Calculation Method for Quantifying Axial and Roll Stiffnesses of Rectangular Steel-Reinforced Elastomeric Bridge Bearing Pads

Abstract

Accurate estimates of bearing stiffnesses are often necessary for bridge design and construction calculations. In the case of steel-reinforced elastomeric bearing pads, the compression stiffness or roll stiffness is sometimes difficult to estimate because of complex deformations of the elastomer. A method of numerical analysis for estimating the axial and roll stiffnesses of bearing pads is presented. To validate the axial calculation method, experimental compression tests were performed on pad specimens constructed in accordance with Florida design standards. A method for calculating roll stiffness is also presented in which the pad is modeled as a grillage of compression-only axial springs. The grillage method was partially derived from roll stiffness data measured in a separate experimental study. The grillage method was demonstrated to accurately capture both the nonlinear moment–rotation behavior caused by liftoff of the girder from the pad and the observed sensitivity of roll stiffness to initial compressive loading caused by self-weight of the girder. Reductions in roll stiffness that are caused by girder slope relative to the pad were also examined.