Designation: D4014 03 (Reapproved 2012)

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Standard Specification for

Plain and Steel-Laminated Elastomeric Bearings for
Bridges1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4014; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope D1149 Test Methods for Rubber DeteriorationCracking in

1.1 This specification covers bearings, which consist of all an Ozone Controlled Environment
elastomer or of alternate laminates of elastomer and steel, D1415 Test Method for Rubber PropertyInternational
when the function of the bearings is to transfer loads or Hardness
accommodate relative movement between a bridge superstruc- D1418 Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices
ture and its supporting structure, or both. Nomenclature
D2000 Classification System for Rubber Products in Auto-
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the motive Applications
standard. D2137 Test Methods for Rubber PropertyBrittleness Point
NOTE 1The words elastomer or elastomeric will be used inter- of Flexible Polymers and Coated Fabrics
changeably with the word rubber in this specification. D2240 Test Method for Rubber PropertyDurometer Hard-
1.3 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the ness
test methods portion, Section B, of this specification: This D3183 Practice for RubberPreparation of Pieces for Test
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, Purposes from Products
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita- 3. Terminology
tions prior to use. 3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 design loadthe mean compressive stress applied to
2. Referenced Documents the area of the steel laminate.
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 3.1.2 external load platea steel plate bonded to the top or
A36/A36M Specification for Carbon Structural Steel bottom elastomeric surface of a bearing, or both.
D395 Test Methods for Rubber PropertyCompression Set
3.1.3 lotunless otherwise specified in the contract or
D412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplas-
purchase order, a lot shall consist of a single type of bearing, of
tic ElastomersTension
the same design and material, submitted for inspection at the
D518 Test Method for Rubber DeteriorationSurface
same time.
Cracking (Withdrawn 2007)3
D573 Test Method for RubberDeterioration in an Air 3.1.4 plain elastomeric bearing pada bearing that consists
Oven only of elastomeric material.
D832 Practice for Rubber Conditioning For Low Tempera- 3.1.5 plain elastomeric sandwich bearinga bearing that
ture Testing consists of a single layer of elastomeric material bonded to one
or two external load plates (3.1.2).
3.1.6 steel-laminated elastomeric bearinga bearing
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road molded of elastomeric material with one or more steel lami-
and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.32 on
Bridges and Structures. nates embedded in and bonded to it, and to which one or two
Current edition approved July 15, 2012. Published July 2012. Originally external load plates (3.1.2) may be bonded.
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D4014 03(2007).
DOI: 10.1520/D4014-03R12.
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4. Classification
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM 4.1 The bearings are furnished in four types as follows:
Standards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on
4.1.1 Plain Elastomeric Bearing Pad.
the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on 4.1.2 Plain Elastomeric Sandwich Bearing.
www.astm.org. 4.1.3 Steel-Laminated Elastomeric Bearing.

Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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D4014 03 (2012)
4.1.4 Steel-Laminated Elastomeric Bearing with External 4.3 The elastomer for the manufacture of the bearing is
Load Plate(s). furnished in four grades of low-temperature properties. The
NOTE 2Examples of the types of elastomeric bearing construction are
grades and typical operating temperature conditions for each
given in Fig. 1. grade are as follows:
NOTE 3The adjective elastomeric is omitted in this specification when 4.3.1 Grade 0Suitable for continuous use down to +5C.
referring to bearing types. 4.3.2 Grade 2Sub-zero temperatures occur at night and
4.2 The elastomer for the manufacture of the bearing is occasionally persist for no more than one or two days.
furnished in two types as follows: 4.3.3 Grade 3Same as Grade 2 but occasional periods of
4.2.1 Type CRChloroprene rubber. up to two weeks continuously below zero.
4.2.2 Type NRNatural rubber. 4.3.4 Grade 5Sub-zero temperatures down to 40C per-
4.2.3 If none is specified then the manufacturer shall use one sisting for several months each year with up to two months
of those types. continuously below 15C.
NOTE 4Appendix X1 relates to elastomeric materials which do not 4.3.5 If a grade is not specified Grade 0 shall be furnished.
have fully documented in-service records or sufficiently widespread use or An elastomer of a higher grade number may be substituted for
both. any lower grade.
NOTE 5The abbreviations for the elastomer types are taken from
Practice D1418. NOTE 6A discussion of low-temperature properties of elastomeric

FIG. 1 Examples of the Construction of Elastomeric Bearings

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D4014 03 (2012)
materials is given in Practice D832. bearing is less than 450 mm or 18 in. In all other cases, the
NOTE 7The grade numbers for the low-temperature properties corre- minimum thickness shall be 2 mm or 0.075 in. (14 gage).
spond to those in Table 6 of Classification D2000.
7.4 External load plates shall be of uniform thickness unless
5. Ordering Information otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order.
5.1 Orders for each type of bearing under this specification 7.5 Bearing dimensions and elastomer layer thicknesses
shall include the following: shall satisfy the tolerances in Table 1, in which D is the length,
5.1.1 Quantity, width or diameter as appropriate, and T is the total elastomer
5.1.2 Bearing design, thickness.
NOTE 8An example of the design information required is given in 7.6 Variation from a plane parallel to a design surface shall
Appendix X2. Working drawings may be substituted. not exceed an average slope of 0.005 for the upper surface and
5.1.3 Design load, 0.006 for a side surface.
5.1.4 Shear modulus of the elastomer,
5.1.5 Rubber type, 8. Test Methods and Acceptance Requirements
5.1.6 Rubber grade, 8.1 Bearing Compression TestsAll bearings sampled from
5.1.7 Ozone test partial pressure, if higher than 50 mPa a lot shall be subjected to the compression tests. The cost of
(formerly referred to as a concentration of 50 parts per hundred replacement bearings and of testing them shall be borne by the
million (pphm)). supplier.
8.1.1 The bearings shall be brought to a temperature of 23 6
6. Materials and Manufacture
6C and shall be tested at this temperature.
6.1 The elastomeric compound used in the construction of a 8.1.2 Compression StiffnessLoad the bearing to the design
bearing shall contain only either natural rubber or chloroprene load (3.1.1) by increments of one fifth of the design load. For
rubber as the raw polymer. No reclaimed rubber shall be used. each load increment, the loading time shall be within the range
6.2 Internal steel laminates shall be of rolled mild steel. of 1.4 to 2.6 min. When the increment has been applied the
load or deflection (depending on the type of testing machine)
6.3 External load plates shall conform to the requirements
shall be maintained constant for 30 s then the load and
of Specification A36/A36M unless otherwise specified in the
deflection measured. From a plot of load against deflection, the
contract or purchase order.
compression stiffness shall be determined as the slope of the
6.4 Plain bearing pads shall be molded individually, or cut best straight line through the points, ignoring the first point at
from previously molded strips or slabs, or extruded and cut to zero load. Record the compressive stiffness for each bearing.
length. Cutting shall produce a smooth surface and no heating 8.1.3 Visual InspectionIncrease the load to 1.5 times the
of the elastomer. design load then maintain either load or deflection constant
6.5 A steel-laminated bearing or a plain sandwich bearing while the bearing is inspected for visual faults, as follows:
shall be molded as a single unit under pressure and heat. 8.1.3.1 If lack of elastomer to steel bond is indicated, the
bearing shall be rejected.
6.6 All bonding of elastomer to steel laminates and to 8.1.3.2 If laminate placement faults are observed which
external load plates shall be carried out during molding. The result in elastomer layer thickness that exceed the tolerances in
elastomer at the outer edges of bonds to external load plates 7.5, the bearing shall be rejected.
shall be shaped to avoid serious stress concentrations (see Fig. 8.1.3.3 If there are at least three separate surface cracks
1). which are each at least 2 mm wide and 2 mm deep, the bearing
6.7 Internal steel laminates shall be free of sharp edges. shall be rejected.
6.8 External load plates shall be protected from rusting 8.1.4 Record the median compressive stiffness (K) of the
when supplied by the manufacturer. bearing of median stiffness. The compressive stiffness of each
bearing tested shall not differ from (K) by more than 10 %.
6.9 All molds shall have a standard shop-practice mold
finish.

7. Dimensions and Permissible Variations TABLE 1 Tolerances for Bearing Dimensions and Elastomer
7.1 All elastomeric layers, for example, plain-bearing pads, Layer Thicknesses
laminates, and covers, shall be of uniform thickness unless Tolerance
Dimension
otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order. Minimum Maximum
Length, width or diameter of 0 5 (0.2) + 0.005D
7.2 All internal steel laminates shall be of uniform thick- bearing, mm (in.)
ness. When specified in the contract or purchase order, the Height of bearing, mm (in.) 0 2 (0.1) + 0.04T
thickness of the outer steel laminates may differ if not adjacent Thickness of elastomer 0 3 (0.1)
cover
to an external load plate (see Fig. 1). at top, bottom or side,
7.3 The minimum thickness of internal steel laminates shall mm (in.)
Thickness of internal elas- 20 % of design
be 1.5 mm or 0.060 in. (16 gage) when the greater of the length tomer laminate, % value
or width of a rectangular bearing or the diameter of a circular

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D4014 03 (2012)
8.1.5 For each bearing that fails to meet the requirements in TABLE 2 Quality Control Properties of Elastomer
8.1, two additional bearings may be sampled and shall meet all Rubber NR CR
the requirements in 8.1 or the lot shall be rejected. Hardness limits (Test 45 to 75 45 to 75
8.1.6 If the lot is not rejected, the bearing of median Method D1415 or Test
Method D2240)
stiffness (K) shall be subjected to the elastomeric material tests Physical properties
in 8.2. (Test Methods D412):
Tensile strength, 15.5 (2250) 15.5 (2250)
8.2 Elastomeric Material Tests: min, MPa (psi)
8.2.1 All test specimens used for the determination of the Ultimate elongation:
45 to 55 400 400
properties of the vulcanized elastomeric material shall be taken hardness, min, %
from bearings (see Practice D3183). Tensile and hardness 56 to 65 400 350
specimens for the quality control tests in 8.2.3, specimens for hardness, min, %
66 to 75 300 300
the ozone resistance test in 8.2.5, and strips for the low- hardness, min, %
temperature brittleness test in 8.2.6.1, if applicable, shall High-temperature re-
include an outer surface of a bearing. All other specimens shall sistance (Test
Method D573)
be taken from within the middle one third of a bearing. Aging time, h 168 70
Compression set specimens shall be as specified in Test Aging tempera- 70 100
Methods D395, Method B, Type 1. ture, C
Change in +10 +15
8.2.2 The temperature at which the tests shall be carried out hardness, max, %
shall be 23 6 2C except where otherwise specified in this Change in tensile 25 15
specification. strength, max, %
Change in ultimate 25 40
8.2.3 Quality Control PropertiesThe quality control prop- elongation, max, %
erties of the elastomer shall meet the requirements of Table 2 Compression set (Test
for the hardness and type of rubber used. Methods D395,
Method B)
8.2.4 Shear ModulusThe shear modulus of the elastomer After 22 h at 70C, 25 ...
determined in accordance with Annex A1 shall not differ by max, %
After 22 h at 100C, ... 35
more than 615 % from the required shear modulus of the max, %
elastomer.
8.2.5 Ozone ResistanceAn ozone resistance test shall be
carried out on test strips mounted in accordance with procedure 9.1.1 For acceptance purposes, bearing from within the lot
A of Test Method D518. The test shall be carried out in shall be selected at random as samples for inspection and
accordance with Test Methods D1149 at 20 % strain and at 40 testing.
6 2C for 100 h. The ozone test partial pressure shall be 50 6 9.1.2 A minimum of three bearings shall be taken from the
5 mPa formerly referred to as a concentration of 50 6 5 pphm lot for testing. If the number of bearings in the lot exceeds 50
unless a higher test partial pressure has been specified. The test then for each 50, or part thereof, one additional bearing shall be
strips shall be examined for cracks using a 7 magnification taken for testing.
lens. The elastomer has adequate ozone resistance if no
10. Product Marking
perpendicular cracks are observed on that surface of the strip
corresponding to the outer surface of the bearing. 10.1 Every bearing shall be marked in indelible ink or
8.2.6 Low-Temperature Grade Tests: flexible paint. The marking shall consist of the order number,
8.2.6.1 When Low-Temperature Grade 2, 3, or 5 is lot number, bearing identification number and elastomer type
specified, a low-temperature brittleness test shall be carried out and grade reference number.
in accordance with Test Methods D2137, Method A using five 10.2 Unless otherwise specified in the contract or purchase
test strips. The temperature at which the strips shall be order, the marking should be on a side face visible after
conditioned and tested shall be 10C for Grade 2, 25C for erection of the bridge.
Grade 3, and 40C for Grade 5. To meet the requirements of
this specification, none shall fail. 11. Precision and Bias
11.1 No user is currently interested in participating in a
9. Sampling round robin test to verify precision and bias. As an alternative,
9.1 Unless otherwise specified in the contract or purchase two producers have agreed to run repeatability in their own
order, sampling shall consist of the following. laboratories.

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D4014 03 (2012)
ANNEX

(Mandatory Information)

A1. DETERMINATION OF SHEAR MODULUS

A1.1 Scope A1.4 Test Procedure

A1.1.1 This method determines the shear modulus of the A1.4.1 After allowing time for the bonds to achieve ad-
bearing elastomer from the shear force-extension curve after equate strength, condition the specimen at the test temperature
five conditioning cycles to 50 % strain as four times the stress of 23 6 2C for at least 16 h immediately prior to testing.
at 25 % strain.
A1.4.2 The test specimen shall be attached to the tension
NOTE A1.1If the shear stress-strain curve is assumed to be linear for
design purposes, then the use of the chord modulus from 0 to 25 % strain
testing machine using the appropriate fixtures or grips.
may overestimate the stress at higher strains. The overestimate will be A1.4.3 Carry out six successive loading and release cycles
small for elastomers of up to about 55 hardness but will increase as the
volume fraction of carbon-black filler in the elastomer increases. to a deformation equal to the average block thickness, T, and at
such a rate that the time per cycle is within the range of 30 to
A1.2 Apparatus 60 s.
A1.2.1 A tension testing machine shall be used that con-
NOTE A1.2The first five cycles are carried out in order to reach a
forms to the requirements of Practices E4 and is fitted with a stabilized stress-strain behavior of the elastomer. If significant softening
force-deformation recording device. occurs during these cycles, an upturn in the curves may be observed as the
A1.2.2 The fixtures for holding the specimen in the testing maximum deformation is approached.
machine shall be provided with ball seats to permit proper A1.4.4 If there is any indication of slip of the blocks relative
centering of the load during the test. to the rigid plates or of bond failure during the test, prepare a
A1.3 Test Specimen new specimen and repeat the test.

A1.3.1 The quadruple shear test specimen, Fig. A1.1, shall NOTE A1.3Slip may show as excessive set on the force-deformation
consist of four identical blocks of elastomer bonded to rigid loops and bond failure as a marked reduction in slope of one or more of
the force-extension curves. The latter should be confirmed by visual
plates.
examination of the bonds.
A1.3.2 The elastomer blocks shall be of uniform thickness,
preferably not less than 6 mm or 14 in. and of square or A1.5 Calculation
rectangular cross-section, the length and width each being not A1.5.1 The shear modulus shall be determined from the
less than four times the thickness. extension curve on the sixth cycle, Fig. A1.2.
A1.3.3 The rigid plates shall be of rectangular section, the
A1.5.2 Take an effective origin at force F1, extension X1
same width as the elastomer blocks, and may be of mild steel.
Suitable plate dimensions for use with 6 mm thick blocks are where F1 is 2 % of the maximum force on the sixth cycle.
a thickness of 5 mm or 316 in. and a width of 25 mm or 1 in. Determine the force F2 at an extension X2 given by X1 + 0.5T,
where T is the average block thickness (A1.3.4).
A1.3.4 Measure the length, width and thickness of the
blocks and determine the average cross-sectional area (A) and NOTE A1.4From force F and extension X, stress = F/2Aand strain
average thickness (T) of a block. = X 2T; X2 X1thus corresponds to 25 % strain.

A1.3.5 The blocks shall be bonded to the rigid plates using A1.5.3 The shear modulus is calculated as follows:
a suitable bonding system which does not require curing at a Shear modulus 5 2 ~ F 2 2 F 1 ! /A (A1.1)
temperature greater than 40C. Care should be taken to prevent
excess bonding cement from adhering to the sides of the where: A is the average cross-sectional area of a block
elastomer blocks. (A1.3.4).

FIG. A1.1 Shear Test Specimen

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D4014 03 (2012)

FIG. A1.2 Shear Test Force-Extension Curves

APPENDIXES

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. ALTERNATIVE ELASTOMERIC MATERIALS

X1.1 Elastomers based on the following rubbers are now in X1.2 The quality control properties of elastomers based on
limited use in bridge bearings in various parts of the world: these rubbers are given in Table X1.1. The values relate to tests
Ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) carried out on specimens specifically molded for test purposes
Butyl rubber (IIR) and not on specimens prepared from bearings.
Chlorobutyl rubber (CIIR)

TABLE X1.1 Quality Control Properties of Alternative Elastomers

Rubber EPDM IIR CIIR
Hardness range (Test Method D1415 or Test Method 60 to 75 55 to 65 55 to 65
D2240)
Physical properties (Test Methods D412):
Tensile strength, min, MPa (psi) 15.2 (2200) 16.6 (2400) 16.6 (2400)
Ultimate elongation
55 hardness, min, % ... 600 500
60 hardness, min, % 400 550 450
65 hardness, min, % 350 500 400
70 hardness, min, % 300 ... ...
High temperature resistance (Test Method D573):
Aging time, h 70 70 70
Aging temperature, C 100 100 100
Change in hardness, max +10 +10 +10
Change in tensile strength, max, % 15 25 15
Change in ultimate elongation, max, % 40 25 25
Compression set (Test Methods D395, Method B)
After 22 h at 70C, max, % 25 25 20

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X2. EXAMPLE OF BEARING DESIGN INFORMATION

X2.1 Steel-laminated bearing with one external load plate Elastomer layers bonded to steel on both faces: (4 in number)
(at top): Thickness, mm 10
Bottom cover (elastomer layer bonded to steel on one
Overall dimensions, mm: face only):
Length (in direction of main expansion movement) 300 Thickness, mm 6
Width 400 Side cover (elastomer layer bonded to steel edges in
Height 52.5 both the length and width directions):
Total elastomer thickness, mm 46 Thickness, mm 6
Internal steel laminates (4 in number), mm:
Length 288 X2.2 The bottom steel laminate has two 30-mm diameter
Width 388
Thickness of outer (bottom) laminate with dowel 2 (14 gage) dowel holes, 10 mm deep, centered on the length, and 120 mm
holes from the center. The external (top) load plate, length 300 mm,
Thickness of other three internal laminates 1.5 (16 gage) width 500 mm, thickness 25 mm, to be fitted by manufacturer.

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