SECTION 1540

BRIDGE BEARING

NITIL KUMAR SHRIVASTAVA

MINA SALMAN INTERCHANGE

PROJECT
AFCONS INFRASTRUCTURE LTD
BAHRAIN
 BRIDGE BEARING
The device fixed on abutment and piers to allow for free expansion, contraction and
deflection of the bridge superstructure are known as bridge bearing. It is the only
contact point between substructure and superstructure through which the load of
superstructure is transferred to the underneath substructure.

1.1 The requirements of ideal bridge bearings are:-

• To accommodate maximum expected deck movement
BEARING
and rotation with least possible resisting force.
• To perform satisfactorily with minimum maintenance
and low friction during the design life of the bridge.
• To be able to distribute the superimposed load
uniformly on substructure giving greater stability to
structure.

1.2 FUNCTION OF BRIDGE BEARINGS:-

• To distribute the load received through the ends of bridge girders over large area on
the top of abutments or piers.
• To freely allow longitudinal movement, occurring in the bridge superstructure due to
variation in temperature.
• To transmit the horizontal forces, occurring due to application of breaks to vehicles,
moving on the bridge, to the substructure without causing horizontal movement of
the bridge superstructure.
• To allow for angular movement at support due to deflection of girders.
• To allow for vertical movement due to sinking of any support.
1.3 CLASSIFICATION OF BRIDGE BEARINGS:

1.3.1 Fixed bearings

1.3.2 Expansion bearings

1.3.1 FIXED BEARING:

These bearing do not permit any longitudinal movements of the girders. They should be
able to allow rotation. The design of fixed bearing depends upon the type of
superstructure, type of supports and also on span length.

1.3.2 EXPANSION BEARINGS:

Expansion Bearing allows for horizontal movement of the structure. Expansion bearings
may be classified into two categories, namely, Sliding Type and Rolling Type. Sliding
type moveable bearings can be made of steel plates with lubricated surfaces or a steel
plate with special low friction material (e.g. PTFE- Polytetrafluoroethylene) to enhance
the sliding ability. Rolling type moveable bearings are usually made of hardened steel
curved surfaces which roll on other hardened steel surfaces.

Component of Bearings:

a. Shear Connector
b. Upper masonry plate
c. Elastomeric disc
d. Sliding plate
e. Piston
f. Lower masonry plate
g. Base plate fixing
1.4 POT PTFE BEARINGS:

Pot type bearings shall consists of a metal piston supported by a disc or unreinforced
elastomer confined within a metal cylinder to take care of rotation. Horizontal
movement, if required, shall with a system of sealing rings be provided by sliding
surface of PTFE pads sliding against stainless steel mating surfaces. The pot bearings
shall consist of cast steel assemblies or fabricated structural steel assemblies.

Acceptance Test on Bearings

• All bearings shall be checked for overall dimension.
• All bearings shall be load tested as per AASHTO 17th edition, section 18
• Short term proof load test: 1.5 times of specified load with five equal increments.
Load deformation graph to be checked.
• Long term compression proof load test: second load cycle should be maintained
for 15 hours. Load should not drop 90%.
• Friction test : Bearing shall be loaded with the maximum total load 12 hours
before measuring the coefficient of friction .The static and dynamic coefficient of
friction at the minimum dead load not exceed three percent. Only for sliding
bearing.

Installation of POT- PTFE Bearings

• Care shall be taken during installation of the bearings to permit their correct
functioning in accordance with the design.
• To prevent contamination, dismantling of the bearings at site shall not be done.
• The load shall be transferred on to the bearings only when the bedding material
has developed the sufficient strength. The props for the formwork shall only be
removed after lapse of appropriate time.
• All bearings shall be set horizontal in both direction.
• Metal bearings shall be set in position on steel wedges to within +/- 5mm of the
specified level.
 • The gap between the underside of bearing and substructure shall be filled epoxy
bedding grout Masterflow 400 (BASF) which shall have minimum 28 days
strength 31Mpa.(As per specification)
• For the grout mixes, instructions from the manufacturer shall be followed
specially with regard to the following.
 Preparation: concrete cleaning, roughening, pre-soaking, etc..
 Bearing base: cleaning, etc.
 Placement: mixing, consistency, time period, finishing, etc.
 Protection: curing, ambient temperature, etc.
Compressive strength at 7 days : 80 N/mm2
Flexural strength at 7 days : 27 N/mm2

Mixing grout
Mix with a slow speed drill and paddle. Add the contents of the reactor container to the
base component in a suitable mixing vessel, ensuring complete transfer of both resin
components. Mix for one minutes before slowly adding the aggregate and continue
mixing until a flowing, pourable mix.

Placing:
Allow to stand free 5 min before pouring, into the prepare area in such a manner that it
has the shortest distance to flow.

In-situ casting Of Super structure

• Formwork around the bearing shall be carefully sealed to prevent leakage.
• Sliding plates shall be fully supported and care taken to prevent tilting,
displacement or distortion of the bearings under the weight of wet concrete.
• Bearings shall be protected during concreting operation. Any mortar
contaminating the bearings shall be completely removed before it sets.

Seating of Bearing
a) Using template:
 Template with required rigidity and matching holes corresponding to the
base of the bearings shall be used.
 All the anchors shall be fitted to the lower face of the template using the
anchors screws with steel washer replacing the elastomeric washers.
Separate screws may be used in case of inconvenience in the length of
the original anchor screws.
 The template assembly shall be located with regard to level and
alignment. It shall be ensured that the top of the anchors lie in a
horizontal plane at the required elevation. The anchors shall be tied /
welded to reinforcement to avoid displacement during concreting.
 Concreting of the pedestal or pier cap shall be done to a level leaving a
gap of 25 to 50mm below the template.
 The template and steel washers shall be removed prior to placement of
the bearing assembly temporary clamps; the bearing assembly shall be
fitted to the anchors with the help of anchors screws and elastomer
washers. Level at the bearing shall be checked.
 The gap below the bearings assembly shall be grouted with epoxy based
grout.

TEMPLATE FOR BRIDGE BEARING

1.5 QA/QC CHECK:

 Level of Bridge Bearing.

 MTC of Bridge Bearing
 Testing of Bridge Bearing
• Physical Dimension Checking
• Horizontal load test
• Vertical load test
• Horizontal & vertical combine load test
• Hardness of neoprene pad
• Paint thickness
• Dye penetrate test
• Surface finish of s.s.plate

1.6 SAFETY MEASURES:

1. Employing safe working practices.

2. All workers would be made aware regarding the methods of work and safety
awareness.
3. The crane will be operated within the safe working radius and no person will be
allowed in the area of working / swing radius of the crane.
4. Proper lighting facilities would be provided to ensure safe working during night
shifts.
5. Availability of site First Aid Facilities
1.7 PICTORIAL VIEW OF BRIDGE BEARING

INSIDE VIEW OF FREE BEARING FIXED BEARING

FIXING OF BEARING IN PROGRESS

PEDESTAL

PEDESTAL

BEARING WITH PEDESTAL