Improved Bridge Expansion Joints

Transportation Research Record, 2016

conducted a research project to determine the best practices for bridge expansion joints and headers in the northeastern United States. This research included understanding how joints and headers are used and maintained, and what factors and practices have affected joint and header performance positively and negatively. The initial research included reviewing the literature on previous joint research and compiling information on the existing bridge joint inventory in Massachusetts. Next, information was collected on bridge joints, headers, and practices within the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT), by meeting with and interviewing personnel from each of the six district offices. These meetings identified significant variation in joint preferences and performance between districts within a single DOT. A survey on the use and performance of joints and headers that included questions specific to installation, repair, maintenance, and overall practice was created and distributed to transportation agencies in Connecticut,

1981

This Standard supersedes BD 33/88 and covers the requirements for the use of expansion joints in highway bridge decks. THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY BD 33/94

IABSE Symposium Report, 2006

Retrofit of bridge expansion joints correspond to a relatively large part of the total maintenance cost of medium-length and large bridges. In the future, it is therefore important to design suitable joint types that function smoothly for such large movements during a long time without damages or malfunctioning. A widely used, modern joint type for large joint movements is the Modular Bridge Expansion Joint (MBEJ). The paper mainly deals with different aspects of MBEJs (function, fatigue, maintenance etc). Several premature fatigue failures of modular bridge expansion joints (MBEJs) have occurred in Europe and USA. The principal causes of such failures have been poor detailing and too large centre beam spans. Results from field and laboratory measurements are discussed.

2017

Expansion joints accommodate bridge movements that result from factors such as thermal expansion and contraction, concrete shrinkage, creep effects, live loading, settlement of the foundation and substructure, and environmental stressors. Expansion joints fall into two categoriesopen joints and closed joints. Open joints contain gaps that facilitate the passage of water and debris runoff through bridge joints. Flexible or stiff troughs are generally installed beneath open joints to direct runoff away from bridge elements. Closed joints produce a watertight seal that inhibits water, debris, and deicing materials from passing through bridge joints and remaining in contact with underlying bridge components. This study investigated materials and design strategies to improve the performance of both open and closed joints. Wanting to improve the durability of compression and strip seals, which degrade over time or become detached from bridge decks, Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) researchers approached several seal manufacturers about developing new seals reinforced with puncture-resistant fibers such as Aramid. Ultimately, researchers were unable to reach an agreement with any manufacturer, as it appears they have little interest in developing better-performing conventional joint types, preferring instead to focus on producing new proprietary joint types. As the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) increases its use of proprietary joints, it should implement a rigorous monitoring program to track their performance. With respect to open joints, KTC investigated the use of self-purging troughs. First implemented by the Kansas Department of Transportation, they leverage the power of air flow and vibrations produced by traffic to improve the routing of water and debris through troughs and away from underlying bridge elements. Conventional troughs receive infrequent maintenance and can become clogged with debris. Self-purging troughs eliminate this problem, which can potentially help extend the service lives of bridges on which they are installed. KYTC will benefit from experimenting more widely with self-purging troughs.

Transportation Research Record, 1987

The ability of a bridge deck expansion joint to be smooth riding, durable, and waterproof is essential to the performance of the bridge superstructure. Recent developments in the design, manufacture, and installation procedures for expansion dam systems have indicated a potential ability to meet these requirements. In this study, the characteristics and field performance of modular expansion joint systems, metal-reinforced elastomeric expansion dam systems, and gland-type bridge expansion dam systems were evaluated. Results of the field study are summarized and recommendations made on continued use of some systems, including neoprene seals for small movements (less than 2 in.), strip seals for intermediate movements (up to 4 in.), and finger dams with neoprene troughs for large movements (greater than 4 in.).

Bridges are very important connecting elements and backbone of highway infrastructure. Joints are used in bridge construction to accommodate the relative temperature movements in concrete, vertical movements due to loading conditions and movements due to shrinkage and creep effects in concrete. This paper tells about the role of joints usage in bridge structures. This paper reviews about different joints used in bridges of highways. It is also describing about various causes of failures of joints and the remedial measures.

2010

Integral abutment bridges provide an excellent alternative to conventional bridges built with bearings and expansion joints. Integral abutment bridges incur lower construction and maintenance costs compared to conventional bridges. In addition, they have a longer service life and a superior seismic performance compared to conventional bridges. Because of their advantages over conventional bridges, forty-one states are now using integral abutment bridges. However, despite their wide acceptance by state transportation agencies and the engineering community in general, use of integral abutment bridges for long bridges and in situations that involve complex structural and soil conditions is still limited. This paper presents the findings of a survey conducted in 2009 by the University of Maryland at College Park that focused on state integral abutment bridge practices. The paper summarizes the responses received from the states with regard to the status of use, problems, and costs assoc...

2015

The purpose of this project is to develop a toolkit for the design and construction of bridges using prefabricated materials primarily to reduce the closure time and on-site construction time of newly constructed bridges or bridges undergoing renovation. The research focuses specifically on short span bridges in Georgia (40,60,80, and 120ft spans). Areas of primary concern for this project were design, constructability, structural analysis, the use of concrete and steel girders, cost efficiency, and industry surveys. In this particular portion of the study, the surveys proved to be most effective when combined with information obtained existing research as well as published project reports by contractors and DOTs. The surveys were created by the research team and included questions regarding the engineering entity's experience with ABC, the level of acceptance of ABC techniques in their state, the number of completed projects in recent years, impediments to the use of ABC techniques, and the ongoing research on ABC topics in the entity's state. Constructability issues were given special attention, as they proved to be a major impediment to the use of ABC by other entity's which remain reluctant. Lack of general experience also played a major role. The Georgia DOT seeks to employ ABC techniques in the future, so this project will help identify what is needed to begin designing projects that utilize ABC, what further research needs to be conducted, and which design details need more attention.