Title: On the Verification of a Finite Element Analysis for Elastomeric Bridge Bearings

Author(s): L. R. Herrmann, F. Shfigh-NobariI, and R. Hamidi

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 94

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1-30

Keywords: bridge bearings; finite element method; structural analysis; plastic, polymers, and resins; Construction

DOI: 10.14359/3463

Date: 9/1/1986

Abstract:
A brief description is given of a recently developed nonlinear analytical model and finite element analysis for elastomeric bridge bearings. The discussion addresses the important problems in determining the stress-strain behavior of the elastomer and adopts a relatively comprehensive nonlinear elastic characterization. The analysis is applicable to arbitrarily loaded bearings of various geometries and accounts for both geometric and material nonlinearities. The paper discusses the preliminary verification of the analysis as a reliable engineering tool. Such a study involves comparisons of analysis predictions to available experimental results. The comparisons given in the paper are for bearing compression and evoke problems involving the interpretation of the experimental results due to apparent contradictions among different sources of experimental data. A study is made of possible causes of these differences and how they can be reconciled.