Finite Deformation Stiffness of Sliding Elastomeric Bearings

Anchor bolts are set in some elastomeric bearings of large-span column-supported spatial steel roofs. Besides helping the bearing in-site assembly, the bolts play the roles of sliding position limitation and vertical anchorage. To analyze the effect of bearings on nonlinear structural behavior, the bearing stiffness change is studied just before and after the elastomer pad is in contact with the bolts. For the bearing that the pad is glued with the top/bottom steel plates, three kinds of relation of pad and bolts are discussed and an approximate horizontal stiffness formula is obtained with parametric analysis method. Based on the analysis results a stiffness expression for sliding elastomeric bearings is deduced. To solve the computational problem caused by the bearing stiffness changes, an improved imbalance force vector formula is proposed. Case study shows that the bolts have influence upon the computed results more significantly.