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