnnntler, lJ.S. Arnv Corps of linliinecrs (ex officio)
. KEI-t-i";Y S. COYNER, Adniilistruto\ Ru-aarch tnl Spetial ['rograns, U.S.D07'(cx officio)
MOR'llMIl{ t.. DOWNIIY, I)eputt Secrerary, OJlice ol tlv Sctrc(r'v, U.J.DOI (ex olficio)
)AVID CAIDlNtjR, A.tsistnt Adnistruor, IJ.,5. Dnvirontncnlql Protcciorr Agattclt (ex ofl'icio)
JANE tr. (ARVliY, Ftdcral At'ituion Adnitistrattr, U.S.O01(ex officio)
EDWAI{D l. I'IAMBECER, Pre.riclent uul CEO, Assocatiut ol Aurrian Rilrlrls (ex olficio)
CLYI)I J. llARl', JI., lt(urititna Alninistrutor, l,l.S.DOT (cx olfcio)

i. l-lN]'ON, l'-tdcrel Trunsit Atlninsttotot, U,S.DOI(ex of licio)

I{ICAIDO M^R]'lNEZ, Nettonal lBhtru\'I\rt.flic,SuJetv Alrniilsttttbr, {,/,.1.D OI(ex oificio)
WILI-lAM W. Mll-LAf, President, Aneicun ['ul>lit'l'xtnsit Assocr(rli.rt (cx olficio)
JOLIINE M. MOI-l'l'ORlS, Federol lailrocul Adninistrutor, U..l,DO7'(ex officio)
VAl.lNllN J. RIVA, Przsrlr and CEO, tlner!cun Crncrclr: Put,cnetl A.rsocetioil (cx oflicio)
AStllSlf K. StiN, /)ier: Burcuu o.l'[runsportutien Snisicl, U.S.DOI(cx olficio)
CUORGE D. WAI{RlNCifON, Preden ottl CE0, Nutionql |l.uilrood Pas:-urr,r Col)ordiut (cx officid
KF.NNIITl-l l(. WYKLE, l.cdcrul Highxnv Adninistttttor, U.S.1)O7 (t:x ollicit
CORDON

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM

'!1,!:A!!!j!!),t R!!yry!'
!:l,n!4 4y::l!t'y!4,,r,:lll::s,!,:!!,,1!!!" n! N9!l
WAYNII Stl,4,CKf .FOlD, Georgia DT (Chair)

IOllERl'

,SllAION D. llANKS, AC 7)arsir

L.ESTIjR A. HOEL, Unirrrsi, of Virgnia
JOIIN C. HORSI-EY.,4rcric:un As.tt<iaton of Stutc Highwa'and l'ranrportek)n
Ojjicials

MAI.TlN WAC|lS, lilsttul<! o.['l'rlsportuion

I'1tit\l Pattel Dl0-20A ltckl tf lvloterials antl Constilrction

CIIAlll-tis W. PURKISS, Ja<:raileto, C (Chair)
ll\RIlll Al'KINSON, Colrcr:, Inc., \Yolpole, MA

Vi\SANl'C.

Mf S'l.Y,

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SKlNNtil,

Jll.., T rcns po rrut i on Resctrclt

ROUERT

R. W Y K l.,Ll, lt'ctl e ro I l t i s h v<tt, A( l n1 i i,\q

aitl Pntcti((
1,.

REED, Rounc! llock, 7'X

EDWAI{[) WASSEIMAN, Tenncssce DO'[

JEIRY A. WUI(EL, Waslit'gtoil Stute DOT

l-AIl{Y l-OCKIITT,

h btunct Il i fl ttt ro, D e pa

rrn

nt

JOHN O'FALLON, FITWA I.iai.on Representative

D. WM. DEARASAUGFI,

/liJ Lioison

Reprcsentutir<:

U:ts::!lt.lt.!tt[
lOl:ll'l' J. Illr)ll-t-Y, Drctor, Cotpcr<tti,a Resorch progrotus
CIAWIORD . JIiNCKS, Mon4er, NCLIRI)
l)\Vll) ll- lllflt\l-, Scnior Prognnn O[Jicer
l..l-OYl) I. C'lOwllt.lit, Scuior progrun OJIccr
l. l^Y l),,1, Settor l,roran Offrct:r

AMll N. lANNA, Snio /'rorau )fliccr

oq

EDVr'ARD T. HARIlGAN, Seni<tr Progrun Office

TtMO'IllY G.

HESS, Seuior Progran OfJcer

RONALI) D. McCRBADY, Senior Pxtgranr Olliccr

EII-l,iEN P. DIILANEY, Mcrr ging Editor
Jr\MIE IrllAl, zlssocide Edror
HILARY FREIR, 1s.ocirr Edir<

rd

Stuics, Uttiversitv of CaliJrrnia al

Bcrk'l cy

KItNNlil'll

Areq o.l specif(rti(pts, I>toceduf,s,

GIANT W. COOKI, Colunlus, Oll

I]|)WARI) V. IIOURIGAN, Menunrls, NY
l)^Vl) G. MANNINC, Ontru-io l4inistt.}, TJ"['ransporturion

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NCHRP REPORT 432

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH

PROGRAM

Systematic, well-designed research provides the most effective

approach to the solution of many problems facing highway
administrators and engineers- Often, highway problems are of local

interest and can best be studied by highway departments

individually or in cooperation with their state universities and
others. However, the accelerating growth ofhighway transportation

develops increasingly complex problems of wide interest to

highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a
coordinated program of cooperative reseach.
In recognition of these needs, the highway administrators of the
American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials initiated in 1962 an objective national highway research
program employing modern scientific techniques. This program is

supported on

rssN 0077-5614
ISBN 0-309-06614-X
L. C. Catalog Card No.99-?3854
@ 1999 Transpo*ation Research Board

Price $77.00

a continuing basis by funds from participating

membe states of the Association and it receives the full cooperation

and support of the Federal Highway Administration, United States

Department of Transportation.
The Transportation Research Board of the National Research
Council was requested by the Association to administer the research

progrm because of the Board's recognized objectlvity and

understanding of modern research practices, The Boad is uniquely

suited for this purpose as it maintains an extensive committee

structure from which authorities on any highway transportation
subject may be drawn; it possesses avenues of communications and
cooperation with federal, state and local govemmental agencies,
universities, and industry; its relationship to the National Research

Councit is an insurance of objectivity; it maintains a full-time

research correlation stafT of specialists in highway transportation
matters to bring the findings of research directly to those who are
a position to use them.

The program is developed on the basis of research

ill

needs

ir.lentified by chief administrators of the highway nd transportation

departments and by committees of AASHTO. Each year, specific
areas of research needs to be included in the program are proposed

to the National Research Council and the Board by the American

Association

Project Dl0-204 FY'88

of

State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Research projects to

fulfill

these needs are defined by the Board, and

NOTICE
The poject that is the subject of this report

rMas

a part of the National Cooperative

Highway Research Program conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the
approval of the Goveming Board of the National Research Council. Such approval
reflecls the Goveming Board's judgment that the program concerned is of national
importance and appropriate with respect to both the purposes and resources of the
National Research Council.
The members oflhe technical committee selected to monitor this project and to review
this epol were chosen for recognized scholarly competence and with due
consideration for the balance ofdisciplines ppropriate to the project. The opinions and
conclusions expressed or implied ae those of the research agency that performed the
research, and, while they have been accepted as appropriate by the technical committee,

they are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the Nationl
Research Council, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials, or the Federl Highway Administration, U.S. Department ofTransportation.
Ech report is reviewed and accepted for publication by the technical committee
according to procedures established and monitored by the Transportation Research
Board Executive Committee and the Goveming Board of the National Research
Council.
To save time and money in disseminating the research findings, the reporl is essentially
the original text a! submitted by the research agency. This rePol has not been edited
by TRB.

qualifled research agencies are selected from those that have

submitted proposals. Administration and surveillance of research
contracts are the responsibilities of the National Research Council
and the Transportation Reseach Boad.
The needs for highway research are many, and the National
Cooperative Highway Research Pr,ogram can make significant
contributions to the solution of highway transportation problems of
mutual concern to many responsible groups. The program,
however, is intended to complement rather than to substitute for or
duplicate other highway research programs.

Note: The Transportation Research Board, lhe Natonal Research Council,

the Federal Highway Admnistralon, the American Association of Slate
Highway and Transportation Officials, and th indvdual states participating in
the National Cooperatve Highway Research Program do not endorse products
or manufacturers. Trade or manufaclurers' names appear herein solely
because they are considered essenlal to the obiect ol thls report.

Published reports of the

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY FESEARCH PROGRAM
are available from:

Transportation Research Board

National Research Council
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20418
and can be ordered through the Internet at:
http ://www. nas. edultrb/index.html

Printed in the Unitcd States ofAmerica

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