Performance of steel mesh reinforced elastomeric isolation bearing: Experimental study

This paper developed a new type of elastomeric isolation bearings, of which the reinforcing element is manufactured by high-strength steel mesh. In order to investigate the compressive and shear deformation performance of the new system, eight full-scale steel mesh reinforced elastomeric isolation bearings (SMREIB) with details partly referring to current Chinese standard were studied by static experiment. Then quasi-static tests were carried out to compare the performance of both SMREIB and traditional bearings. Parametric tests were made under combined axial compression and reversed cyclic lateral displacement. Test parameters, including vertical compression, shear strain magnitude, loading frequency, loading waveform and loading direction, were investigated. The constitutive model and hysteresis energy dissipation capability of bearings were figured out. The experimental results indicate that the ultimate shear deformation of SMREIB can reach 300% total bearing height, which exceeds Chinese standard limits of 100% total rubber thickness, by rolling-off and rolling-over deformation, and its horizontal equivalent stiffness gets lower. Larger total rubber thickness, which is the main advantages of SMREIB, affects the horizontal mechanic property and hysteresis energy dissipation capability of bearing. Experimental result provides us the basis for the development of numerical model, which can help engineers design and apply SMREIB in the practical bridges.