Bridge Bearings

15.1 General Features

Bearings are provided in bridges at the junction of the girders or slabs and the
top of pier and abutments. Bearings transmit the load from the super structure to
the sub structure in such a way that the bearing stresses developed are within the
safe permissible limits. The bearings also provide for small movements of the
super structure. The movements are induced due to the various reasons such as
the following:
a) Movement of the girders in the longitudinal direction due to variations in
temperature
b) The deflection of the girder causes rotations at the supports
c) Due to the sinking of the supports vertical movements are developed
d) Movements due to shrinkage and creep of concrete
e) In the case of prestressed girders, prestressing the girders cause movements of
girders in the longitudinal direction.
Thermal movement of bridge decks depend upon the coefficient of linear
expansion of the material and temperature range at bridge site. Typical coefficient
of linear expansion of concrete is of the order of 6.5 x loT6per degree Centigrade.
If the span of the bridge is 30 m and the temperature at site changes from a
minimum of 10 degrees to a maximum of 40 degrees Centigrade, the change in
length '6L'of the bridge deck is computed as

-
Hence suitable provision for the movement of the deck should be made by
providing bearings at the supports. In addition to the horizontal movement, the
bridge girders rotate near the supports. The magnitude of rotation at support
depends upon the magnitude of deflection at centre of span and the span length.
If 8 = rotation of the girder at the supports
L = span length (30 mt
e = Maximum deflection at centre of span (60 mm)
Assuming the deflected profile of the beam to be parabolic, the rotation at the
supports of the girder is computed as
 8 = (4eL) = (4 x 60)/(30 x 10') = 8 x lo-' radians
= (a x lo-' x 180)ln = 0.46 Degrees
For the purpose of preliminary estimates, Long has suggested that the maximum
movement due to all causes expressed as a function of the span of the girders
may be assumed as glven below depending upon the type of the bridge deck:-
a) In-situ Reinforced Concrete ...................9 x lo4
b) Precast Reinforced Concrete ..................7 x lo4
c) In-situ Prestressed Concrete .................16 x lo4
d) Precast Prestressed Concrete ................ 1 1 x lo4
e) Steel ........................................................9 x lo4
f) Composite Steel and Concrete ............... 8 x
15.2 Types of Bearings
---r---
1. Expansion type bearings
a) Sl~dingplate bearing
b) Sliding cum Rocker bearing
c) Steel Roller cum Rocker bearing
d) R.C. Rocker cum roller bearing
e) Elastomeric Bearing
2. Fixed type bearings
e) Steel Rocker bearing
f) R.C. hinge (rocker) bearing
I

[ 15.7 Design of Elastomeric Pad Bearing

a) General Aspects
Synthetic rubber or neoprene pads are widely used as bearings for bridges due
to their economy and negligible maintenance costs. Neoprene pad bearings are
compact, weather resistant and flame resistant. Hence, nowadays elastomeric
bearings have more or less completely replaced the steel rocker and roller bearings.
Chloroprene is the raw material prescribed to be used by IRC: 83 (Part-11)-1987
for the manufacture of elastomeric pad bearings.
The elastomer used for bearings should have the following properties:-
(i) Hardness values should be in the range of (60 rt 5 ) IRHD (1.-ternational
rubber hardness scale).
This scale extends from 0 to 100. Hardness values for an eraser belng 30 and for
a car tyre 60. The minimum ultimate tensile strain at failure should be not less
356 Des~gnof Bridges

than 400 percent. The shear modulus of the elastomeric bearing shall be not less
than 0.8 ~ / r n m nor
~ , greater than 1.20 ~ / m m ' .

b) Deslgn Procedure
The basic deforinat~onalcharacteristics of the elastomeric bearing under loads
are shown In Fig. 15.12. The guide lines specified for the designer of elastomer~c
pad bearings as per IRC: 83 (Part-11)-1987 are as follows:-

?I----- bo ------+ -+bo/2 +b o 1 2 - b

Translation Rotation

Fig. 15. I ? Deformations of Eiastomeric Bearings

-
 1 . Standard plan dimensions compiled in Table 15.2 are to be preferred.
However interpolation is permitted provided the design criteria is satist'ied.
2. The bearing area of the pad should be such that the compressive stresses
developed in concrete are within specified limits.
3. The design vertical, load Nd should be within the limits of h'!llilxand N,,
speciried in Table 15.2.
4, The ratlo of overall length to breadth should be equal to or less than 2.
5. The overall thickness of the bearing should be in the range of li5 and 1/10
of the overall breadth.
6. The thickness of the internal layer of elastomer hi. the thickness of the
laminate h,<,and the elastomer cover at the top and bottom h, should
correspond to the following dimensions:-
h, (mmj .............. 8 10 12 16
h,. (mm) ............. 3 3 4 6
h, (mm) ............. 4 5 6 6
7, The side cover of elastomer for the stee! laminates is 6 mm.
8. The thickness of the elastomeric pad bearing should be adequate to limit
the shear strain to horizontal load and movements due to creep. shrinkage
and temperature to a value of less than 0.7. In the absence of more accurate
analysis. the shear strain A,,,, due to creep. shrinkage and temperature can
be computed assuming a total strain of 5 x for common reinforced
concrete bridge decks.
4. The shape faclor S should be greater than 6 and less than 12.
10. The number. of elastomer layers provided shall satisfy the relation

CI,, = B . t l . a,,,!,I',,
where a(l= angle of rotaclon which may he taken as (400 M,,,, L)I(EI) 10-'
n = number of elastomer layers
P = ( o,,*Y(~rn
l,l.,,)

where or,,= average compressive stress

.
on,.m:,x = 10 N/mm2
abi, ,,,,, = (0.5 D,,,
lt;)l(b.~')
11. Under critical loading conditions, the following limit shall be satisfied to
ensure adequate friction:-
Shear strain 1 0.2 + 0. i o,,,
22~/rnm~
10 Nlmrn' 2 o,,,
12. The total shear stress due to normal and horizontal loads and rotation
should be less than 5 N/mm2.
Shear stress due to normal load = T, = (1.5 o,,,)lS N / I ~ I ~ ~
Shear stress due to horizontal load = shear strain = 7, Nlmm'
Shear stress due to rotation = 7, = 0.5 (blh,)' ah,~ l m m '
 Table 15.2 Standard Plan Dimensions for Elastomenc Bearlngs (IKC'.R 4-Part-11- 1987)

Size b~ L, A.IO-" 'm.~x Nln~n h1 'rndx nmln h1nw h1,I,, %I A

, x lo-"
Index
No (mm) (mm) (mm)' (kN) (kN) (mm)

Note.-- I ) See F I ~I5 I2 tor notat~ons

2) Marglnal vnlues In N,,,, not exceeding 10 percent over the spec~fiedvalue may be perm~tted
3) Where two values ot h, are given the higher values mny be adopted only when the lawe: value cdnnot cater tor ah,m,,u specif led
 13. Standard plan dimensions and design data specified in IRC: 83 is compiled
in Table 15.2.

15.8 Design Example of Elastomeric Pad Bearing

Design an elastomeric pad bearing to support a tee beam girder of a bridge using
the following data:-
Maximum dead load reaction per bearing = 300 kN
Maximum live load reaction per bearing = 700 kN
Longitudinal force due to friction per bearing = 45 kN
Effective span of the girder = 16 m
Estimated rotation at bearing of the girder due to dead and live loads = 0.002 ,
radians
Concrete for tee beam and bed block = M-20 Grade
Total estimated shear strain due to creep, shrinkage and temperature = 6 x lo4.

Design of Bearing
1. Selection of bearing pad dimensions
Maximum vertical load on bearing = N,,, = (300 + 700) = 1000 kN
Minimum vertical load = N,, = 300 kN
Referring to Table 15.2, select plan dimensions of bearing pad of size 320
mm by 500 mm
Loaded area = A, = 15 x lo4 mm2
According to clause 307.1 of IRC: 2 1,
Allowable contact pressure = 0.25 j( JA] !A,
where AIA= Concrete bed block area over pler
A, = Elastomeric pad area
The ratio (Al!A2) is limited to 2
Allowable contact pressure = o, = (0.25 x 20&) = 7.07 IV/mm2
Effective bearing area required = (N,,,,!o,)
= (1000 x lo3)/ 7.07
= 14.14 x lo4 mm2 < 15 x lo4 mm2
(Hence safe)
Bearing stress = om= [(I000 x 107)/15 x lo4)] = 6.6 IV/mm2
Referring to Table 15.2 and IRC: 83 Clause 916.2, thickness of individual
elastomer layers = h, = 10 mm
Thickness of outer layer = he = 5 mm
Thickness of steel laminates = hi = 3 mm
Side covering = c = 6 rnm
Adopt 3 laminates with two internal layers.
3h!) Design uf Bridges

Total thickness of elastonleric pad

h , = (2h, 317, + 2h,)
+

= [ ( 2 X 5 ) + ( 3 x 3) + ( 2 X lo)]
= 39 mm

2. Shape factor =
I
Loaded surface area ot an internal layer of
elastomer (excluding side covers)
Surface area free to bulge
1I
i

..L

= 9.16 > 6 < 12 (Hence safe)

Shear strain due to creep, shrinkage and ten~peralure
per bearing = (0.5 x 6 x =3x
Shear strain due to translation per bearrng

- [Shear strain due to creep, 7 + r ~ h e a strain

r due to 1
- yd = LShrinkage and temperature] !longltud~nal force j

= 0.423 < 0.7 (Hence safe)

,
, = 10 ~ l n i n i '
Assuming o,,,,
3. Maximum permissible angle of rotation of a single internal layer of elasto~ner
corresponding to q,,
value of 10 ~ l m m 'is given by

= 0.00193 radians

Permlsslble rotatlon = cl,, = P . n . a,,,,,,,,

where p = 0.1 o,,,= (0.1 x 6.6) = 0.66 ~ l r n m '
and n = number of internal elastonieric layers = 2
a[,= (0.66 x 2 x 0.00 193) = 0.0025 > 0.002 (actual), Hence safe.
4. Friction
Shear strain computed = 0.423
Under critical loading conditions.
 Shear strain 2 0.2 + 0.1 o,,
10.1, + (0.1 x 6.61
1 0 . 8 6 > 0.423, Hence safe.
Also q, = 6.6 ~ l m m ', sat~sfiesthe criterion that
10 ~ l m m '2 o,,, 2 2 N/mm2
5. Total Shear Stress
Shear stress d-de to compression = 1.5 (o,,,lS)
= 1.5 (6.6/9.16)
= 1.09 ~ l m m '
Shear stress due to horizontal deformation
= 7, = yd = 0.423 N/inm2 as per computation due to translation
Shear stress due to rotatlon = 0.5 (bli~,)'a,,,
= 0.5 (308110)' x 0.00193
= 0.9 15 ~ l m m '
Total shear stress = (1.09 + 0.423 + 0.915)
= 2.428 !V/inm2< 5 ~ l m m ' . Hence safe.
Hence adopt an elastomer~cpad bearing of overall dimensions 320 Inn1 by 500
inm with a total thickness of 39 mm having two intercal elastomeric layers of 10
mm thickness and three steel laminates of thickness 3 mm each having bottom
and top covers of 5 mm. The designed elastomeric pad bearing is shown in Fig.
15.13.

3 rnrn thick

Fig. 15.13 Elastomeric Pad Bearing for Support Reaction of 1000 kN