B R I D G E E N G I N E E R I N G
BEARING DESIGN
CONSIDERATION
BY: JASON RAY T. ESTEPA
Introduction
WHAT IS BEARING?
• is a structural component used in bridges to support and transfer
loads from the bridge deck to the substructure (like piers and
abutments) while allowing for movement due to thermal
expansion, settlement, or other forces.
KEY ADVANTAGES:
1. Load Distribution
2. Movement Accommodation
3. Rotation Flexibility
4. Reduced Maintenance
5. Improved Safety
LIVE LOAD TRANSFER PATH
FACTORS INFLUENCING BEARING DESIGN
• Type of bridge and span - Longer spans and more complex geometries may require
specialized bearing systems.
• Traffic and Load Considerations - The amount and type of traffic, as well as the
anticipated load conditions (static and dynamic), must be carefully analyzed to
determine the required bearing capacity.
• Environmental Conditions - Temperature fluctuations, humidity, seismic activity, and
exposure to corrosive elements (such as saltwater or pollutants) can affect bearing
performance and material selection.
BRIDGE EFFECT
• it would be unable to accommodate movement
caused by factors like temperature changes, wind, and
seismic activity, leading to significant stress on the
bridge structure, potentially causing cracks, structural
failure, and ultimately, collapse due to the inability to
expand and contract with environmental fluctuations;
essentially, the bridge would become very vulnerable to
damage from normal movement and could not safely
handle traffic.
B R I D G E E N G I N E E R I N G
BEARING
BY: KENNETH M. SASUMAN
Overview
• Bridge Bearing Classification According to Degrees of Freedom
• Bridge Bearing Classification According to Materials
DEGREES OF FREEDOM
• bearings can be classified depending upon degree of freedom,
or manufacturing material
• six possible independent degrees of freedom at a support,
consisting of three components of translation and three angles
of rotation
TYPE OF BEARING ALLOWED DEGREES OF FREEDOM RESTRICTED DEGREES OF FREEDOM
Fixed Bearing None All
Sliding Bearing Translational Rotational
Roller Bearing Longitudinal Translational Other Translations, Rotation
Hinged Bearing Rotational (about one axis) All Translations
Free Bearing Multiple Translational/Rotational None or Minimal Restriction
DEGREES OF FREEDOM
• bearings can be classified depending upon degree of freedom,
or manufacturing material
• six possible independent degrees of freedom at a support,
consisting of three components of translation and three angles
of rotation
• during the structural design of the bridge girders, each support
point is idealized in a specific manner by the design engineer
three types of bearing
classification:
fixed bearing or omni-directional
hinged bearing moveable bearing moveable bearing
hinged bearing allows rotation, allows the movement in one another type of mechanical
but not other forms of movement direction and rotation, but not bearing is the fixed bearing,
movement in other directions which allows rotation, but not
other forms of movement
MATERIALS
• METAL BEARING
• RUBBER BEARING
METAL BEARING
• widely used in the early stage
• developed according to the design
requirements by considering durability and
maintenance
METAL BEARING
LINE BEARING
• this type of bearing is mainly used in short-span bridges
• the contacting line between the upper plate and the lower
round surface offers rotational capacity as well as sliding
METAL BEARING
PLANE BEARING
• are the simple type of bearings that usually consist
of a low friction polymer, polytetrafluoroethylene,
sliding against a metal plate.
• do not accommodate rotational movement in the
longitudinal or transverse directions
• only resists loads in the vertical direction
METAL BEARING
ROLLER BEARING
• are movable bearings, which allow for horizontal
movement and maintain low friction by using single
or multiple rollers, for hinged bearings or spherical
bearings
• there are several types of roller bearings, such as
single roller, multiple roller, and roller bearing with
gears
Bridge Engineering
BEARING
(CONTINUATION)
By: Harvey James R. Adamos
Pin Bearing
A hinged bearing, also known as a pin bearing, uses a steel pin between the
upper and lower shoe for rotation and prevent translation, typically with
caps on both ends to prevent slipping and withstand uplift loads.
Pivot Bearing
Pivot bearings are fixed, concave upper and convex lower bearings used in
truss, suspension, and curved bridges, providing movement when combined
with sliding elements.
Rocker Bearing
Rocker bearings, a type of expansion bearing, are primarily used in steel
bridges due to their variety, consisting of a pin for rotation and a curved
surface for translation.
Pendel Bearing
- Pendel bearings are mainly used for cable-stayed bridges, to resist the
negative (or uplift) reaction forces. An eye bar is used to the superstructure
and substructure by pinned connection at both ends.
Bridge Engineering
RUBBER
BEARING
(CONTINUATION)
By: Mohammad Jafaar Abdul
Elastomeric
Bearings
It enables the deck to translate and rotate, and resist a certain amount of
loads in the longitudinal, transverse, and vertical directions.
Pot Bearings
It has a cylindrical elastomeric pad confined with a pot, and they are
suitable for high loads, displacements, and rotations.
Seismic
isolation
Bearings
It has high damping rubber bearings between the bridge super and
substructures are used to increase the period and damping of the original
structure system, by reducing the shear stiffness of the bearing
Bearing Design Considerations
Selection of bearing should be made according to the size of the bridge,
magnitude of predicted (upward or downward) vertical and horizontal loads,
translational and rotational movements, etc.
In addition, movements of the bridge structure enabled by bearings are in
relation to a preset allowance integrated in the bridge structure to
accommodate elongation provided by expansion joint.
Thank You
