Simplifying Bridge Expansion Joint Design and Maintenance





1.1 Background

Bridge expansion joints are designed to permit the longitudinal movement and small

rotations presented on bridge decks due to changes in environmental condition, live

loads, and physical changes on the structural materials such as creep and shrinkage.

While early designs did not provide water sealing, current designs require sealing to

prevent the damage of support components. Similarly, the material used for bridge joints

is constantly evolving due to problems identified with the different materials. Materials

such as silicone foam sealants (Malla et al 2007) are now available for use in expansion

joints. Some materials are more effective in areas with extreme changes in temperature,

while other materials have been found to be more suitable for aggressive environmental conditions.


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