TFE EXPANSION BEARINGS FOR HIGHWAY BRIDGES

This report covers the experimental work done to investigate the potential use of TFE as a sliding surface for highway bridge bearings. The research includes a comparison of TFE bearings with the bronze bearings which are currently used on prestressed concrete bridges. Samples supplied by various manufacturers were tested to determine the characteristics of TFE surfaces containing different amounts of glass fiber filler and to evaluate the effect of different types of backing material on the performance of the bearings. Both laboratory and comparative field tests were conducted to measure the relative behavior of the various bearing configurations. This report includes a description of the test procedures, an analysis of the data obtained, and a discussion of observations made during the testing program. The results of the research indicate that TFE bearings are suitable for use in highway bridges. From the conclusions derived from the study, design specifications are presented and recommendations are made of achieving the optimum TFE bearing configuration. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This study was conducted in cooperation with Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  Illinois Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Physical Research
  126 East Ash Street
  Springfield, IL  United States  62704-4766
• Authors:
  • Jacobsen, F K
• Publication Date: 1977-4

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 93 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Bridge bearings; Bridge design; Bridges; Expansion; Fillers (Materials); Glass fibers; Highway bridges; Performance tests; Polymers; Prestressed concrete; Specifications; Structural design; Surfaces
• Uncontrolled Terms: Sliding
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00172435
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-IL-PR-71 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: IHD-7
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM