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Bridge & Structural Bearings

Innovative bridge and structural bearings designed for iconic feats of civil engineering

Disktron Bearings

A low-profile, longer-lasting alternative to the pot bearing.

Bridge Disc Bearings

RJ Watson designs and manufactures custom disc bearings with the ability to withstand vertical loads ranging from 10 to 15,000 kips. RJ Watson Disktron Bearings have rotational capabilities in both the longitudinal and transverse directions and may be designed for seismic and non-seismic applications.

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Disktron

All Load Ratios

The Disktron Bearing can accommodate all live to dead load ratios. The RJ Watson Polytron disc is a polyurethane blend conforming to AASHTO specifications and tested at the University at Buffalo’s MCEER.

Simplicity by Design

  • Load plates
  • Upper and lower bearing plates
  • Shear resisting mechanism (SRM)
  • Polytron elastomeric disc
Disktron

Disc Bearing Options

Disktron Unidirectional
  • Unidirectional: Unidirectional bearings have rotational capabilities in both the longitudinal and transverse directions and displacements in one direction.
Disktron Fixed
  • Fixed: Fixed bearings allow rotation in any direction while preventing any displacement.
Disktron Multidirectional
  • Multidirectional: Multidirectional bearings allow rotation and displacement in any direction.
Disktron Flexible Guided
  • Flexible Guided: Flexible guided bridge bearings are designed for the displacement needs of curved girder bridges.

Choose the Disktron Bearing

RJ Watson’s Disktron Bearing offers unique benefits to engineers, contractors and owners working on bridges and other structures.

Disktron Bearings
  • The RJ Watson bridge disc bearing has a rotation capacity in excess of 0.08 radians.
  • The Disktron Bearing can accommodate all live to dead load ratios.
  • The Polytron disc (rotational element) is not confined, allowing for large, low load rotations, which can be experienced temporarily during erection.
  • A high allowable compressive stress on the Polytron disc results in a more compact bearing design.
  • Separate sole and masonry plates can be attached to bearing plates by bolted, welded or recessed connections.
  • The minimum horizontal load capacity is 10% of the vertical load; much higher loads can be accommodated.

Disc Bearings in Railway Applications

RJ Watson Disktron Bearings are not just for road and highway bridge use but are also widely used on both Class I and Light Rails. To date, over 5,000 Disktron Bearings have been installed on over 95 rail structures, conforming to AREMA specifications.

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Disc Bearings in Railway Applications

In the Field Report – “The Zilwaukee Bridge project”

Watch this video of the bearing replacement project on Zilwaukee Bridge in Michigan

Design and Test Your Bearings

The experienced engineers at RJ Watson can help you find the right bearings for your project with our no cost, no obligation design services, as well as our extensive testing capabilities.

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Featured Project

Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge

This signature 1060 foot span is a North American record for a concrete arch. 24 Disktron Bearings were installed on this structure.

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Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge

The 8 abutment bearings had vertical capacities of 400-550 kips and were modified with permanent elastic expansion restraint mechanisms with a longitudinal restoring stiffness of 5 kips in each direction over a movement range of 5 inches.

When the experts have questions, they turn to

RJ Watson

Get Started Today

RJ Watson works with engineers, contractors and owners to create bridges and highways that reliably serve their communities while simultaneously solving engineering challenges. RJ Watson is available to work with you to create a cost effective solution for your specific project.