Bridge bearings are devices for transferring loads and movements from the deck to the substructure and foundations.

In highway bridge bearings movements are accommodated by the basic mechanisms of internal deformation (elastomeric), sliding (PTFE), or rolling. A large variety of bearings have evolved using various combinations of these mechanisms.

As the foremost designer and bridge bearing manufacturer in the UK, Freyssinet Ltd is eminently qualified in the assessment of in-service bearings. Our site inspection service, by highly trained and experienced engineers, is offered across the whole of the UK and Ireland.

Freyssinet Ltd, as a bearing manufacturer, offer a full range of bridge bearing testing and bridge bearing replacement, both mechanical and elastomeric, all designed to BS 5400, and manufactured in our factory in quality controlled conditions that exceed the requirements of BS EN ISO 9001. Our designers will often incorporate modifications into our standard bridge bearing designs to make replacement operations easier.

When bridge bearing refurbishment is undertaken, dismantling, repair, repainting, and re-assembly are all carried out to the same quality standards as new manufacture.

Freyssinet Ltd offers a “one stop” bearing replacement service both on a principal contractor basis and as a subcontractor. Our bearing tester and bearing replacement service combines our pre-eminent position as designer and bridge bearing manufacturer with our expertise at design, supply and operation of jacking systems, and our knowledge of speciality construction chemicals such as grouts and epoxies.

Other processes such as hydrodemolition and diamond drilling that are regularly required in bridge bearing replacement, are offered as part of the package. Freyssinet are also able to offer a full range of repair and maintenance services such as structural concrete refurbishment, concrete corrosion prevention repair and replacement, crack injection, expansion joint replacement and waterproofing in conjunction with bearing replacement works. Our in-house temporary works designers are able to offer innovative alternatives to conventional propping that have time and cost benefits to the client.

The purpose of this tutorial is to demonstrate manual modification of bridge bearings. The bridge modeler automatically generates bearings. Modification is then done outside of the bridge modeler. This tutorial will follow a two-span continuous reinforced-concrete box-girder bridge with four web sections, supported by two bearings at each substructure location. These bearings are centered between each pair of exterior and interior girders. Users may manually modify start-abutment bearing locations through the following process.