Bridges

The progression to enhance the performance of elastomeric bearings has been an ongoing. The durability and seismic performance of elastomeric bearings are two areas where the implementation of fiber instead steel lamina may address these areas. A relatively new way to reduce seismic demands for structures through the use of laminated fiber bearings formerly known as Sable Unbonded Fiber Reinforced Elastomeric Isolators (SU-FREI). The goal of this paper is to outline the performance characteristics of SU-FREI as well as analyse the results from an in-situ installation of these bearings on a site located on 407ETR in Ontario, Canada. This site located on Highway 407ETR over Steeles Avenue in Toronto Ontario Canada consisted of a 33.1m single span bridge three trapezoidal box girder bridge supported on each abutment by six bearings. This site was subsequently monitored utilizing three LVDTs per box to measure the longitudinal displacements and rotations. A second bridge site had SU-FREI bearings installed on a single span CPCI girder structure over German Mills creek in Toronto Ontario on a widened section of 407ETR. This site was only subject to visual monitoring due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. An analysis of the code based rotational requirements versus the field measurements was undertaken utilizing a 3D finite element model in MIDAS Civil 2022 and the LVDT measurements captured in the field.