Elastomeric bearings have been used for many years. They are economical and require minimal maintenance. However, the historic aashto design provisions have limited the range of applications of these bearings. Recent research has resulted in recommendations which can increase the versatility of elastomeric bearings, but the recommendations require increased design calculations. A simple method of satisfying these more complex design equations is presented. The method uses a standard spreadsheet computer program, and it automates and simplifies the design equations. These proposed design equations increase the load, movement and rotational capacity of many elastomeric bearings over those permitted with existing aashto design provisions, but the recommendations require greater care in design and qualitycontrol in manufacture of the bearings. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1290, Third bridge engineering conference, march 10-13, 1991, denver, colorado, volume 2.
Abstract