Bridge Bearings
POT BEARINGS
Presented by:
Muhammad Burhan Mazher
What are Bearings ?
Bearings are mechanical systems which transmit loads from the
superstructure to the substructure. In a way, bearings can be
thought of as the interface between the superstructure and the
substructure.
Their principal functions are as follows:
1.To transmit loads from the superstructure to the substructure,
and
2.To
accommodate
superstructure
the substructure.
relative
movements
and
between
the
Types of Bearings
Bearings may be classified in two categories:
1.Fixed bearings (allow rotations only)
2.Expansion bearings (allow both rotational and translational
movements)
Following are the principal types of bearings currently in use:
Pot Bearings
A pot bearing comprises a plain elastomeric disk that is confined
in a shallow steel ring, or pot. Vertical loads are transmitted
through a steel piston that fits closely to the steel ring (pot wall).
Translational movements are restrained in a pure pot bearing, and
the gravity loads are transmitted through the steel piston moving
against the pot wall. To accommodate translational movement, a
PTFE sliding surface must be used. Keeper plates are often used
to keep the superstructure moving in one direction.
Types of Pot Bearings
In general, the movement accommodated by fixed and expansion
bearings can be classified by the following:
1. Fixed bearings allow for rotation only
2.Guided expansion bearings allow for rotation and longitudinal
translation only
3.Multi-directional expansion bearings (sliding bearings) allow for
rotation and translation in any direction
Fixed Pot-Bearings
A
non-reinforced
elastomer
is
placed
between a precisely milled steel pot and a
cylindrical lid.
Vertical loads are transmitted through a
steel piston that fits closely to the steel pot
wall. Flat sealing rings are used to contain
the elastomer inside the pot. The elastomer
behaves like a viscous fluid within the pot
as
the
bearing
rotates.
Because
the
elastomeric pad is confined, much larger
load can be carried this way than through
Guided Pot-Bearings
A
Uniaxial
Displaceable
Pot
Bearing
(Guided Pot Bearing) releases the lateral
movements of bridge in any one direction
utilizing a guide on the lid and a guiding
groove in the gliding plate.
The gliding ability is accomplished by the
embedded PTFE (Teflon) disc and the
gliding austenitic steel, which is welded
onto the bottom of the gliding plate.
Sliding Pot-Bearings
The Multiaxial Displaceable Pot Bearing
(Sliding
Pot
Bearings)
releases
lateral
movements of the bridge in all directions.
The gliding ability is accomplished by the
embedded PTFE (Teflon) disc and the
gliding austenitic steel, which is welded
onto the bottom of the gliding plate.
Components of Pot-Bearing
(Fixed Pot-Bearing)
1) Top Plate
6) Elastomer
2) Piston
7) Attachment Lu
3) Dust Seal
8) Pot
4) Sealing Ring
5) Anchor Dowel
9) Bottom Plat
Components of Pot-Bearing
(Guided Pot-Bearing)
Bearing Schedule
First, the vertical and horizontal
loads,
the
rotational
and
translational movements from
all sources including dead and
live
loads,
wind
loads,
earthquake loads, creep and
shrinkage,
and
prestress,
construction
thermal
tolerances
need to be calculated. Then,
the table on right may be used
to tabulate these requirements.
Installation of Pot-Bearing
1) Place the bearing on its support. 2) Adjust the bearing. 3) Grout the base.
4) Place Formwork, reinforcement and pour concrete of the superstructure.
Installation of Pot-Bearing
The End
Thank You
