Pot bearings on curved girder bridge
Pot bearings on curved girder bridge
(OP)
I have a 5 span curved girder steel bridge with 125' end spans and 180' middle spans. The piers and abutments are all laid out radially and the third pier (or 4th support) is fixed while the remaining supports are expansion. I was wondering at what angle the guided pot bearings should be placed on the supports? Should they be oriented at a straight line to the fixed bearing point or at a tangent to the curve?





RE: Pot bearings on curved girder bridge
Both orientations have there benefits and disadvantages, and there are no hard and fast rules. It is better to minimize the introduction of forces and deformations so, typically I place my bearings at the abutment tangent to the curve to allow movement at the expansion joint without distortion and place the bearings at the piers in line with the centre of fixity at the third pier.
Regards
VOD
RE: Pot bearings on curved girder bridge
Thank you for your prompt reply, one further question, at what angle should I place my fixed bearing, should that be at a tangent with the curve as well?
TP
RE: Pot bearings on curved girder bridge
RE: Pot bearings on curved girder bridge
Regards
VOD