HiSCS Engineers & Technicians successfully accomplished another jacking & lifting, at the main terminal bridge of Athens Int’l Airport El. Venizelos in Greece.

The routine inspection of this bearing revealed extreme bulging and broad debonding phenomena in the elastomer, depicting its deficiency to bear loads and movements, thus the need of its replacement.

Six (6) hydraulic jacks, with lifting capacity 250 tons each, connected in parallel with a hydraulic pump, were used to lift the superstructure (max 15mm), remove the existing bearing, and replace it with the new one. Moreover, construction of new plinths took place, as well as repair of contact surfaces between bearing and superstructure.

The rubber bearing that was installed, was a non-anchored elastomer bearing, formed by layers of rubber and steel plates (reinforcement), factory bonded (vulcanized), with a diameter of 800mm, height of 309mm, weighting more than 400 kg.

The effort required to replace a bearing weighting more than 400kg in a very narrow area (max 15mm lifting), with deck opened to traffic, imposed another challenge on our team which successfully completed the task, following all safety precautions and requirements. HiSCS studied and designed the jacking & lifting methodology, provided the equipment (hydraulic jacks, pumps, hoses, gauges, distribution plates etc.) and coordinated all onsite works.