4.

3 Bearings
• General
• Functions
• Parts of bearings
• Design Requirements
• Types of Bearings
• Selection of bearings
• Design procedures
 4.3.1 General

• A bridge bearing is a superstructure element which

provides an interface between the superstructure and
the substructure.
• It is a structural device that transmits loads while
facilitating translation and/or rotation.
• Bearings are designed in accordance to the BS 5400:
Section 9.!: 1983.
• Bearings shall be designed to resist loads and
accommodate movements. No damage due to joint or
bearing movement shall be permitted under any
appropriate load and movement combination.
 4.3.2 Functions
There are three primary functions of a bridge
bearing:
􀂾 Transmit all loads from the superstructure to
the substructure.
􀂾 Permit longitudinal movement of the
superstructure due to thermal expansion and
contraction.
􀂾 Allow rotation caused by dead and live load
deflection.
 4.3.3 Parts of bearings
• Basic Elements of a bridge bearing can be
broken down into four namely:
• sole plate, masonry plate , bearing or bearing
surfaces and anchorage.
Sole plate
 4.3.4 Design Requirements
1. Movements
• The movements shall include those caused by
the loads, deformations and displacements
caused by creep, shrinkage and thermal
effects, and inaccuracies in installation .
• Other sources of movement include bridge
skew and curvature effects, misalignment or
construction tolerance, settlement of support,
thermal effects, construction loads, etc.
 4.3.4 Design Requirements
Bearings may permit or resist movement in:
• Translation in : longitudinal direction,
transverse direction, vertical direction.
• Rotation in: longitudinal direction, transverse
direction and plane.
• Table that follow ,defines the symbolic
representation of bearing displacement and
rotation restraints.
 4.3.4 Design Requirements
• 2. Design life:
• Bearings should be designed to last as long as the
bridge itself.
• It is important to allow for inspection and
replacement of bridge bearings, in whole or in
part since it is difficult to ascertain this
requirement for metallic or non metallic bearings.
• Adequate space should be provided around
bearings to facilitate inspection and replacement.
 4.3.4 Design Requirements
3. Durability:
• Bearings should be detailed without recesses and enclosures that may
trap moisture and dirt.
• The materials used in their manufacture and the method adopted for
protection against corrosion should ensure that the bearings function
properly throughout their life.
4. Limit states:
• To meet the serviceability limit state for bearings the design should be
such that they do not suffer damage that would affect their proper
functioning or incur excessive maintenance during their working life.
• In the ultimate limit state, the strength and stability of the bearings
should be adequate to resist the ultimate design loads and movements
of the structure.
 4.3.5 Types of Bearings
Bearings can be classified depending upon
a) Degree of freedom
b) Material used

(a) Degree of freedom

• These can be fixed or expansion .
• Fixed bearings allow rotations but not displacement
(translational) while expansion allows both displacement and
rotation movement.
• Examples of bearings are sliding plate, roller, rocker, elastomeric ,
pin and link, pot , restraining ,isolation bearings etc.
 4.3.5 Types of Bearings
I. Sliding plate:
• A system of two plates, one sliding over the other.
• It is the simplest type of bearings.
• They permit translation in longitudinal and
transverse directions.
• No rotation is permitted and only vertical loads
are resisted /Transmitted.
• Common materials that have been used as sliding
surfaces are:
 4.3.5 Types of Bearings
• Mild steel over mild steel , Mild steel over
phosphor bronze and PTFE over stainless steel
• Sliding bearings are provided where span is
less than 30 m, because the movement
capacity of these bearings is generally small.
• They require regular maintenance by
lubricating the surfaces in 2 to 3 years
intervals.
 4.3.5 Types of Bearings
II. Roller
• The roller bearing consists of a base plate, two or more rollers
and a top plate.
• The roller end is made by providing a saddle and knuckle plate
on top of the rollers.
• The roller end of bearing permits translation as well as rotation.

• III. Elastomeric
• Accommodate large movements .
• Requires minimum maintenance compared to all other
bearings.
 4.3.5 Types of Bearings
• Installation is easy.
• Permits movement of the structure in all directions,
depending upon the applied forces.
• Occupies small space.
• Serves as a shock absorber due to anti-vibration
properties of elastomer.
• Acts as an aid to better dispersion of longitudinal
forces to the approaches.
• Three types of elastomeric bearings are Plain , Steel
reinforced and Fibre reinforced elastomeric pads.
 4.3.5 Types of Bearings
(b) Material used
• A number of different materials are used for making
bearings.
• These include: steel s, phosphor bronze, synthetic
material like rubber(elastomeric) and PTFE(poly
tetra fluoro ethylene) etc.
• Out of these steel, rubber and PTFE are the most
commonly used materials.
• In certain forms of bearings, a combination of two
materials is also used.
 4.3.6 Selection of bearings
• There are several approaches to selecting a
cost-effective and appropriate bearing system
for bridges.
• An important decision is to define the bearing
type suitable for the design requirements.
Table that follow provides a guide for choosing
a suitable bearing type.
 4.3.7 Design procedures
1. Define the design requirements (forces, translation,
and rotation limits).
2. Identify the bearing types that satisfy the design
requirements.
3. Identify the initial and maintenance cost of the
bearings.
4. Choose the appropriate bearing type that meets the
design requirement at the lowest overall cost.
5. Ease of access for inspection, maintenance and
possible replacement must also be considered.
 4.4 PIERS

4.4.1 Introduction
• A pier or bent is an intermediate substructure unit located
between the ends of abridge.
• Its function is to support the bridge at intermediate intervals
with minimal obstruction to the flow of traffic or water below
the bridge.
• The top part of piers is called the cap. The structural
members rest on top of the cap is called the bridge seats.
The devices that are used to connect the structural
members to the bridge seats are called shoes or bearings.
 4.4.2 Types

• Piers can be of different types depending on their

shape as : Solid shaft pier, Column pier, Column pier
with web wall, Cantilever pier or hammerhead pier,
cellullar . etc.
• The selection of the pier type depends on:
required load capacity, superstructure geometry. site
conditions. cost consideration and Aesthetics.
 4.4.2 Types

• Solid shaft piers are used when a large mass is advantageous

or when a limited number of load points are required for the
superstructure.
• Column piers are used when limited clearance is available
under the structure or when narrow superstructure widths are
required
• Pier with web wall. A web wall is connected to columns to add
stability to the pier. The web wall is non-structural but it serves
to strengthen the columns in the event of a vehicular collision.
• The cantilever or hammerhead pier is a modified column pier for
use with multi beam superstructures.
 4.4.2 Types

• Cellular (Hollow) piers are large enough for a man

to climb down inside facilitate placing of concrete
and inspection during construction.
• They have varying sections and other
complicated geometry thus uneconomical
although aesthetically good.
• In many cases, bridge piers over 30 m in height
are designed as a hollow pier in order to reduce
the dead loads.
 4.4.2 Types

• Hollow piers are usually tall shaft type piers

built for bridges crossing deep valleys
• Being hollow greatly reduces the dead load of
the pier and increases it’s ductility.
• The decrease in the dead load, or self-weight,
of the piers provides ease in transporting them
to the site, and the high ductility provides for
better performance against seismic forces.
 4.4.2 Types

• Based on the materials used: Mass(plain)

concrete, reinforced concrete, masonry, steel,
timber, or a composite material.
• Short piers can be made by masonry or mass
concrete . Tall and medium height piers are
made by solid or hollow RCC sections.
 4.4 Parts of a Pier

• The pier cap or bent cap provides support for the bearings
and the superstructure.
• The pier wall or stem transmits loads from the pier cap to
the footing.
• Columns transmit loads from the pier or bent cap to the
footing .
• The footing transmits the weight of piers or bents, and the
bridge reactions to the supporting soil or rock.
• The footing also provides stability to the pier or bent
against overturning and sliding forces.