Numerical analysis of the effective stiffness of elastomeric bearing pads under precast beams for the limit load of lateral instability

Abstract Precast concrete girders on bearing pads are subjected to instability depending on several variables such as span length, initial imperfections and bearing pads behavior. On this paper, numerical models are developed in order to assess the instability limit loads and the rotational stiffnesses of the pads in many combinations of span length, cross section of the girder and lateral sweep. The lift off phenomenon is considered in each analysis by a bearing pad model composed by springs with compression only behavior, with good results in comparison with the experimental values of the technical literature. The increase in spans and initial imperfections causes a decrease in the rollover limit load. The lift off effect is aggravated as the lateral eccentricities increase. In the analyzed combinations, the reduction of the rotational stiffness is about 37% for the critical situation, which span length about 40 m and lateral sweep of L/300, with loss of contact between 50% and 60%.