Overview
ISO 22762-2:2018 - "Elastomeric seismic‑protection isolators - Part 2: Applications for bridges - Specifications" defines minimum requirements and test methods for elastomeric seismic isolators used to protect bridges from earthquake damage. The standard covers isolators composed of alternating elastomeric layers and reinforcing steel plates placed between a bridge superstructure and substructure to provide flexibility (decoupling), energy dissipation (damping) and reduced force transmission at the isolation frequency.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and classification: applicability to bridge isolation devices and classification by construction and shear‑stiffness tolerances.
- Material requirements: specifications for rubber compounds used in isolators, including tensile, compressive, ageing, hardness, adhesion, compression set and ozone resistance properties.
- Performance requirements: compressive, shear and rotation properties; shear displacement capacity; cyclic fatigue and durability checks.
- Design rules: calculation and verification of shape factors, compressive and shear stiffness, equivalent damping, shear strain (including local strains due to compression), tensile stresses in reinforcing plates, stability and buckling checks, and design of fixings.
- Testing and QA: mandatory type tests and routine tests, detailed test methods, dimensional tolerances, marking and labelling, and quality assurance procedures.
- Manufacturing tolerances: requirements for product dimensions, flatness, offsets and flange tolerances.
- Informative/Normative annexes: guidance and formulas on tensile stress in plates, buckling stability, allowable tensile stress, shear property determination and compressive stiffness.
Applications
- Specification and procurement of elastomeric isolators for new bridge projects or retrofit schemes.
- Design validation for structural and geotechnical engineers calculating isolation system performance (stiffness, damping, rotation capacity).
- Manufacturing and quality control for isolator producers and rubber compound formulators to meet required material and dimensional criteria.
- Testing laboratories performing type and routine tests, ageing and cyclic fatigue assessments.
- Regulatory and code compliance where ISO specifications are referenced in bridge seismic design or procurement documents.
Who uses this standard
- Structural and bridge engineers, seismic isolation specialists, isolator manufacturers, testing labs, procurement/specification authors, and infrastructure owners responsible for seismic resilience.
Related standards
- Other parts of the ISO 22762 series and national/international bridge design or seismic isolation codes. Use ISO 22762-2:2018 alongside applicable building/bridge codes and project specifications when defining performance, testing and acceptance criteria.
Keywords: ISO 22762-2:2018, elastomeric seismic isolators, bridge isolation, seismic protection, rubber material requirements, shear stiffness, design rules, testing methods.