Design of Elastomer Bearings

The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of the elastomer bearing. Elastomer bearings, (Fig. 1) have been successfully developed during the last decade. Presently, they are widely used in the U.S., Canada and abroad. Properly designed, by virtue of their simplicity, they offer an ingenious, maintenance free, ideal solution for the support of bridge girders as well as building members. Elastomer bearings are suitable for concrete or steel structures. Elastomer bearings will absorb the following types of loading (Fig. 2): 1. Vertical forces 2. Horizontal forces or movements in any direction. 3. Rotational movements in any direction. 4. All combinations of the above. In the case of a simply supported beam, (Fig. 3) two identical elastomer bearing pads can be used, one under each end. The advantage of this arrangement is that the horizontal load on the beam due for instance, to vehicle braking, is 'then equally divided between the two supports.