ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: High speed railways will be one of the most important challenges for the structural engineers of the third millennium ant the aspect of the structural bearings has an important impact on the design of the structures. The author, currently involved in the design and supply of the structural bearings for the two largest high speed rail projects in the world (Italy and Taiwan), describes the different solutions of the bearing systems utilised in many projects around the world, putting in evidence their impact on the design of the structures. Also the normative aspects, quality assurance and tests are treated.