ABSTRACT
Slide-In Bridge Construction (SIBC) has been used in Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) for the past decade. SIBC is carried out using bearing pads consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and stainless and carbon steel surfaces.
Appropriate coefficients of friction (COFs) had not been determined for the use of SIBC in temporary applications. In this study, COF values in SIBC with variable surface roughness, lubrication type, and contact pressure were determined through experiments. Among three tested surfaces, the rough rolled stainless steel, as well as the carbon steel, produced COF values much higher than those resulting from the stainless ones with a #2B surface. Dry (no lubrication) and graphite lubrication resulted in high friction values, whereas the soap, grease, and oil had low friction values. Additionally, four different applied pressures were investigated. These experimental test results give additional insight into the application of sliding bearings in the field of slide-in bridge construction.
