Type of bearings Deformation bearing (laminated elastomeric bearing) This bearings are fabricated from either natural rubber,

polyisoprene or synthetic rubber (polychloroprene). Often the bearings called Neoprene bearings which is the brand name of the most synthetic rubber. In the manufacturing process the elastomeric material is vulcanized in relatively thin layers between steel plates, whereby the strong adhesion is established between the elastomer and the steel. The bearings may be built as a pile of sandwich-plates of which consists in a rubber layer covered on both sides by a steel plate to which it is bonded. The rubber layer may be 8mm, 10mm, 12mm or 20mm thick and the plates 1mm to 2mm thick in either black or stainless steel.

Figure : Rubber Layer with Both Sides Covered by Steel Plate (2013)

The sandwich-plates are manufactured in standard sizes and may be cut to required dimensions. Bearings can be manufactured as fully wrapped comprising rubber layer and steel sheets. The rubber layers may be 6-20mm, the steel plates 1-2mm thick and the surrounding rubber layer 2-5mm thick. ***Sandwich plates figure Elastomer material will show certain creep effect when subjected to loading which is maintained in time. The creep tends to fade out in some 10 days. Durability of the

material is a great property for the application of elastomer in bearings. Generally, the specifications will demand that the durability be substantiated through accelerated aging tests according to relevant standards. Therefore, according to ASTM a specimen shall be exposed to ozone and concurrent high temperature. The steel plates functions as to reduce the lateral expansion of the material which would occur under a vertical load in a similar bearing without steel reinforcement. The lateral expansion of the material in the centre of the reinforced bearing is effectively precluded by the bond between elastomer and steel. The elastomer will be incompressible ans the central part of the bearing will show great stiffness. Along the edges of the bearing the lateral expansion will not be fully prevented; the elastomer material will form a bead along the borders of the bearing and thereby eschew participation in the vertical load transfer. So, along its circumference te bearing will have a considerably lower stiffness for vertical load than in its central part.