In conjunction with the signing of the MoU between Malaysian Rubber Board and South Mimms Travel, held in Brickendonbury, TARRC organised a visit to the Pelham Bridge in Lincoln, United Kingdom. YB Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah, Chairman and YBhg Datuk Dr Salmiah Ahmad, Director General of MRB, accompanied by Dr Kamarudin Ab Malek, TARRC’s CEO and Dr Stuart Cook, the Director of Research visited the bridge on 4 July 2012. The MRB entourage was welcomed by the Mayor of the City of Lincoln, Councillor Karen Lee and the Sheriff of Lincoln, Mrs Tointon.
Pelham Bridge is fitted with the natural rubber bearings designed specifically for this project. The bearing consist of specially compounded rubber layers laminated with steel plates to provide high vertical stiffness while offering soft horizontal stiffness to fulfil all the requirements of deck’s longitudinal movements. The experience with Pelham Bridge project gave civil engineers the confidence to use rubber bearings in supporting heavy structures which led to adapting this technology to isolate buildings from ground borne vibration.
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| Rubber bearings on top of the metal and concrete piers | Mr Hamid Ahmadi from TARRC gave a briefing on the natural rubber bearings | Datuk Wira Ahmad and Datuk Dr Salmiah presenting a plaque as a token of appreciation to the Mayor of the City of Lincoln, Councillor Karen Lee | A gift from Datuk Wira Ahmad and Datuk Dr Salmiah to the Sheriff of Lincoln, Mrs Tointon |