High-capacity pot bearings for large rotation and heavy reaction, manufactured and tested to EN 1337-5.
A pot bearing uses a confined elastomeric disc inside a steel cylinder to carry very high vertical loads while allowing rotation. Sliding variants (with PTFE and stainless steel) additionally accommodate large horizontal translation, making them the standard solution for major river crossings and viaducts.
The rubber disc, laterally confined by the pot wall, behaves as an incompressible fluid and transfers load nearly uniformly. Rotation occurs as the disc deforms under the piston. In guided and free-sliding types, translation is taken by a PTFE/stainless-steel interface with a controlled friction coefficient.