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Importance of bridge bearings for bridge structures?

 


Bridge decks have support through piers which are prone to damage because of vehicle movement and heat expansion. The main function of bridge bearings is - to offer a strong connection for controlling interactions of movements and loading between the structural parts (normally between the substructures and superstructures). Bride bearings give a uniform transfer of loads from the beams to the substructures. Both bridge bearings and expansion joints play chief roles in bridge construction.

 

What are bridge bearings and their function?

 

Bridge bearings carry movement/loads in both horizontal and vertical directions from the superstructure of brides. They help in conveying the loads to abutments and bridge piers. Loads can be dead load or live load in vertical direction/earthquake loads or wind load in horizontal directions. Bridge bearings and expansion joints are an important component of any bridge providing a resting surface. The main purpose of using such a bearing is to permit movement and reduce involved stresses. A few possible causes of movement are thermal contraction and expansion, creep, shrinkages, fatigue etc.

 

The functions of bridge bearings:

 

a) Allow lateral movements because of traffic movement, shrinkage, wind, creep, foundation movement, dynamic forces etc

b) Transmits loads to foundations

c) Houses girder rotation

 

Both Bridge bearings and expansion joints help in bearing loads and prevent damage.

 

What are the different types of bridge bearings?

 

There are different kinds of bridge bearings:

 

> Pot bearing

 

Pot bearings are a special kind of bridge bearings that are installed for embracing larger translation loads as well as rotation in constricted areas. Pot bearings are suitable for usage when the bridge rotations are large. Pot bearings are affixed against translation. These bearings have huge reserve capacity against the vertical loads. Pot bearings are of three kinds - 1)Fixed Pot Bearing 2)Sliding Pot Bearing 3)Guided Pot Bearing

 

>Rocker and Pin Bearings

 

Rockers are expansion bridge bearings that consist of curved surfaces which accommodate translational movement. a pin present on the top promotes the rotational movement of the structures of bridges. Rocker and Pin bridge bearings are majorly used in the steel bridge structures. These bearings can withstand severe deterioration and corrosion.

 

> Roller bearing

 

Roller bearings help in the construction of steel or concrete bridge structures. These bearings are used in two distinct forms - single roller & multiple roller bearings. Multiple roller bearings have numerous rollers deployed under plates. They promote the translational and rotational motion of bridges. Roller bearings are expensive but have restricted weight capacity. These bearings require regular rehabilitation and inspections.

 

> Elastomeric bearings

 

Elastomeric bearings are the elastomers that are constructed from natural and synthetic rubber. These bridge bearings can support both rotational and translational movements via elastomer deformation. They can carry even large loads and avoid lateral bulging of elastomers.

 

So, you must have understood the importance of bridge bearings. Bridge decks can experience huge damage because of heat expansion, traffic movement, wind swaying etc. Bridge bearings can offer a connection for controlling interactions of movements and loading in between the structural parts. In a nutshell, the installation of bridge bearings and expansion joints can avoid severe damage to bridges. Reach out to a reliable supplier of bridge bearings.

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Location: Dubai - United Arab Emirates

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