Behavior of Bridge Bearings for Railway Bridges under Running Vehicle

Abstract

Open steel plate girder (OPSG) bridges are the most prevalent railroad bridge type in Korea, constituting about 40% of all railroad bridges. Solid steel bearings, known as line type bearings, are placed in most OSPG railway bridges. However, the line type rigid bearings generate several problems with the bridge's dynamic behavior and maintenance in service. To compare and investigate the dynamic behaviors of line type, spherical and disk bearings, the vertical displacements of each bearing, including fixed and expansion type, under running vehicles are measured and analyzed. The displacements of disk and spherical bearings are measured after replacing the line type bearings with spherical and disk bearings. This study also analyzed dynamic behaviors of bridges. Furthermore, the deformation of the PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) plate that is placed inside of expansion type spherical and disk bearings is measured and its effect on the dynamic behavior of the bridges is discussed. The up-lift phenomenon at the bearings installed for the steel bridges is estimated. The vertical displacements at mid-span of the bridges are compared according to the bearing types. Finally, the 1st mode natural frequencies are estimated, and the relationship to the vertical displacement is discussed.