DRAFT

Revision Record Sheet

Rev.
No

Date

1566.RPT.GEN.001
2007 April 26

Changes Implemented

Originated
By

Granville Bridge
Preliminary Assessment Report
Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

Verified
By

Approved
By

Amendments Record Sheet

1566.RPT.GEN.001
2007 April 26

Granville Bridge
Preliminary Assessment Report
Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

Executive Summary
This preliminary assessment report investigates the condition and alternatives for
rehabilitating the expansion bearings in the steel truss spans of the Granville Bridge. The
feasibility and costing of alternatives to recondition the expansion bearings are examined.
There are a total of fourteen steel roller type bearings in the steel truss spans of the
Granville Bridge. In general, the bearings have been well maintained and are in good
working condition, but the potential for PCB spills and contamination of the environment has
become a concern. The bearings included an oil bath, using Aroclor 1248 which is a
synthetic oil product comprised of Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), to clean and
lubricate the steel rollers contained inside the bearings. To mitigate potential contamination,
the oil from the bearings has been drained and transferred to a hazardous waste facility for
disposal.
For all of the rehabilitation options considered, the cleaning and encapsulation of the pier
caps has been included as a measure to reduce the potential for PCB contamination. Any
options that retain the bearings will include decontamination of the steel portions to a
predetermined level. Materials used or removed from the site that are contaminated with
PCBs will be disposed of at a hazardous materials disposal facility.
Key options considered include the reduction of PCB contaminated materials at the bridge
site, through decontamination or material removal. The continued use of lubricating
materials that would be constantly present in the bearings is not considered as a long term
option.
The alternatives assessed for rehabilitating the expansion bearings include: maintaining the
existing bearings without an oil bath; replacing all the existing bearings; and replacing the
smaller bearings while reconfiguring the larger expansion bearings as fixed bearings instead
of replacing them.
The existing bearings may be retained. However, it may not be possible to completely clean
the interior of the bearings such that they can be considered free of contamination. In this
case, the future maintenances costs will need to account for handling the bearings as
contaminated by PCBs. s.13(1); s.17(1)(c), (d), (e) & (f) and s.21(1)
.

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Preliminary Assessment Report
Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

All of the bearings can be replaced with conventional expansion bearings to remove all
contaminated steel components from the bridge. However, the four largest bearings will be
technically very difficult and very costly to remove and replace with new bearings, in particular,
the two largest bearings at Pier M7. s.13(1); s.17(1)(c), (d), (e) & (f) and s.21(1)

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Preliminary Assessment Report
Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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Table of Contents
1

Introduction ...........................................................................................................................1
1.1
1.2

Description of Bridge Expansion Bearings ....................................................................1

Current Condition at the Bridge Expansion Bearings....................................................4
1.2.1 Expansion Bearings...........................................................................................4
1.2.2 Surfaces on the Pier Tops .................................................................................5
1.3 Bearing Decontamination Trial ......................................................................................5
2

PCB Contamination Mitigation ..............................................................................................7

2.1

Decontamination of Existing Bearings...........................................................................7

2.1.1 Flushing Existing Bearings ................................................................................7
2.1.2 Removing Bearing Boxes & Flushing Existing Bearings ...................................8
2.1.3 Removing Existing Bearings to Clean Off-site...................................................8
2.2 Decontamination of Pier Caps.......................................................................................8
3

Bearing Revitalization .........................................................................................................10

3.1

Recondition Existing Bearings.....................................................................................10

3.1.1 Periodic Lubrication .........................................................................................10
3.1.2 New Oil Bath....................................................................................................11
3.2 Structurally Alter Bearings...........................................................................................11
3.2.1 Typical Bearing Replacement..........................................................................11
3.2.2 Bearing Options at Piers M2 and M7...............................................................13
4

Load Rating Analysis ..........................................................................................................18

4.1
4.2

4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
5

Computer Modeling .....................................................................................................18

Loading........................................................................................................................18
4.2.1 Dead Load .......................................................................................................18
4.2.2 Live Load .........................................................................................................19
4.2.3 Wind Load .......................................................................................................20
4.2.4 Temperature Effects ........................................................................................20
4.2.5 Earthquake Load .............................................................................................21
Load Combinations .....................................................................................................22
Member Demands.......................................................................................................22
Member Capacities .....................................................................................................22
Pier Demands..............................................................................................................23
Comparison Summary.................................................................................................23

Conclusions.........................................................................................................................24
5.1
5.2
5.3

Retain Existing Expansion Bearings in Service...........................................................24

Replace All Expansion Bearings .................................................................................25
Replace Expansion Bearings and Reconfigure M2 and M7 Bearings.........................25

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

Recommendations ..............................................................................................................27
6.1
6.2

Bearing Revitalization Programme..............................................................................27

Staged Revitalization...................................................................................................27
6.2.1 Engineering .....................................................................................................28
6.2.2 Stage 1 ............................................................................................................28
6.2.3 Stage 2 ............................................................................................................28
6.2.4 Stage 3 ............................................................................................................28

Appendix A..................................................................................................................................29
Appendix B..................................................................................................................................33
Appendix C .................................................................................................................................34

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Preliminary Assessment Report
Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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Introduction
This preliminary assessment report investigates alternatives for rehabilitating the
expansion bearings for the steel truss spans of the Granville Bridge. To provide a
comprehensive assessment: the existing condition, environmental concerns, bearing
alternatives, load rating of the steel trusses, staged construction and cost estimates
are considered and discussed.

1.1

Description of Bridge Expansion Bearings

The Granville Bridge was constructed in 1954. The bridge has seven spans, from
Piers M1 to M8, constructed of structural steel (see Figure 1). These structural steel
spans consist of an arrangement of steel trusses with appropriate placement of fixed
bearings, expansion bearings and internal pins to provide a statically determinate
system for expansion and vertical load.

s.15(1)(l) and s.19(1)(b)

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Preliminary Assessment Report
Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

s.15(1)(l) and s.19(1)(b)

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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The expansion bearings were originally designed to be kept in an oil bath, as shown
in Figure 2. The oil bath served to both lubricate the internal steel components of the
bearing and protect them from corrosion and contaminates that may get inside the
bearing box.
Expansion bearings of this type are susceptible to water entering the bearing box
through leaks or condensation. Originally, the oil bath used whale oil that, because
of its relatively lower density, allowed water entering the bearing box to sink to the
bottom. As water continued to enter the bearing box the oil could eventually be
displaced and overflow from the box. To avoid this condition, the lubricating oil used
in the expansion bearings was substituted with Aroclor 1248 (a synthetic oil product
comprised of Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs) in the early 1960s, selected for
its unique quality of being denser than water. By using this dense lubricating oil, any
water entering the bearing box would float on top of the oil bath and be spotted
during regular inspections to be removed.
s.15(1)(l) and s.19(1)(b)

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Preliminary Assessment Report
Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

1.2

Current Condition at the Bridge Expansion Bearings

In general, the expansion bearings are well-maintained and in good working
condition.

1.2.1

Expansion Bearings
The primary issue concerning the expansion bearings was the consequence of a
potential oil spill from leaking bearings. When Aroclor 1248 was selected for use,
sometime during the early 1960s, PCBs were not recognized as a hazardous
material and government environmental regulations concerning PCBs did not exist.
PCBs are now known as a hazardous material and the disposal of PCBs and PCBcontaminated materials are regulated by environmental legislation.
s.13(1); s.15(1)(l) and s.19(1)(b)

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Preliminary Assessment Report
Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

1566.RPT.GEN.001
2007 April 26

To mitigate the environmental damage potential and attempt to satisfy environmental

regulations, the PCB-contaminated oil from all expansion bearings was drained in
2006. The cost of draining and disposing of the PCB-contaminated oil was on
average $5,000 per bearing.
s.13(1); s.15(1)(l) and s.19(1)(b)

1.3

Bearing Decontamination Trial

A pilot project to develop a protocol for the removal of the PCB-contaminated oil at
the expansion bearings and subsequent decontamination of the bearings was
conducted by Envirochem Services Inc. in 2005. The protocol was developed based
on Environment Canada and US EPA regulations to present Best Management
Practices for a situation that is not specifically covered by regulation.

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Preliminary Assessment Report
Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

The West expansion bearing at Pier M8 was selected for the pilot project. The
protocol, methods, testing and results are contained in the Envirochem Services Inc.
report Pilot Project Decontamination of the Granville Bridge Bearing Boxes
Containing PCB dated June 2006 (draft). In summary, the decontamination process
included:

rinsing the bearing box with kerosene to dissolve residual oil after draining,

flushing the bearing box and bearing components three times with about 20 litres
of kerosene each time, which is about 10% of the original volume,

filling the bearing box with kerosene to soak,

draining the kerosene from the bearing box,

filling the bearing box again with kerosene,

draining the kerosene, and

wiping down the accessible internal surfaces with absorbent pads.

The test results for residual PCB contamination, for the Pilot Project, indicated that
the interior surfaces of the M8 bearing could not be decontaminated sufficiently to
reduce the PCB concentrations to acceptable levels, but were dramatically reduced
from the untouched state. The PCB levels were reduced to 2800 mg/kg PCB in the
kerosene solvent removed in the final rinse. It has been learned that, proposed
regulations will require the PCB level to be below 500 mg/kg by 2014. Further
flushing is to be undertaken at the Pilot Project bearing in an attempt to achieve the
proposed regulation level.
s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

10

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

12

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

14

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

16

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

17

Load Rating Analysis

This section is a summary of the load rating analysis of Granville Bridge to date. It is
a detailed assessment of the effects of the modified bearing configuration on the live
load distribution in the steel truss bridge spans, compared to that of the existing
structure. In addition, wind, temperature, and seismic loads are also considered.
The assessment accounts for the seismic rehabilitation of the steel truss spans that
was completed in 1994, but does not account for any potential deterioration of the
structural elements.
Assessment of the steel bridge truss components was carried out using CAN/CSAS6-00, Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (S6-00) design loads and capacities.
The bridge floor system (i.e., deck slabs, stringers, floor beams, etc.) is not affected
by the proposed bearing modifications and therefore was not included in the
assessment. The substructure is assessed by comparison of demands in the
components of the piers for the two cases of the M2 and M7 bearings being fixed or
in the present condition.

4.1

Computer Modeling
The computer analysis model originally developed for the 1992 seismic rehabilitation
design was used in this analysis. There have been no modifications to the structure
since that time that would warrant modifications to the computer model.

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

18

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

20

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

22

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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Steel Expansion Bearing Rehabilitation

23

Conclusions
In general, the steel roller expansion bearings have been well maintained and are in
good working condition. The steps that the City of Vancouver has taken to safely
drain and dispose of the PCB contaminated oil from the expansion bearings has
greatly mitigated potential environmental damage due to leaks from the bearing
boxes.
Alternatives that clean and retain the existing roller bearings in service have the least
present costs.
However, these options have long-term maintenance costs
associated with handling the bearing components as items contaminated with
hazardous materials. Also, it may not be possible to get the PCB level to an
acceptable level under the regulations.

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

24

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

26

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Recommendations

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

28

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s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)

s.13(1); s.15(1)(l); s.17(1)(c), (d) & (f) and s.19(1)(b)