Pot Bearing Allows Rotations by Shear Deformation

Pot bearing, also known as pot rubber bearing, with elastomeric bearing embedded inside of the steel plate, can be divided into fixed pot bearing, guided pot bearing and free sliding pot bearing. Pot bearings are special types of bridge bearings for taking large loads, large horizontal displacements and large rotation requirements in confined areas. The loading capacity of elastomeric bearings is limited, while pot bearings solved this problem, thus pot bearings are often regarded as suitable for use when bridges need large bearing reactions.

Fixed pot bearing

Fixed pot bearing is unmoved in all directions. Under loads, the elastomeric bearing pad behaves likes an incompressible confined fluid which enables the rotations on any axis.

Fixed pot bearing - some specifications

Bearing capacity (MN)	Main sizes (mm)			Weight (kg)	Embedded column bottom d × L
	A/B/C/D	A'/B'/C'/D'	H
FX0.8	250	210	75	25	Φ40 × 250
FX1.0	280	235	80	34	Φ40 × 250
FX1.25	310	260	85	45	Φ40 × 250
FX1.5	340	290	90	57	Φ40 × 250
FX2.0	390	330	95	79	Φ40 × 250
FX2.5	435	370	100	104	Φ40 × 250
FX3.0	545	460	115	187	Φ40 × 250
FX3.5	510	430	110	158	Φ40 × 250
FX4.0	545	460	115	187	Φ40 × 250
FX5.0	610	520	130	265	Φ50 × 300

Guided pot bearing

Guided pot bearing with steel guide edge can be only moved in one direction. The stainless steel slide and PTFE slide further reduce the friction coefficient and guided pot bearing is used best when horizontal loads are relatively small (less than 20% of vertical Load).

Guided pot bearing - some specifications

Bearing capacity (MN)	Longitudinal displacement (mm)	Main sizes (mm)						Weight (kg)			Embedded column bottom d× L
		A	A'	B	C/D	C'	H
GU6	± 100 ± 150 ± 200	740, 840, 940	680, 780, 880	770	680	620	150	423.7	446.2	468.7	Φ50 × 300
GU7	± 100 ± 150 ± 200	780, 880, 980	720, 820, 920	820	730	670	160	516.7	542.5	568.4	Φ50 × 300
GU8	± 100 ± 150 ± 200	810, 910, 1010	740, 840, 940	890	780	710	170	634	664.7	695.5	Φ60 × 300
GU9	± 100 ± 150 ± 200	850, 950, 1050	780, 880, 980	935	825	755	180	744.9	778.9	813.0	Φ60 × 300
GU10	± 150 ± 200 ± 250	980, 1080, 1180	910, 1010, 1110	985	875	800	190	907.9	944.9	982.3	Φ60 × 300
GU12.5	± 150 ± 200 ± 250	1060, 1160, 1260	980, 1080, 1180	1100	970	890	205	1205.7	2151.4	1297.1	Φ70 × 350
GU15	± 150 ± 200 ± 250	1130, 1230, 1330	1050, 1150, 1250	1190	1060	980	220	1513.7	1565.9	1618.2	Φ70 × 350
GU17.5	± 150 ± 200 ± 250	1190, 1290, 1390	1105, 1205, 1305	1295	1145	1060	235	1887.6	1949.1	2010.6	Φ70 × 350
GU20	± 150 ± 200 ± 250	1250, 1350, 1450	1155, 1255, 1355	1375	1225	1130	250	2263.9	2332.1	2400.2	Φ80 × 350
GU22.5	± 150 ± 200 ± 250	1310, 1410, 1510	1220, 1320, 1420	1450	1300	1210	260	2620.3	2694.2	2768.1	Φ80 × 350
Transverse displacement: ±3 mm.

Free sliding pot bearing

Free sliding pot bearing can be movable in all directions. The added PTFE and stainless steel sliding surface between the piston and the sole plate creates a bearing assembly that allows horizontal movement in any direction.

Free sliding pot bearing - some specifications

Bearing capacity (MN)	Longitudinal displacement (mm)	Main sizes (mm)						Weight (kg)			Embedded column bottom d × L
		A	A'	B	C/D	C'/D'	H
FS25	±150 ±200 ±250	1360, 1460, 1560	1250, 1350, 1450	1340	1340	1110	270	2540.4	2597.9	2651.2	Φ90 × 400
FS27.5	±150 ±200 ±250	1410, 1510, 1610	1300, 1400, 1500	1410	1410	1170	280	2898.8	2961.5	3019.5	Φ90 × 400
FS30	±150 ±200 ±250	1470, 1560, 1660	1360, 1450, 1550	1470	1470	1220	290	3277.3	3334.5	3403.2	Φ90 × 400
FS32.5	±200 ± 250 ±300	1610, 1710, 1810	1490, 1590, 1690	1525	1525	1270	300	3714.1	3788.9	3863.8	Φ100 × 400
FS35	±200 ± 250 ±300	1650, 1750, 1850	1530, 1630, 1730	1585	1585	1320	310	4143.9	4225.5	4307.0	Φ100 × 400
FS37.5	±200 ± 250 ±300	1690, 1790, 1890	1570, 1670, 1770	1645	1645	1370	320	4581.9	4669.0	4756.2	Φ100 × 400
FS40	±200 ± 250 ±300	1730, 1830, 1930	1610, 1710, 1810	1690	1690	1410	330	4993.3	5085.5	5177.7	Φ100 × 400
FS45	± 200 ±250 ±300	1810, 1910, 2010	1680, 1780, 1880	1800	1800	1500	345	5870.9	5973.3	6075.8	Φ110 × 400
FS50	±200 ±250 ±300	1890, 1990, 2090	1760, 1860, 1960	1890	1890	1570	360	6751.0	6864.5	6977.9	Φ110 × 400
FS55	± 200 ±250 ±300	1990, 2060, 2160	1850, 1920, 2020	1990	1990	1660	37	7832.4	7921.5	8047.2	Φ120 × 400
FS60	±200 ±250 ± 300	2070, 2130, 2230	1930, 1990, 2090	2070	2070	1720	390	8823.7	8907.7	9044.9	Φ120 × 400

Technical performance

• Bearing capacity of the pot bearing is 100% of the design capacity and allow overloading 10%.
• When working temperature changes from -25 °C to + 60 °C, the minimum design friction coefficient of pot bearing is 0.03. When working temperature changes from -40 °C to + 60 °C, the minimum design friction coefficient of pot bearing is 0.06.
• The maximum rotation of pot bearing is 0.03 rad.

Working temperature

• Normal temperature type: -25 °C to + 60 °C.
• Cold resistance type: -40 °C to + 60 °C.

Feature

• With low-profile but high loading capability over 50,000 kN than elastomeric bearing.
• Shearing strength of elastomeric pad is increased through the method of encasing it in the steel pot.
• Allow for large rotations ranging from 0 to 0.03 rad.
• Low friction coefficient between 1% and 3%.
• All the metallic parts are protected against corrosion by galvanization and epoxy painting according to EN 1337-9 (also can be customized).
• Complying with EN 1337, DIN 4141, BS5400, AASHTO, SETRA, etc.

Application
Pot bearings are suitable for locations where low-profile, high-load bearing devices are required. And they are especially suited for curved or skewed bridges and other complex structures where the direction of rotation varies or cannot be precisely determined.

Pot bearing installation notice

• When pot bearing is transported to the construction site, the components and packing list in the box should be checked. After passing the checkout, the pot bearing should be placed into the box again. When the pot bearing needs to be installed, then you can take it out.
• When unpacking the case, the PTFE plate and stainless steel plate should be well protected to avoid scratching and booty attaching. At the same time, 5201-2 silicone grease should be fully filled.
• The supporting padding stone should be set under the pot bearing and the strength grade of concrete should not less than C40. The height of supporting padding stone should consider the installation, maintenance and replacement of the pot bearing.
• Supporting padding stone and concrete on pier top should be equipped with corresponding reinforced mesh in according to the JTG D62-2004. The anchor holes should be preserved according to the anchoring sleeve's specifications and quantity.
• When installing the guided spherical bearing or free sliding spherical bearing, we should pay attention to check the PTFE sliding, and the main sliding direction of the PTFE sliding should be consistent with the bridge direction.
• The central line of the pot bearing and the main beam should be paralleled or coincided.