Rail bridge bearing replacement
Rail bridge bearing replacement
(OP)
I am working on a rail bridge bearing replacement project and will be attaching new steel sole plates to the existing 1890’s riveted steel plate girders as part of the work. I plan to attach using countersunk high strength bolts since the sloe plate will sit on new electrometric bearings. Welding was not considered due to possible poor weldability of the existing steel.
What other/better options are there for this connection?
What other/better options are there for this connection?





RE: Rail bridge bearing replacement
I assume your not countersinking the bottom flange of the plate girder.
RE: Rail bridge bearing replacement
I think this is the way to go but wanted to check to see if there were other more obvious options that I was missing.
RE: Rail bridge bearing replacement
RE: Rail bridge bearing replacement
I spoke with a few others in my company and that is the option I’m going with. Not only will it be easier to install as you said, but there will be a plate welded to the bottom of the sole plate that’s part of a TFE slide bearing assembly. This plate would have to be field welded overhead if countersunk bolts were used, which is no good. With the tapped holes this plate can be shop welded.
You mention using a top plate to distribute the load on the existing top flange, which is a good comment, but wouldn’t this top plate only be loaded if the bolts are in tension?? I don’t have any uplift on the bearings. The only tension the bolts will see is after the plate is installed and the girder is still jacked off the masonry plate. This should be a negligible load. Am I missing something?
RE: Rail bridge bearing replacement
RE: Rail bridge bearing replacement