CONTENTS

1. General page 3

2. Specifications and design

parameters page 4

3. Information required for design

of POT bearings page 5

4. Dimensions data sheets

- POT bearing type PU page 6

- POT bearing type PL page 7

- POT bearing type PF page 8

5. Accessories page 9

6. Site installation page 10

7. POT bearings for incrementally

launched bridges page 11

8. Special POT bearings page 12

9. Recent bridge structures page 13

10. Quality control and tests page 15

2
1. General

- Polished stainless steel (mirror finishing) welded

to the bottom side of the rectangular sliding plate.
- Circular dimpled PTFE disc recessed to half of its
thickness in the piston. Minimum protrusion is given
to grant full contact with stainless steel at any time.
PTFE displays excellent resistance to fatigue, impact
and ageing.
- Special lubricant grease: silicone base. This grease
fills the dimples in the PTFE disc ensuring a permanent
very low friction system coefficient and preventing
abrasion of PTFE.
The combination of these three materials gives a regular
range of friction coefficient between 1% and 3%.
Type PU (guided sliding) is obtained by assembling a
guide bar, either welded or bolted, on top of the piston.
The guide bar slides along a longitudinal recess in the
sliding plate, thus avoiding transverse movement.
Contact between guide bar and sliding plate consists of
special composite material (DU-metal) fixed to the guide
bar and stainless steel backed to the sliding plate,
ensuring a minimum friction coefficient.

▲ Neoprene bearing

Structural bearings are required to connect different parts

of a structure such as bridge decks to piers and
abutments. The most widely-used structural bearings
are plain or reinforced elastomeric bearings, and POT
bearings. They are capable of transmitting forces while
absorbing the structure’s deformations and rotations.
The strength of reinforced elastomeric bearings is limited
by the shear properties of the elastomeric block,
especially when the three stresses, compression, shear
and bending, occur at the same time. POT bearings
maximise the shear strength of the bearing’s elastomer
by encasing it in a steel cylinder. They can accept working
loads in the elastomer, which, in turn, allows the
bearing’s dimensions to be reduced. ▲ ILM bridge pot bearing type
POT bearings are divided into three main types,
depending on restrictions to the structure’s
deformations: type PF (fixed), type PL (free or unguided
sliding), and type PU (guided sliding).
In all types, under vertical load, the upper plate acts on
the elastomer like a piston on a hydraulic cylinder, and
the elastomer itself, perfectly sealed, behaves like a
viscous fluid, offering minimal resistance to rotation
around any horizontal axis. No sliding movement is
allowed in type PF (fixed).
Type PL (free sliding) is obtained by dividing the upper
plate into two independent elements: rectangular sliding
plate and circular piston. The sliding ability is achieved
by combining the following three materials into the
sliding system:

3
 2. Specifications and design parameters

MATERIALS BASIC DESIGN PARAMETERS

STANDARD SPEClFlCATlONS

TOP PLATE UPPER PLATE

Load distribution at 60°

Quality steel St37 or
St52 according to The length of the upper plate must
DIN 17.100 grant a proper load distribution in the
concrete in the event of max. design
Stainless steel
movement
according to AISI 304
L5 = D6 + 2 Ex + 2T5/✓ 3+50

Where :
LUBRICANT D6 diameter of PTFE disc
Ex Max. design movement
T5 Thickness of upper plate
Silicone grease type 300
P.T.F.E.

P.T.F.E. Average allowable stress at SLS under

max. vertical load <45 N/mm2
P.T.F.E. pad with dimples according Allowable stress at SLS in the
ASTM D1457-91 a Type 1 edges < 60 N/mm2
Grade 2
BS 3764 Grade A ELASTOMER
GUIDE
Average allowable stress at SLS under
Quality steel St37 or max. vertical load < 40 N/mm2
St52 according to
DIN 17.100
Vertical strain on the perimeter
DU-metal <0,15

a* (D/) <H1*0.15
EXTERNAL SEALING
RING Minimum thickness of the elastomer
Spongy neoprene
H1>D1/30
PISTON
Where :
Quality steel St37 or
St52 according to
DIN 17.100 a : Design rotation
D1 : Diameter of the elastomer
INTERNAL SEALING
POT ( RING+BASE PLATE )
RING
Double gasket brass ring
Ring and base plate must bear the
horizontal loads due to the elastomer
ELASTOMER PAD strain and to external actions:

Natural rubber according Zr+Zh < b Zr+Zh < b

AASHTO 50Sh+-5 Ap Ar
where :
Load due to the elastomer strain
POT (STEEL RING +
BASE PLATE)
Zr = D1*H1 *bn

Quality steel St37 or bn being the stress in the elasto-

St52 according to mer
DIN 17.100 Load due to external actions :
Zh= ✓ Hx2+Hy2
Base plate lateral area Ap = D1*T1
Ring lateral area Aa = 2*(D2-D1)*TR
TR being the height of the ring.
Minimum thickness of the ring
D2-D1> 2Omm
ANCHOR SOCKETS Minimum thickness of the basepla-
te
T1>D1/50>12mm
Galvanized bolts
DOWELS -STUDS
Steel CK35 according In order to grant a safety factor not
DIN 17.200 less than 1,5 against sliding, the
following condition must be verified::
/S*Vmin+n*Hd>Zh
where :
= 0.5 Steel-concrete friction coefficient
S = 1.5 Safety factor
n Number of dowels ( or studs)
Hd Shear capacity of each dowel
4
3. Information required for the design of POT bearings

Dimensions given in the section 4 tables are indicative, It should be pointed out that the cost of the POT bearings
representing a presizing of the three different types of POT varies with the changes in design parameters. For
bearings. They are given to make the design engineer’s instance the allowable bearing pressure on the concrete,
work easier and should be used with caution, bearing in has a major influence. It depends on the characteristic
mind that they are calculated from the following assumed concrete strength, Br and the relation between the
design parameters: diameters of direct circular loaded area (D2) and circular
enlarged area, with the same centre of gravity, lying totally
Allowable concrete pressure
within the top support area (D) (see figure). The following
Pier : 20 N/mm 2 Deck : 20 N/mm2
design rules are proposed for the allowable bearing
Rotation = 0.01 rad.
pressure on concrete :
Loads and movements
1.- Free sliding type PL
1.1 Hxmax= 3 % of Vmax.
1.2 Hymax = 3% of Vmax.
1.3 Ey= +- 10mm.
1.4 Ex= * 50mm.
2.- Guided sliding type PU
2.1 Hxmax= 3 % of Vmax
2.2 Hymax = 5% of Vmax
2.3 Ey= 0 always
2.4 Ex= +- 50mm. 1 .- For direct distribution from the pot to the concrete:
3.- Fixed type PF
3.1 Hxmax = 5% of Vmax b= Br * D < 1,4*Br
3.2 Hymax = 5% of Vmax 1,8 D2
3.3 Ey= 0 always
3.4 Ex= 0 always 2.- For distribution plates through masonry plates
4.- For every type between pot and concrete:
4.1 Vg = 70% Vmax b= Br * D < 1,0*Br
4.2 Vmin = 50% Vmax 2,1 D2
4.3 Hxg = 90% Hxmax
4.4 Hyg = 90% Hymax 3.- For distribution through sliding plates:
4.5 Hxmin = 70% Hxmax
4.6 Hymin = 70% Hymin b= Br * D < 0,9*Br
2,3 D2
Our Technical Department is at your disposal to supply any Bursting reinforcement to be designed in SLS for a total
specific information in order to assist you from the early force of:
design stage. To assess the optimum POT bearing’
dimensions for your application and to carry out a detailed
design, we need the following information: with the allowable stress in reinforcement between
180 MPa and 200 MPa according to the steel grade.

Project: Bearing type :

Loads:
Load case Vmax.
Vmax: kN Hx: kN Hy: kN
Load case Vg. ( permanent load)
Vg: kN Hxg: kN Hyg: kN
Load case Vmin.
Vmin: kN Hx: kN Hy: kN
Rotation and movement :

Ex+-: mm. Ey +-: mm. Rotation: rad.

AllowablebearIng pressure on concrete :

Pier : MPa Deck : MPa

▲ Technical departement in the factory

5
 4. Dimensions data sheets
POT bearing type PU
This type of bearing :

DL
- Allows longitudinal movements

- Constrains transversal movements

TH
- Bears horizontal transversal loads

DL
BEARING TYPE TH L5 B5 oD2 DP DL DM
PU-100 80 393 293 293 256 200 40
PU-200 81 478 378 378 316 200 40
PU-300 85 538 438 438 360 200 40
PU-400 84 608 508 508 408 250 50
PU-500 98 665 565 565 450 250 50
PU-600 96 719 719 619 501 300 60
PU-700 102 768 768 668 536 300 60
PU-800 106 814 814 714 568 300 60
PU-900 119 857 857 757 599 300 60
PU-1000 115 898 898 798 628 300 60
PU-1200 122 975 975 875 682 350 70
PU-1400 131 1045 1045 945 732 350 70
PU-1600 198 1110 1110 1010 778 350 70
PU-1800 154 1171 1171 1071 821 350 70
PU-2000 153 1229 1229 1129 862 350 70
PU-2400 161 1337 1337 1237 938 350 70
PU-2800 180 1436 1436 1336 1008 350 70
PU-3000 170 1515 1515 1415 1064 350 70
PU-3500 192 1593 1593 1493 1120 350 70
PU-4000 190 1705 1705 1605 1199 350 70
PU-4500 196 1793 1793 1693 1260 350 70
PU-5000 216 1885 1885 1785 1325 350 70
DIMENSIONS IN mm
NOTE : The dimensions given in the tables are indicative. Design and dimensions may be modified by CTT without prior notification.

6
 POT bearing type PL

This type of bearing :

- Allows longitudinal and transversal movements

- Does not resist any horizontal load (except friction)

BEARING TYPE TH L5 B5 oD2 DP DL DM

PL-100 74 353 273 253 228 150 30
PL-200 79 457 377 357 302 150 30
PL-300 85 538 458 438 360 200 40
PL-400 96 605 525 505 406 200 40
PL-500 98 665 585 565 450 200 40
PL-600 96 719 639 619 487 250 50
PL-700 110 768 688 668 521 250 50
PL-800 106 814 734 714 554 250 50
PL-900 119 857 777 757 585 250 50
PL-1000 115 898 818 798 613 250 50
PL-1200 122 975 895 875 668 250 50
PL-1400 131 1045 965 945 717 250 50
PL-1600 136 1110 1030 1010 764 250 50
PL-1800 154 1171 1091 1071 806 250 50
PL-2000 153 1229 1149 1129 847 250 50
PL-2400 161 1337 1257 1237 924 250 50
PL-2800 180 1436 1356 1336 994 250 50
PL-3000 160 1482 1402 1415 1050 250 50
PL-3500 172 1593 1513 1512 1118 250 50
PU-4000 186 1693 1616 1605 1184 250 50
PL-4500 194 1793 1713 1693 1246 250 50
PL-5000 216 1885 1805 1785 1311 250 50
DIMENSIONS IN mm
NOTE : The dimensions given in the tables are indicative. Design and dimensions may be modified by CTT without prior notification.

7
5. Accessories

▲ Antidust skirts

ANTIDUST SKIRTS

These devices are installed in order to avoid the dust on the sliding parts of the bearing,
that could affect the friction coeficient.
They are recommended either for both free sliding and guided sliding types. They are
manufactured from neoprene strips bolted to the upper plate of the bearing through a
metallic ruler.

Measurement ruler ▲

RULER MEASURING MOVEMENTS

This device is designed to measure then movements of the bearing, and consequently,
the movements of the deck visually.
A metallic or aluminium ruler is connected to the upper plate and a rod is welded, by
means of a support, to the masonry plate or to the pot.
The projection of the rod on the ruler indicates the movement of the deck.

9
 6. Site Installation

▲
1. PREPARATION OF THE PIERS

Build the piers leaving on them the required

recesses according to the dimensions indicated
on the drawings.

2. LEVELLING OFTHE BEARING

▼
Place the pot bearing in its position levelling it with
timber wedges. It is important to ensure that the X
axis of the bearing is aligned in the longitudinal
direction of the bridge and that the X and Y
directions are accurately horizontal. For bearings
allowing horizontal displacements it should be
checked that the arrow painted on the slide plate
is pointing in the correct direction.
▲

3. GROUTlNG

Install the form for grouting the space between

pier and pot bearing. Grout the space between
pier and pot bearing. Fill in the recesses checking
that the level is the correct.
▼

4. FORMING OF DECK

The formwork of the deck is placed embedding

the upper dowels of the bearing.

5. REMOVAL OF FIXING PLATES

▲

Once the formwork has been removed, the

bearing is definitively installed. Remove the lateral
fixing plates of the bearing in order to allow its
free movement.

10
7. POT bearings for incrementally launched bridges

▲ POT bearing for ILM bridge

POT bearings for incrementally launched bridges have a The sliding plate is supplied with a second stainless
dual function. First, they provide low friction sliding surfaces steel sheet on top. Inserting neoprene-teflon pads
over piers as the deck is launched during construction. between deck and bearings allows the launching
operation to be carried out. Pads, second stainless steel
Thereafter, they become permanent bearings for the sheet and fixing device are removed after launching. To
completed bridge. A POT bearing serving both functions is achieve this, the deck is lifted by means of hydraulic jacks
shown in the picture above. placed on top of the piers.

During construction, a fixing device avoids relative Once this operation is achieved, the deck is lowered to
movement between sliding plate and pot cylinder. its final position, the jacks are removed and the sliding
plate is connected to a previously embedded steel plate
in the deck.

Finally, the fixing devices used for transportation are

released, thus the bearing is in its final service position.

For the correct design of these bearings, it is very

important to know the loads during launching, because,
they have major influence in the actual length and
thickness of the sliding plates.

Although the cost of this type of bearing is higher than

the standard ones, their use represents a saving for the
job because :

- Temporary launching bearings are not required

- Demolition and replacement of the temporary bearings
by permanent ones, are costly and time consuming
are avoided.

11
 8. Special POT bearings
CTT manufactures special tailor-made POT bearings thus adapting our design to the project requirement.
designed to fit the technical specifications and requirements
of individual projects. The pictures below show several special bearings
CTT offers a wide range of technical solutions for the design designed for specific jobs.
of special POT bearings; our technical department has the
capability to develop alternatives to the standard product,

▼
DOUBLE POT BEARINGS

Bearings with double pot and single upper plate.

They are designed for an ILM bridge. The aim was
to center the loads during launching under the webs
of the concrete deck.
These bearings were installed in the High speed
railway Madrid-Sevilla at Ademuz (Cordoba).

BEARINGS WITH "SPRINGS"

▲

These bearings incorporate external springs that

control the relative movements between sliding
plate and pot.
These bearings were installed in the Cartuja
viaduct in Seville (approaches to Alamillo bridge).
▼

ELIPTIC POT BEARINGS

The pot has an elliptical shape. These bearings were

specially designed for the Aruca-Las Palmas junction
in the Canary islands.

12
9. Recent bridge structures

▲
4TH BRIDGE OVER GUADIANA RIVER
IN BADAJOZ. SPAIN

OWNER:
Junta de Extremadura.

CONTRACTOR:
UTE Puente de Badajoz
DYCSA-FCC

CONSULTANTS:
FCC Construccion. Servicio Tecnico.
D. José Ignacio Gonzalez Esteban,
D José Luis Alvarez Poyatos

BEARING TYPE:
PL-1000, PL-500, PU-1000, PU-500
▼

VIADUCT OVER GOR RIVER IN

GRANADA. SPAIN

OWNER
Direccion general de carreteras
Junta de Andalucia

CONTRACTOR:
Entrecanales y Tavora

CONSULTANTS:
Direccion general de carreteras

BEARING TYPE:
PL-350, PUE-1150, PLE-1100
▲

BRIDGE OVER VAROSA RIVER

LANCO REGUA-RECONCOS
PORTUGAL

OWNER
JAE

CONTRACTOR:
ENGIL - Soares da Cosat

CONSULTANTS:
Ing. Armando Rito

BEARING TYPE:
PL-380, PU-1550,S PU-1450

13
 ▼
ACCESS TO ALAMILLO BRIDGE IN
SEVILLE. SPAIN

OWNER:
Junta de Andalucia

CONTRACTOR:
U.T.E. Alamillo
DYCSA-FCC

CONSULTANTS:
FCC

BEARING TYPE:
PL-380, PU-1550, PU-1450

▲ MADRID-SEVILLE HIGH SPEED

TRAININ ADEMUZ (CORDOBA).
SPAIN

OWNER:
M.T.T.C.

CONTRACTOR:
DYCSA
Entrecanales y Tavora, s.a.
COMSA

CONSULTANTS:
EPTISA

BEARING TYPE:
PL-400, PPUE-1650, PPLE-1650
▼

LAHORE-ISLAMABAD MTY.
PAKISTAN

OWNER:
National Hghway Authority Pakistan

CONTRACTOR:
DAEWOO Corporation (Korea)

MTY CONSULTANTS:
SMEC (Australia)

ILM BRIDGES CONSULTANTS:

CTT-Stronghold (Spain)
Mr. Wolfgang Buchler (Switzerland)

BEARING TYPE:
PL-1000, PUE-1600, PLE-1000
14
10. Quality control and tests

High precision techniques are used in the manufacturing

and finishing of POT bearings. Given the loads to be
transmitted and the deformations to be absorbed, the
quality of the materials and workmanship are ensured
by Quality Control Plans regularly revised to meet any
particular specification.

Since early 1997, we have established a quality manual

and a manual of procedures in order to be certified ISO-
9002-94.

CTT, acting as a member of the European Standarisation

Commitee CEN collaborates in the European Standard
for POT bearings.

▲ Testing POT bearings in laboratory

CORROSION PROTECTION

All steel areas in contact with the atmosphere are

protected with the following standard corrosion protection:

- surface conditioning by sand blasting according to

SIS-055900, grade Sa 2 1/2
,
- two layers of epoxy primer (cathodic protection),
- one finishing layer of acrylic resin and chloride
plasticizer paint.

The minimum total thickness of the three-layer protection

is between 100 n and 120 n.

POT bearings are supplied with different corrosion

protection following specific requirements such as
metalisation or use of special self-protected steels.

▲ Testing platform general view

TESTING

The quality and behaviour of CTT POT bearings is

regularly checked by several tests :

- vertical load tests

- vertical and horizontal load tests
- friction tests
- rotation test

These tests are generally carried out in an official

laboratory next to our factory :

- Laboratori General d’Assaigs i lnvestigacions LGAI

in Barcelona.

▲ Quality control document

15