Upgrading of Falaj Al Qabail R/A

POT BEARINGS

Project Location

Project Particulars
Client:

Ministry of Transport & Communications

Consultant:

Renardet S.A & Partners L.L.C.

Contractor:

Consolidated Contractors Co. Oman L.L.C.

Contract No.:

51/2012

Commencement Date:

30.12.2013

Completion date:

29.06.2015

Original Contract Value

R.O. 17,884,403

Main Works:

Flyover Bridge of 240 m length

4.073 Km of 6 lanes (Batinah Highway)
0.5 km of 4 lanes (Buraimi Road)
3.0 km of 2 lane Service roads

Details of Flyover Bridge

02 Bridges of 03 Lanes; Length 240m and width 16.78m.

Total 06 spans of 40m in each Bridge.
Superstructure with 03 spans continuous Box Girders.
Piers with Flared type columns
Foundations with 09 Piles of 1000mm diameter and 25m
depth in Piers and 05 no. in Abutments.
Superstructure rests on 03 no. POT BEARINGS above each
Piers and Abutments (except 06 no. in Pier no. 3)
Expansion Joints at spacing of 120m on each abutment and
Pier No. 3 (mid point of Bridge)
The Bridges are in Curve of radius 1230m

Details of Pot Bearings

Consists of a metal piston supported by a disc of unreinforced
elastomer confined within a metal cylinder

Rotations are accommodated by deformation of elastomer

Movements are accommodated by sliding of polished stainless
steel on PTFE

Types: movable, guided, unguided, or fixed

Fixed bearing prevents differential translation of abutting
structural elements. May or may not provide differential rotation.

Movable bearing facilitates differential horizontal translation of

abutting structural elements in a longitudinal and/ or lateral
direction. May or may not provide rotation. Translation may be
constrained to a specified direction by guide bars.

Details of Pot Bearings

Corrosion protection shall not be less than 15 years to first
maintenance
Sliding bearing accommodates movement by translation of
one surface relative to another. Translation may be
constrained to specified direction by guide bars.
Bearings shall not be dismantled at site.

Situations to use Pot Bearings

For high vertical loads combined with large angle of
rotations, rubber bearings are undesirable when
compared with pot bearing.
Elastomeric bearings require large bearing surfaces so that
compression can be maintained between the contact
surfaces of bearings and piers.
Moreover, it also leads to uneven distribution of stress on
the piers and some of these highly induced stresses may
damage the piers.
Consequently, pot bearings are better alternatives than
elastomeric bearings in such a scenario as suggested by
David J. Lee.

Advantages of Pot Bearings

Pot Bearings have:
beneficial properties of elastomer in fixed bearings & design of
large expansion bearings
Rotational movement permitted by shear deformation of an
elastomeric pad
Translational movement restraint by completely encasing the
elastomeric pad in a POT
No compressive deflection of elastomer as it is encased
Sliding component can be added at top

Reference Standards
Highway Design Standards Volume 3: Standard
Specifications for Road & Bridge Construction 2010
AASHTO 2008: AASHTO LRFD Bridge
Construction Specifications,
2nd Edition
AASHTO 2008: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design
Specifications, 3rd Edition

Project Design Drawing

Types - Fixed Bearing FX

Quantity = 04 no.

Shop Drawing FX Type

Types Free Sliding Bearing - GXY

Quantity = 24 no.

Shop Drawing GXY Type

Type Guided Sliding - GX

Quantity = 12 no.

Shop Drawing GX Type

Type Guided Sliding - GY

Quantity = 08 no.

Shop Drawing GY Type

Storage of Bearings

Installation of Bearings

Installation of Bearings

Applicable Specifications
Shall be designed as per AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design
Specifications, section 14.7
Shall be constructed as per AASHTO LRFD Bridge Construction
Specifications, section 18
Alternatively may be designed and constructed as per BSEN
1337-5 Structural Bearings Part 5: Pot Bearings
Sampling lot is not more than 25 bearings of same type either
fixed or sliding

Materials - PTFE
It is a
Linear chain polymer of high molecular strength
Chemically inert
Low coefficient of friction
Not oxidized easily
Remains stable at extreme atmospheric
temperatures
Resistant to all common solvents
Conforms to AASHTO LRFD Bridge Construction
Specifications Article 18.8.1 or BS EN 1337-2

Materials
Steel conform to Section 6 of Standard Specifications for Road
& Bridge Construction
Stainless steel conform to requirements of 11.2.1.1 item (5)
Neoprene and natural rubber conform to AASHTO M251
(ASTM D4014) and Shore A durometer hardness 5010 points
Elastomer shall be lubricated between steel pot and top steel
bearing plate with a silicon grease which does not react
chemically with elastomer
Sealing rings between steel piston and elastomeric rotational
element is made of Brass

Submittals
Working Drawings including any modifications of abutting structural
elements and fixings to superstructure and substructure

Details of Protective Coatings with Data Sheets

Method Statements
Manufacturer experience details (min 10 years)

Design Calculations
Program of manufacture, testing and delivery
Certificates/ test reports of all materials used in manufacturing (not
older than 12 months)
Replacement procedures
Inspections and maintenance Plan

Tests to be Conducted
Dimension check: As per AASHTO LRFD Bridge Construction
Specifications Article 18.1.5.2.4

Clearance Test: As per Article 18.1.5.2.5

Bearing Friction Test: As per Article 18.1.5.2.6 in addition to
compression of 100% of the full service dead load + live load,
shall be checked for 50% and 80% of full service dead load +
live load.
Bearing Horizontal Force Capacity: As per Article 18.1.5.2.8.
Failure or excessive deflection of any of components is cause
for rejection.
If one bearing fails, all bearings of the lot are rejected unless
the manufacturer elects to test each bearing at his expense.

Tests to be Conducted (Continued)

Vertical Load Test: Tested for vertical load of 1.5 times full
service dead load + live load. Test load applied in 5 equal
increments and held for one hour or until deformation ceases
whichever is greater. Then Load removed in equal decrements
as increments.
A second cycle of load increment and decrement applied with
max. test load held for 30 minutes.
Load deformation graph plotted for both load cycles and set
determined.
If set is excessive all bearings to be pre-loaded before
installation.
After vertical load test, bearing to be dismantled and surfaces
checked for visible excessive wear, cracks, or splits which lead
to rejection.

Certificates
certificates for physical and chemical properties of all
materials used in manufacturing
Test Reports for all tests conducted on the samples
Delivery Notes along with Certification of Origin and
details of Bearings