SECTION 828 — BRIDGE BEARINGS — BRIDGE BEARINGS
828.01 Description.
This work includes furnishing and installing bridge bearings. Bearing types specified in this provision include elastomeric pads, and pot and disc bearings. The components of bridge bearings include masonry, sole and shim plates, anchor bolts, elastomeric elements, TFE (Teflon) sheets or surfacing, lubricants, and adhesives. Elastomeric Pad Bearings. Elastomeric bearings include unreinforced pads (consisting only of elastomer) and pads reinforced with steel laminates. Pot and Multi-Rotational Bearings. The pot and multi -rotational bearings detailed in the Plans are conceptual only. Bearings fabricated by manufacturers listed in the Department’s Approved Materials List or other qualified manufacturers will be accepted. The overall width and/or length of pot and multi-rotational bearings must fit within the limits of the concrete beam seats. The overall height of the bearings must be known before the precise beam seat elevation can be determined. Therefore, submit the required details of the bearings to the Engineer within 60 days after Contract award.
828.02 Materials.
Elastomeric Bearings.
a.Elastomer. Use raw elastomer that is virgin neoprene (polychloroprene). Classify the elastomer compound as low temperature grade 0, 2, 3, 4, or 5 as defined by the testing requirements in Section 14 of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Construction Specifications and AASHTO M 251.
b.S teel Laminates . Use steel laminates for reinforcement that conforms to AASHTO M251. Use steel laminates that have a minimum nominal thickness of 14 gauges. Do not allow any holes in plates in manufacturing unless they have been accounted for in design. If guide pins or other devices are used to control the side cover, or if there are imperfections that result in less than the specified elastomer cover for the steel laminates, seal these areas flush with a bonded vulcanized patch material compatible with the elastomer.
c.S ole Plates, Shear Plates, and Anchor Plates. Ensure that these items comply with the applicable Plan notes.
d.B ond. Ensure that the vulcanized bond between fabric and reinforcement has a minimum peel strength of 30 lb/in. Ensure that steel laminated bearings develop a minimum peel strength of 40 lb/in. Perform peel strength tests according to ASTM D429 Method B.
Part 800 — Bridge Structures August 2025
SECTION 828 — BRIDGE BEARINGS 800-171 Pot and Multi-rotational Bearings. Use new materials in the manufacture of pot and multi -rotational bearings. Use pot and multi- rotational bearings that have been fabricated by a single manufacturer. Use materials, including the elastomeric rotational element, sealant, sealing rings, steel, stainless steel, and TFE sheet , that conform to Subsection 18.3. 2 of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Construction Specifications. Anchor Bolts and Pins. Ensure compliance with SECTION M05.
828.03 Construction Methods.
Elastomeric Bearings. Ensure compliance with the RIDOT Standard Details , the Plan notes for elastomeric bearings, and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
a.Fabrication. Use bearings with steel laminates that have been cast as a unit in a mold and are bonded and vulcanized under heat and pressure. Ensure that the internal steel laminates have been sandblasted and cleaned of all surface coatings, rust, mill scale, and dirt before bonding and that are free of sharp edges and burrs. The manufacturer shall protect external load plates (sole plates) from rusting, shall seal these areas flush with a bonded vulcanized patch material compatible with the elastomer and shall vulcanize the bearing pad to the sole plate. Ensure that bearings designed to act as a single unit with a given shape factor have been manufactured as a single unit. Plain pads may be molded, extruded, or vulcanized in large sheets and cut to size. Ensure that the cutting does not heat the material and produces a smooth finish.
b.Fabrication Tolerances. Use plain pads and laminated bearings that have been fabricated to the required dimensions within the tolerances required by AASHTO M 251.
c.I nstallation. Ensure that the bearing seat is finished straight and true with the plane of contact. Clean the concrete surface of the beam seat of all laitance and construction residue before placing the pads. Place pads on the beam seats before the application of concrete protective coating to bent caps. Do not cement pads to the girders. Ensure that the pads are not deformed during the setting of the girders in their final position. If bearing pads are deformed during the setting operation, lift the girders, thereby allowing the pads to resume their proper configuration and then reset. When further adjustment of elastomeric type bearing pads is necessary to accommodate for variations in ambient temperature at the time of erection, make the necessary adjustments according to the required alignment scheme. The Engineer will approve the method of adjusting the alignment before its use.
Part 800 — Bridge Structures August 2025
800-172 SECTION 828 — BRIDGE BEARINGS Pot and Multi-rotational Bearings.
a.Fabrication. Provide the Engineer with written notification 30 days before the start of bearing fabrication. After fabrication, shop paint or coat steel surfaces exposed to the atmosphere, except stainless steel surfaces, to protect against corrosion. Before coating, clean the exposed steel surfaces according to the recommendations of the coating’s manufacturer. For metal surfaces to be field welded, apply a coat of clear lacquer or other protective coating approved by the Engineer, if the time of exposure before welding occurs will exceed three months. Remove the lacquer coating at the time of welding. Perform the final painting or coating of these surfaces after welding. Ensure that the stainless steel sheet is attached to its steel substrate with an approved epoxy to ensure total contact and then sealed with a continuous seal weld. For pot bearings, ensure that the steel piston and the steel pot are each machined from a solid piece of steel. Ensure that the steel base pot of all bearings are either integrally machined, recessed into, or continuously welded to its bottom steel masonr y plate. Ensure that the outside diameter of the piston is no more than 0.030 in. less than the inside diameter of the pot at the interface level of the piston and elastomeric rotational element. Bevel the sides of the pistons to facilitate rotation. Ensure that all welding conforms to, and all welders are qualified, according to the ANSI/AASHTO/AWS D1.5 Bridge Welding Code. Ensure that all bearing surfaces of steel plates are finished or machined flat within 0.010 in. per ft. Out -of-flatness greater than 0.010 in. per ft on any plate will be cause for rejection. Ensure that the bottom surfaces of lower bearing plates (masonry plates) designed to rest on bearing pads do not exceed an out-of-flatness value of 0.0625 in. per ft. Ensure that oxygen cut surfaces do not exceed a surface roughness value of 1000 micro-in., as defined by ANSI B-46.1. Ensure that every bearing has the Project Identification Number, Lot Number, and individual bearing number indelibly marked with ink on a side that will be visible after erection.
b.Testing and Acceptance. The manufacturer shall select, at random, sample bearings from completed lots of bearings for testing by the manufacturer. The manufacturer shall complete the required testing and determine compliance with this Specification before submitting the lots(s) for quality assurance inspection, testing, and acceptance. Furnish the results of the manufacturer’s tests to the Engineer.
c.I nstallation. Certify to the Engineer that a skilled representative of the bearing manufacturer will be available to provide advice and instruction during bearing installation. Ensure that the manufacturer’s representative will be present during the initial installation of the bearings. The representative shall remain on the job until the bearing installation is proceeding smoothly and the workmen are familiar with the work required for each installation. Arrange to have the representative present anytime as the Engineer may request.
Part 800 — Bridge Structures August 2025
SECTION 828 — BRIDGE BEARINGS 800-173 Place the bearing at the predetermined locations at the time of structural steel erection. Remove all temporary restraints as directed by the bearing manufacturer. Adjust the expansion bearings from the normal position to allow for the ambient temperatur e at the time of erection according to the required alignment scheme. After all adjustments and with the approval of the Engineer, weld the bearing sole plate to the bottom flange.
828.04 Method of Measurement.
Elastomeric Bearings, both plain and reinforced, Pot Bearings, and Multi-rotational Bearings, will be measured by the number of each type of bearing installed. Test bearings will not be measured for payment.
828.05 Basis of Payment.
The Department will pay for the completed and accepted quantities as follows. Pay Item Pay Unit Bearings (All Types) EA The prices constitute full compensation for all labor, materials, and equipment, including testing, services of the manufacturer’s representative, when required, bedding pads, anchor bolts, and all incidentals required to finish the work, complete and accepted.
Bridge Bearings in other states
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Source: Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction (Blue Book), 2022 (Aug 2025 compilation) Edition. Pages 539–542 of 951. View official source ↗