Contact us
If you have any questions or would like assistance, please contact our technical team:
- Email: technical@netweber.co.uk
- Telephone: (01525) 722 100
Our technical team is available Monday to Friday, 8:30am until 5.00pm.
Grouting bridge bearings
Weber has a range of products suitable for pumping under bearings or for pouring or for gluing elastomeric pads.
In the UK the use of grouts for bridge bearings is governed by the Specification for Highway Works: Clause 2601 Bedding Mortar. The bedding mortar shall satisfy the following performance requirements:
- Bedding mortar shall have a compressive strength not less than 50 N/mm²
- The flow characteristics shall be such that the volume of the bed or plinth is completely filled with homogeneous material when placed within the range of ambient temperature between 5°C – 25°C
- The physical and chemical properties shall be compatible with those of all adjoining surfaces
Common issues and queries you can face
Choosing the right grout for bridge bearings
The selection of a suitable bridge bearing grout depends on the engineer’s calculations of loading, the size of bearing, gap size and grouting method. The choice of material is governed by the requirements of the Highways Agency and these are specified in Clause 2601. Using inferior grouts can have serious repercussions on safety and the cost of remediation can considerably outweigh the initial short-term cost benefits.
Restricted access under the bridge beam
The normal method of pouring the selected grout is not possible where there is tight access under the bridge. The use of hoppers to increase the pressure is also excluded. The best option is to use a peristaltic pump which can easily be placed on the scaffold adjacent to the bearing and the grout mixed and then pumped into the prepared shuttering.
Gluing or fixing bridge bearings pads
Incorrect selection of adhesive can lead to deterioration of the rubber, cracking of the adhesive and failure of the bearing system. Weber have a tried and tested range of products which have excellent bond to rubber as well as steel or concrete and are ideal for this critical application.
Failure of grout around bridge bearing baseplate
Cement grouts rely on expansion to provide the non-shrink properties required of a precision bearing grout. This expansion needs to be confined under the bridge bearing plate, but if allowed to expand freely, the grout may crack due to shrinkage. This cracking is often seen where a cement grout has not been finished properly. Epoxy grouts are not affected as much as they have low inherent shrinkage.
