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MOveable Bearings Innovation Launch in enlarged Europe

Final Report Summary - MOBILE (MOveable Bearings Innovation Launch in enlarged Europe)

Since the first artificial bridges were built, the evolution of bridge engineering was characterised by the performance of available materials, state-of-the-art construction techniques. The MOBILE project is a major step forward in respect of durability, capability and serviceability of bridge bearings as well as its installation handling and production.

An informative current practice workshop was held and current practice reports were established to indicate the expertise and technology available within the project consortium. The major aim was to identify the gap between current technologies and future technologies and to make all needed resources for the development available.

New materials were tested as a substitute to sliding materials currently used. Four samples of material compositions of polyoxymethylene (POM), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyethylene (PE) have been investigated in friction tests (range -35 to 35 degrees Celsius) and load tests. A product was identified as material to meet the requirements for the "advanced sliding bearing system". The product is of high interest for the consortium since a European approval is available for the sliding material. Laboratory tests with the material have been implemented with mating so-called anti-friction coatings (AF-coating) and very promising results have been achieved. The AF-coating should be used as counter material to replace expensive and problematic austenitic steel sheets.

A further aspect which has been investigated is the application of pre-cast elements of fibre reinforced concrete instead of steel plates as sliding plate. The idea is to prove fibre reinforced concrete as a cost efficient alternative to heavy and expensive steel plates. Deficiencies and solutions for potential enhancements of sliding bearing have been identified by the consortium.

Other objectives accomplished include an informative current practice workshop which was held and current practice reports were established to indicate the expertise and technology available within the project consortium. The major aim was to identify the gap between current technologies and future technologies and to make all needed resources for the development available. The output of the current practice workshop was a list of approaches for further study within the work packages (WPs). As result many contacts and individual groups for intense collaboration were established of its own volition.

New materials were tested as a substitute to currently used sliding materials. Four samples of material compositions of polyoxymethylene (POM), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyethylene (PE) have been investigated in friction tests (range -35 to 35 degrees Celsius) and load tests. The materials haven't met the standard of products currently used for sliding bearings. The consortium agreed to stop further development efforts with these materials.

Various materials have been selected and the optimum solution has been found. Material tests have been conducted at the partners own laboratories and the 4 selected samples were then transferred to MPA Stuttgart. After the first standard tests material has been appointed for further testing which includes a long term test (50 000 m).