Abstract:Based on the typical damage of laminated rubber bearing sliding for small to mediumspan girder bridges during the Wenchuan Earthquake, experimental study on the sliding frictional behavior between bearing and steel plate was carried out. Effects of vertical stress and sliding velocity on the bearing sliding behavior were investigated. Results showed that the bearing displayed an approximately linear elastic shear response before sliding. The nominal shear modulus of the bearing ranged between 700 and 1 100 kPa. The coefficient of sliding friction at bearingsteel plate interface was negatively related to the vertical stress, and positively related to the sliding velocity. A mechanical model of the sliding behavior between laminated rubber bearing and steel plate was then developed, considering the effect of various parameters.