Improving the Performance of Bridge Expansion Joints

Improving the Performance of Bridge Expansion Joints
Author: Barnard
Publisher: Thomas Telford Publishing
Total Pages: 92
Release: 1999-04-13
Genre:
ISBN: 9780727729224

Expansion joints in bridges have long experienced the problem of inconsistent performance as well an unacceptably high incidence of premature failure; a situation caused by number of factors, including selection procedure and installation conditions. This report is the result of a study by a Working Group set up by the County Surveyors' Society and TRL Working Party on Highway Research whose objective was to propose the means to improve the consistency of performance and value for money of expansion joints, reducing the incidence of premature failure and leakage. Each aspect of joint selection, performance and maintenance was studied and a whole life cost study was carried out to weigh the benefits of high initial cost/long-life joints against low purchase cost/short-life options. This report presents the findings of the Working Group, including the most common reasons for joint failure, the shortcoming of the methods used to select joints and the total cost of an expansion joint.

Practical Guide to the Use of Bridge Expansion Joints

Practical Guide to the Use of Bridge Expansion Joints
Author: C. P. Barnard
Publisher:
Total Pages: 78
Release: 1999
Genre: Bridges
ISBN: 9780727729187

Because of the inconsistency of performance associated with expansion joints in bridges, a Working Group was created to propose the means to improve their usage and reduce the incidence of premature failure and leakage. The research results of this Working Group (see accompanying report, TRL 236, above) have formed the basis for this guide, which sets out procedures and recommendations for the better use and procurement of bridge expansion joints. This practical guide takes the bridge engineer through selecting, specifying, purchasing, installing and maintaining an expansion joint to achieve good performance. It follows a logical sequence, beginning with a short background note and a description of the joint types and other terms used in the report and then goes on to cover the whole process of joint provision and maintenance. It includes details of whole life costing and optional procurement methods as an aid to joint selection, together with sketches of recommended details for joint installation.

Bridge Deck Joint Performance

Bridge Deck Joint Performance
Author: Ronald L. Purvis
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Total Pages: 58
Release: 2003
Genre: Bridges
ISBN: 0309069572

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 319: Bridge Deck Joint Performance presents the state of the practice on commonly used expansion joint systems in bridges by summarizing performance data for each system type and by providing examples of selection criteria and design guidelines.

Rapid Replacement of Bridge Deck Expansion Joints Study -- Phase I

Rapid Replacement of Bridge Deck Expansion Joints Study -- Phase I
Author: Adam M. Miller
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014
Genre: Bridges
ISBN:

Bridge deck expansion joints are used to allow for movement of the bridge deck due to thermal expansion, dynamics loading, and other factors. More recently, expansion joints have also been utilized to prevent the passage of winter de-icing chemicals and other corrosives applied to bridge decks from penetrating and damaging substructure components of the bridge. Expansion joints are often one of the first components of a bridge deck to fail and repairing or replacing expansion joints are essential to extending the life of any bridge. In the Phase I study, the research team focused on the current means and methods of repairing and replacing bridge deck expansion joints. Research team members visited with Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) Bridge Crew Leaders to document methods of maintaining and repairing bridge deck expansion joints. Active joint replacement projects around Iowa were observed to document the means of replacing expansion joints that were beyond repair, as well as, to identify bottlenecks in the construction process that could be modified to decrease the length of expansion joint replacement projects. After maintenance and replacement strategies had been identified, a workshop was held at the Iowa State Institute for Transportation to develop ideas to better maintain and replace expansion joints. Maintenance strategies were included in the discussion as a way to extend the useful life of a joint, thus decreasing the number of joints replaced in a year and reducing the traffic disruptions.