Spherical Bearings
Spherical bearings are designed to carry combinations of vertical loads, horizontal loads, longitudinal and transversal movements and rotations. They are used in steel and concrete road and railway bridges. The bearing is composed by steel elements coupled with PTFE surface to allow movement and rotations. One side of the internal steel plate is machined as a spherical surface to allow tilting movement (rotation) whilst on the other side a flat sliding surface allows displacements. Depending on whether the bearing is fixed, guided or a free sliding, spherical bearings accommodate vertical loads and corresponding horizontal forces, as well as movements in longitudinal or transversal directions. Spherical bearings are producing according to EN 1337-7 also if the client requests, they can be produced according other codes as well. The spherical bearings can carry very high loads as pot bearings. Unlike pot support, it is necessary to use a spherical support when the rotation value is high. As a system and accessory spherical bearings are very similar to pot bearings. The installation method and steps are the same as the pot bearing.
Spherical bearings meet the following needs:
- They transfer permanent and random vertical loads, with spherical supports, a wide range of vertical loads from 500 to 100000 kN can be met.
- They transfer project horizontal loads practically unlimitedly.
- Allows rotation through ball joint.
- The rotational needs of the structure are met by easily increasing the standard project rotations (±0.02 rad).
- This type of bearing allows unlimited horizontal displacement.
- It is suitable for all kinds of structures such as reinforced concrete bridges, steel structures and buildings.
- Ball bearings are long-lasting and maintenance-free.
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