Elastomeric Bearings: State‐of‐the‐Art
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 109, Issue 12
Abstract
Elastomeric bearings are widely used by structural engineers, but their behavior is not well understood. The paper provides a brief description of the state of knowledge throughout the world with respect to these bearings. It summarizes the material behavior of elastomers and the theoretical and experimental research on bearings. It notes the various modes of failure, and the major design methods are described and compared. There are wide variations in standard practice throughout the world, and the contradictions and reasons behind the variations are noted. The objective of the paper is to help the structural engineer get a better understanding of the design and selection of elastomeric bearings.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Aldridge, U. U., Sestak, J. J., and Fears, F. K., “Tests on Five Elastomeric Bridge Bearing Materials,” Highway Research Record, No. 253, 1968, pp. 72–83.
2.
Bakirzis, B. A., and Lindley, P. B., “Slipping at Contact Surfaces of Plain Rubber Pads in Compression,” Civil Engineering and Public Works Review, Vol. 65, No. 764, Mar., 1970, pp. 306–307.
3.
Braden, M., and Gent, A. N., “The Attack of Ozone on Stretched Rubber Vulcanizates. I. The Rate of Cut Growth,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 3, No. 7, 1960, pp. 90–99.
4.
Braden, M., and Gent, A. N., “The Attack of Ozone on Stretched Rubber Vulcanizates. II. Conditions for Cut Growth,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 3, No. 7, 1960, pp. 100–106.
5.
Braden, M., and Gent, A. N., “The Attack of Ozone on Stretched Rubber Vulcanizates. III. Action of Antiozonants,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 6, No. 22, 1962, pp. 449–455.
6.
Breidenbach, R. F., and Lake, G. J., “Application of Fracture Mechanics to Rubber Articles, Including Tyres,” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, A299, 1981, pp. 189–202.
7.
Breilmaier, A. A., and Hoblitzell, J. R., “Neoprene Bearing Pads Under Repeated Compression and Shear,” Highway Research Record, No. 253, 1968, pp. 97–104.
8.
Cadwell, S. M., Merrill, R. A., Sloman, C. M., and Yost, F. L., “Dynamic Fatigue Life of Rubber,” Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Analytical Edition, Vol. 12, No. 1, Jan., 1940, pp. 19–23.
9.
Clark, E. V., and Moultrop, K., “Load‐Deflection Characteristics of Elastomeric Bridge Bearing Pads,” Highway Research Record, No. 34, 1963, pp. 90–116.
10.
Code 772R, “Code for the Use of Rubber Bearings for Rail Bridges,” Union International des Chemins der Fer, 1973.
11.
Conversy, F., “Appareils d'Appui en Caoutchouc Frette,” Annales des Fonts et Chaussees, IV, Nov.–Dec., 1967.
12.
Crozier, W. F., Stoker, J. R., Martin, V. C., and Nordlin, E. F., “A Laboratory Evaluation of Full Size Elastomeric Bridge Bearing Pads,” Transportation Laboratory Research Report CA, DOT, TL‐6574‐I‐74‐26, Highway Research Report, June, 1979.
13.
D‐60 Report (Interim Reports 1 and 2 and Final Report with Appendices), Union International des Chemins der Fer, Oct., 1965.
14.
Derham, C. J., “Creep and Stress Relaxation of Rubbers—The Effects of Stress History and Temperature Changes,” Journal of Materials Science 8, 1973, pp. 1023–1029.
15.
“Design of Neoprene Bearing Pads,” Dupont, Apr., 1959.
16.
“Design Requirements for Elastomeric Bridge Bearings,” Technical Memorandum (Bridges) No. BE 1/76, Department of Environment, Highways Directorate.
17.
“Draft British Standard BS5400: Steel, Concrete and Composite Bridges: Part 9A: Code for Practice for Design of Bearings and Part 9B: Specification for Materials, Manufacture and Installation of Bearings,” Document 81/10184, British Standards Institution, Feb. 25, 1981.
18.
“Dupont Elastomers for Neoprene Bearings,” Bulletin 3A, Dupont, Sept., 1981.
19.
Gent, A. N., “Elastic Stability of Rubber Compression Springs,” Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, Vol. 6, No. 4, 1964, pp. 318–326.
20.
Gent, A. N., “Load‐Deflection Relations and Surface Strain Distributions for Flat Rubber Pads,” Rubber Chemistry and Technology, Vol. 31, 1958, pp. 395–414.
21.
Gent, A. N., “On the Relation Between Indentation Hardness and Young's Modulus,” Transactions of the Institution of the Rubber Industry, Vol. 34, No. 2, 1958, pp. 46–57.
22.
Gent, A. N., “Relaxation Processes in Vulcanized Rubber. I. Relation Among Stress Relaxation, Creep, Recovery and Hysteresis,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 6, No. 22, 1962, pp. 433–441.
23.
Gent, A. N., “Relaxation Processes in Vulcanized Rubber. II. Secondary Relaxation Due to Network Breakdown,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 6, No. 22, 1962, pp. 442–448.
24.
Gent, A. N., and Lindley, P. B., “Internal Rupture of Bonded Rubber Cylinders in Tension,” Royal Society of London Proceedings, Series A, Vol. 249, 1959, pp. 195–205.
25.
Gent, A. N., and Lindley, P. B., “The Compression of Bonded Rubber Blocks,” Institution of Mechanical Engineers Proceedings, Vol. 173, pp. 111–222.
26.
Gent, A. N., Henry, R. L., and Roxbury, M. L., “Interficial Stresses for Bonded Rubber Blocks in Compression and Shear,” Transactions of the ASME, Journal of Applied Mechanics, Vol. 96, No. 4, Dec., 1974, pp. 855–859.
27.
Gent, A. N., and Meinecke, E. A., “Compression, Bending and Shear of Bonded Rubber Blocks,” Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol. 10, No. 1, Jan., 1970, pp. 48–53.
28.
Gregory, M. J., “Effect of Compounding on the Properties of Natural Rubber Engineering Vulcanizates,” Natural Rubber Engineering Data Sheet EDS3, Malaysian Rubber Producers Research Association, England, 1979.
29.
Gregory, M. J., Metherell, C., and Smith, J. F., “The Effect of Carbon Black Fillers on Viscoelastic Properties of Vulcanizates,” Plastics and Rubber: Materials and Applications, Feb., 1978, pp. 37–40.
30.
Gumba‐Gummi in Bauwesen GMBH, (Approval by Institute of Civil Engineering for Elastomeric Bearings Produced by GUMBA), West Germany, Oct., 1973.
31.
Haringx, J. A., “On Highly Compressive Helical Springs and Vibration‐free Mountings, Parts I, II, III,” Philips Research Reports, 1948–1949.
32.
Holownia, B. P., “Compression of Bonded Rubber Blocks,” Journal of Strain Analysis, Vol. 6, No. 2, 1970, pp. 121–123.
33.
Holownia, B. P., “Effect of Poisson's Ratio on Bonded Rubber Blocks,” Journal of Strain Analysis, No. 7, 1972, p. 236.
34.
Holownia, B. P., “Effect of Different Types of Carbon Black on Elastic Constants of Elastomers,” Plastics and Rubber: Materials and Applications, Aug., 1980, pp. 129–132.
35.
Lake, G. J., and Lindley, P. B., “Ozone Attack and Fatigue Life of Rubber,” Use of Rubber in Engineering, Maclaren & Sons Ltd., London, England, 1967, pp. 56–71.
36.
Lake, G. J., and Lindley, P. B., “Ozone Cracking, Flex Cracking and Fatigue of Rubber,” Rubber Journal, Oct.–Nov., 1964, pp. 1–16.
37.
Lindley, P. B., “Compression Moduli for Blocks of Soft Elastic Material Bonded to Rigid End Plates,” Journal of Strain Analysis, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1979, pp. 11–16.
38.
Lindley, P. B., “Ozone Attack at a Rubber‐Metal Bond,” Journal of the IRI, Vol. 5, No. 6, Dec., 1971, pp. 243–248.
39.
Lindley, P. B., “Plane Strain Rotation Moduli for Soft Elastic Blocks,” Journal of Strain Analysis, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1979, pp. 17–21.
40.
Lindley, P. B., “Plane‐Stress Analysis of Rubber at High Strains Using Finite Elements,” Journal of Strain Analysis, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1971, pp. 45–52.
41.
Lindley, P. B., “Relation Between Hysteresis and the Crack Growth Resistance of Natural Rubber,” International Journal of Fracture, Vol. 9, No. 4, Dec., 1973, pp. 449–462.
42.
Lindley, P. B., and Stevenson, A., “Fatigue Resistance of Natural Rubber in Compression,” Malaysian Rubber Producers Research Association, England, Mar., 1981.
43.
Lindley, P. B., and Teo, S. C., “Energy for Crack Growth at the Bonds of Rubber Springs,” Plastics and Rubber: Materials and Applications, Feb., 1979, pp. 29–37.
44.
Lindley, P. B., and Teo, S. C., “High Temperature Aging of Rubber Blocks,” Plastics and Rubber: Materials and Applications, May, 1977, pp. 82–88.
45.
Meier, J. R., Rudd, G. E., and Weir, D. F., “Creep Resistant Elastomer Formulations,” Rubber Chemistry and Technology, Vol. 52, No. 1, Mar.–Apr., 1979, pp. 50–71.
46.
Meinecke, E. A., “Comparing the Time and Rate Dependent Mechanical Properties of Elastomers,” Rubber Chemistry and Technology, Vol. 53, No. 5, Nov.–Dec., 1980, pp. 1145–1159.
47.
Minor, J. C., and Egen, R. A., “Elastomeric Bearing Research,” NCHRP Report 109, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1970.
48.
Murray, R. M., and Detenber, J. D., “First and Second Order Transitions in Neoprene,” Rubber Chemistry and Technology, Apr.–June, 1961.
49.
Nachtrab, W. B., and Davidson, R. L., “Behavior of Elastomeric Bearing Pads Under Simultaneous Compression and Shear Loads,” Highway Research Record, No. 76, 1965, pp. 83–101.
50.
Ozell, A. M., and Diniz, J. F., “Report on Tests of Neoprene Pads Under Repeated Shear Loads,” Highway Research Record, Vol. 242, 1960, pp. 20–27.
51.
Porter, L. S., and Meinecke, E. A., “Influence of Compression Upon the Shear Properties of Bonded Rubber Blocks,” Rubber Chemistry and Technology, Vol. 53, No. 5, Nov.–Dec., 1980, pp. 1133–1144.
52.
Price, A. R., “Abnormal and Eccentric Forces on Elastomeric Bridge Bearings,” TRRL Laboratory Report 708, 1976.
53.
Rejcha, C., “Design of Elastomer Bearings,” PCI Journal, Vol. 9, No. 5, Oct., 1964, pp. 62–78.
54.
Rivlin, R. S., and Saunders, D. W., “Cylindrical Shear Mountings,” The British Rubber Producers Research Association, Publication No. 115.
55.
Sanpaolesi, L., and Angotti, F., “Appareils D'Appui en Caoutchouc pour les Constructions,” (Rubber Bearings for Construction), Construction Metallique, No. 1, 1972, pp. 21–42 (in French).
56.
Schapery, R. A., and Skala, D. P., “Elastic Stability of Laminated Elastomeric Columns,” International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 12, No. 6, 1976, pp. 401–417.
57.
Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Official, 12th Edition, Washington, D.C., 1977.
58.
Stanton, J. F., and Roeder, C. W., “Elastomeric Bearings—Design, Construction and Materials,” NCHRP Report 248, Sept., 1982.
59.
Topaloff, B., Gummilager fur Brücken‐Berechnung und Anwendung,” (Rubber Bearings for Bridges—Calculations and Uses), Der Bauingenieur, Vol. 39, No. 2, Feb., 1964, pp. 50–64 (in German).
60.
Treloar, L. R. G., The Physics of Rubber Elasticity, Clarendon Press, Oxford, England, 1975, p. 310.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 109 • Issue 12 • December 1983
Pages: 2853 - 2871
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 ASCE.
History
Published online: Dec 1, 1983
Published in print: Dec 1983
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.