Experimental Investigation of Antifriction Slide Bearings

Results of an experimental investigation of the lateral load behavior of antifriction slide bearings used in bridge foundations are presented. The tests are performed under quasi‐static lateral loads, and are intended to provide estimates for the average coefficient of friction of the bearings when they are subjected to slow rates of lateral movement, such as those occurring in bridge foundations due to support settlement, thermal expansion, and creep effects. During the experiments, the bearings are subjected to a constant vertical load simulating the weight of the assumed superstructure, while the lateral load is increased at a constant rate. The lateral load resistance of the bearings is found to be in excess of 5% of the applied confining pressure. Furthermore, the resistance increased with the rate of applied loads, but it was drastically reduced with increasing accumulated damage of the bearings (velocity and history‐dependent friction mechanism).