Bridge Bearing Inspection

Chris Whitehead MA MBA CEng FICE

April 2016
Agenda
• Function
• Types
• Common defects
• Preparatory work
Function
• To transfer vertical and/or horizontal loads
from the superstructure to the substructure
• To allow longitudinal/transverse movement of
the superstructure
• To allow rotation of beam slab ends due to
dead and live loading
Common types
• Elastomeric
• Pot
• Spherical
• Plate
• Rocker
• Guide
• Anticlastic
• Compound
Symbols (table 1, BS EN 1337-1)
Relative movements
Symbol in
Type of bearing X Y Z About About About
plan
direction direction direction X axis Y axis Z axis

Elastomeric
deforming deforming small deforming deforming deforming
bearing

Elastomeric
bearing with
deforming none small deforming deforming deforming
restraints for one
axis

Pot bearing none none very small deforming deforming deforming

Pot bearing with

unidirectional sliding none very small deforming deforming deforming
sliding

Pot bearing with

multidirectional sliding sliding very small deforming deforming sliding
sliding
2-span continuous bridge
Elastomeric bearing (1)

Unconstrained elastomeric bearing

Elastomeric bearing (M40)
Elastomeric pot bearing (1)

Elastomeric pot bearing

Elastomeric pot bearing (HS1)
Spherical (1)
• Expensive
• Used on major structures to accommodate
high rotations
Spherical (2)

Guided spherical bearing

Plate bearings

Fixed plate Free plate

bearing bearing
Rocker (1)
• Often used when impact loading is high, such
as on railway bridges
Rocker (2)

Fixed pedestal bearing Free rocker bearing

Free rocker bearing Fixed rocker bearing

Fixed rocker
Rocker bearing deployment
Guide bearings (1)
• Ensure structure maintains
location/alignment
• Take no vertical load
Guide bearing (HS1)
Anticlastic bearings
Compound bearings
?
Dampers
Common defects
• Refer to B-11 et seq Inspector’s Handbook
• Corrosion leading to seizure (and movement
being accommodated between bearing and
seating)
• Bearing beyond designed extent of travel
• Splitting and deformation (of elastomeric
bearing)
• Delamination of bearing shelf
Preparatory work
• Does the client have any specific requirements
regarding bearing inspection?
• What does the previous inspection report have to
say?
• Is there a bearing schedule in the as-built
drawings?
• What is the function of the different types of
bearing on the bridge? – what loads are they
transferring and what movements are they
designed to accommodate?
• Note that the Inspection Manual for Highways
Structures requires that the position of bearings
be recorded at each Principal Inspection
Summary
• Bearing failure is one of the most common
root causes of bridge failure
• Understand how the bearings are supposed to
perform
• Know the most common types of bearing
failure
• Be aware of any special client requirements
for bearing inspection
• Record the longitudinal and lateral position of
each bearing for a Principal Inspection
(relative to neutral position)