Rubber Bridge Bearing Pads
Are elastomeric rubber reinforced with steel plates designed according to international standards to be between superstructure and substructure of bridge
They could be natural rubber like neoprene rubber or synthetic rubber like CR
The bridges are exposing to a lot of forces that affect them badly like:
- Thermal expansion and contraction from seasons
- Longitudinal forces (braking and tractive)
- Centrifugal forces
- Elastic deformation due to loads
- …
So bearing pads are used and thus they perform a big and very important functions
- They give free movement to the bridge
- It absorbs compressive forces, restructure effects of shocks and vibration
- It distribute superstructure loads to substructure and allow superstructure to move without creating any harmful stress