Design Method for Bridges on Lead‐Rubber Bearings

Abstract

This paper presents a design method based on a parametric study by Turkington (1987) of the response of bridge superstructures supported on leadrubber bearings and subjected to the 1940 E1 Centra (N‐S component) and Parkfield earthquakes. The study showed trends of both period shift and additional damping brought about by the inelastic behavior of the lead core in the lead‐rubber bearings, although the two earthquakes introduce different amounts of period shift and additional damping. Two design examples of four‐span bridges with different pier, abutment, and bearing arrangements are presented. The arrangements of leadrubber and elastomeric bearings are used as examples to show how seismic forces can be distributed between piers and abutments.