Bridge bearings exposed to outdoor environments suffer from solar radiation, rain erosion, temperature variation, vehicle impact and load fatigue, prone to aging, cracking, displacement, corrosion and other defects. Standard routine maintenance and timely hazard rectification are essential to extend bearing service life and guarantee bridge safety. This chapter specifies the full-process inspection, maintenance and defect remediation measures.
Hierarchical Routine Inspection of Bridge Bearings
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Daily Inspection (Monthly)
Check bearing appearance for damage, cracking and bulging, rubber parts for aging and crazing, and steel components for corrosion. Verify normal girder-pier relative displacement and no jamming or derailment of sliding bearings. Inspect dust covers and sealing rings for damage or falling off, and prevent water and foreign matter intrusion.
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Periodic Testing (1-2 Times Annually)
Detect bearing elevation, levelness and displacement to check deviations from design values. Test sliding plate lubrication, rotation flexibility, rubber hardness and steel corrosion degree. File inspection data and defect records completely.
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Special Inspection (After Extreme Weather & Earthquakes)
Carry out immediate targeted inspections after rainstorms, snowstorms, typhoons and earthquakes to eliminate emergent bearing displacement, voids and damage hazards.
Standardized Targeted Maintenance Measures
Keep bearing surfaces and sliding planes clean and free of sundries and ponding. Replenish special silicone grease for sliding bearings every 2–3 years and prohibit inferior lubricants. Polish and repaint corroded steel parts, with annual anti-corrosion reinforcement for coastal and corrosive areas. Replace aged or damaged seals and dust covers timely for effective sealing protection.
Common Bearing Defects and Remediation Solutions
|
Defect Type |
Main Causes |
Remediation Measures |
|---|---|---|
|
Rubber Cracking & Bulging |
Overload, UV aging, temperature fatigue |
Repair minor cracks; replace severely damaged bearings |
|
Eccentric Loading & Void |
Installation deviation, pier settlement, girder deformation |
Jack up and re-level the girder, fill gaps to correct bearing stress |
|
Sliding Jamming & Abnormal Displacement |
Lubrication failure, foreign matter blockage, slide plate wear |
Clean sliding surfaces, replenish lubricant, replace worn slides |
|
Steel Component Corrosion |
Failed anti-corrosion layer, environmental erosion |
Derust and repaint; replace severely corroded components |
Standardized Bearing Replacement Process
For irreparable severely defective bearings, adopt professional synchronous jacking equipment to lift the girder, remove old bearings, clean the base and install new bearings. Re-test bearing stress and displacement after girder resetting. Conduct full structural protection during construction to avoid girder damage.
Scientific full-lifecycle maintenance enables conventional bridge bearings to serve 20–30 years, while special anti-corrosion and seismic bearings can match the bridge's service life, effectively reducing bridge maintenance costs and safety risks.