Neoprene Rubber Padding Can Shoulder the Load in Bridge Construction

You may identify neoprene as the material that wetsuits and laptop sleeves are made of, but did you know that the hulking bridges that you may drive your car across are constructed with neoprene components? Rubber padding items made from the neoprene elastomer have been and still are commonly used in concrete bridges to prevent damage from bridge activities and movements. Any rubber padding material used for bridges needs to be strong enough to handle heavy weights and abrasions. If you need a bridge bearing replacement made of rubber, then look no further than neoprene rubber pads. Neoprene rubber padding is ideal for this type of application because they combine the perfect mix of durability and elasticity for use on bridges.

Although they are both derived from the base compound polychloroprene, the neoprene in wetsuits is not the same form that one sees in bridge bearing pads. Wetsuits, laptop sleeves and mouse pads are made of a cross-linked kind of neoprene, a form of neoprene produced when a foaming agent is added to its construction. The type of neoprene seen in rubber pads, like those used as bearings for a bridge, are made of a dense sheet rubber and do not use a foaming agent in the production process. This density allows for more structural strength in this rubber. For applications like bridge bearings, also including as a bridge bearing replacement, a higher level of strength from neoprene rubber padding is mandatory.

So, what exactly are these bridge bearing pads? Conjure the best image of a concrete bridge in your head. You should see concrete piers holding up the bridge deck. Rubber padding is used as bearings where the piers connect to the subsurface of the bridge deck. This device is meant to transfer any loads and movements from the deck into the foundation. It is a safety mechanism that gives bridges the ability to flex with movements instead of being damaged by them. It is very important to do anything possible to avoid any damage that may occur on a bridge, so having protective rubber pads in place is essential to everyone’s safety.

There are three types of bearings: elastomeric, plane sliding and multiple roller bearings. Rubber padding obviously belongs to the elastomeric category; that is, they utilize the inherent elasticity of rubber. The neoprene bridge bearing pads offer two highly important functions that prevent harmful damage to bridges:

• Absorbs Shock: The shock-absorbing property of neoprene dissipates any loads and impacts that may damage the structural integrity of the bridge deck and supports. In general, any type of rubber pads will aid in providing a certain degree of shock absorption, but neoprene tends to perform even better than most other elastomers for this purpose. Using neoprene as rubber padding also promotes the absorption of movements caused by thermal expansion and contraction of the materials in the beams or bridges. Neoprene pads are therefore ideal for use as a new bridge bearing replacement for increased rates of shock absorption.

• Promotes Movement: The elasticity of neoprene allows lateral and longitudinal movement of the bridge. The elastic nature of neoprene allows the beam to rotate slightly from impact, only to rebound unaffected. This is a highly useful trait when it comes to rubber padding that must be used on bridges.

These are cost effective and useful plates for precast, pre-stressed concrete or metal beams in bridges. Rubber pads allow for the effortless and consistent transmission of mass from the beam down. This permits sideways shift of the beam caused by natural thermal energy. Elastomeric rubber padding products made from neoprene are easier to install than plane sliding and multiple roller bearings. Neoprene’s resistance to ozone, UV rays and weathering ensures that the elastomer won’t degrade from outdoor use. The operable temperature range of neoprene is also very wide, which ensures consistent performance when used as bridge bearing pads. It is amazing what neoprene rubber transformed into rubber padding can do!