Q. Purpose of dowel bars in elastomeric bearing?

Elastomeric bearing is generallycategorized into two types: free andfixed. For fixed types bridge deck is permitted only to rotate andhorizontal movements of deck are restrained. On the other hand for free types deck can move horizontally and rotate. To achieve fixity, dowels are adopted to pass from bridge deck to abutment. Instead in case there is limitation in space, holes are formed in elastomeric bearings where anchor dowels are inserted through these holes. It is intended to prevent 'walking' of bearing during its operation.