INSTITUTE UIE

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ME (Structures)
Design and Construction Bridge Structures
(20CEA659)

Topic:
Instructor:
Expansion Joints of Bridge DR. MOHIT BHANDARI
 Introduction to Expansion Joints
• Expansion Joints are designed to take up the longitudinal and transverse movements of bridge which are caused by the
thermal expansion, contraction and certain loading conditions.
• The type of joint selected for a deck is generally dependent on the type and magnitude of the movement that joint has to
accommodate.
 Requirements of Expansion Joints

• It should allow the movement of the bridge so that the stresses caused by temperature, shrinkage and loading are

relieved.

• It should not allow percolation of water.

• It should be durable and structurally strong.

• It should be accessible for easy inspection and maintenance.

• It should be strong enough to withstand knocking of wheels of heavy vehicles.

Bridge Joint Location
 Types of Bridge Joints
 1. Foam-type Expansion Joint

There are two types of foam expansion joints: Preformed closed

cell foam and Impregnated open cell foam joints.
1.Closed cell foam is comprised of a low density, cross-lined
Ethyl Vinyl Acetate – Polyethylene material or similar which
creates a strong rubber-like material comprised of individual
“cells” that sit closely together but are not connected.
2.Impregnated open cell foam systems are comprised of pre-
compressed, silicone and impregnated foam hybrid material that
requires a silicone surface sealant which seals substrate voids. 
Both systems require an epoxy adhesive which bonds the foam
joint seal material to the header/substrate material.
 Types of Bridge Joints
 2. Compression Seal Joint

• Compression seals are continuous manufactured

elastomeric or foam elements, typically extruded with an
internal grid system. These joints shall be installed against
prepared concrete or steel faces with adhesive material
and may or may not be armored.
• Foam elements shall comprise a precompressed, silicone
and foam hybrid installed into field applied epoxy
adhesive on the joint faces, with the silicone bellows
locked to the joint faces with a silicone sealant band.
• Compression seals shall be furnished and installed as a
single continuous piece across the full width of the bridge
deck
 Types of Bridge Joints
 2. Compression Seal Joint
 Types of Bridge Joints
3. Asphaltic Plug Joint

For movements up to 40 mm is a simple bridge expansion joint

filled with asphalt. Elastic material is a special type of elastic-
plastic material with high viscosity. Being heated sufficiently to
melt, it can be poured into gravel and will be shaped into
asphalt concrete form after molding to bear vehicle load.
Asphaltic plug joint can simultaneously give attention to some
opposing performance requirements. For example, it can
perform well in both high and low temperature (-25°C – 60°C),
both permeability and viscosity. As a result, asphaltic plug joint
can be used for wide temperature region to prevent vehicle-
jumping at bridgehead. And bridge can be opened to traffic after
two hours of construction.
 Types of Bridge Joints
3. Asphaltic Plug Joint

More Info: https://www.bridgejoints.com/technology/asphaltic-plug-joint-installation-steps.html

 Types of Bridge Joints
3. Asphaltic Plug Joint

Features
•High elasticity: can adapt the load deformation and vehicle load well.
•Good performance: have good low-temperature flexibility and high-temperature stability.
•Easy to construct: can be installed easily and conveniently without blocking traffic.
•Open to traffic quickly: Bridge can be opened to traffic in two hours after bridge joints are installed. If cooling is
accelerated, the bridge can be open to traffic in an hour.
•Shock-absorbing: can absorb vibration of vehicle impact and make cars go smoothly.
•Long service life: Being strict accordance with the requirements of the production and installation of expansion joints,
TST bridge joints generally have a longer service life.
•Low cost & high cost-effective.
Application
•TST bridge joints are for movements up to 40 mm are suitable for small and medium-span bridges. Because of good
performance under both high and low temperature, bridge joints can be used in different zones to ensure traffic safety.
 Types of Bridge Joints
4. Finger expansion joints

Finger expansion joints are designed to handle

movements of 80 mm to 1,200 mm are composed by
steel finger plates, CR sheet, anchor bolts and other
components. The rubber sheet is placed on the
retractable steel, and anchor bolts help to fix the whole
structure. The orientation of the fingers is in the
direction of vehicle travel, which can reduce noise and
improve driver's comfort. There is a drainage channel
which allows rainwater to enter the bridge's drainage
system, hanging beneath the joint.
 Types of Bridge Joints
4. Finger expansion joints

Finger expansion joint with sharp fingers Finger expansion joint with rectangular fingers
 Types of Bridge Joints
4. Finger expansion joints

Features
•Simple structure & low height.
•Minimize noise and vibration.
•Maximize vehicle's driving smoothness.
•Anti-skidding.
•Be highly water-resistant (Equipped with waterproof device ).
•Low cost & high cost effectiveness.
•Widespread use.
•Easy to install.
Application
Finger expansion joints are suitable for both new bridges and existing bridges. They are also good choices for the large-
span bridges and do well in replacing the old ones. Finger expansion joints are widely used among steel box girders,
among concrete beams, and between steel box girders and concrete beams.
 Types of Bridge Joints
5. Strip Seal Expansion Joints

Strip seal expansion joints for movements of up to 80 mm are expansion joints made of a single set of structural steel,
rubber sealing strips and dowel rods.
In order to meet the requirements of the bridge deformation, strip seal expansion joints are usually set at each end of the
bridge, between ends of the beam and abutment or on the hinge joints of the bridge. They are applied with rubber noise
weaken board which can help to increase movement and reduce noise from over-passing traffic by up to 80%.
 Types of Bridge Joints
5. Strip Seal Expansion Joints
 Types of Bridge Joints
5. Strip Seal Expansion Joints
Features
•Strip seal expansion joints are retractable and solid on both directions parallel and perpendicular to the bridge axis to ensure
vehicles runs smoothly and no noise.
•Strip seal expansion joints can prevent rainwater permeation and dirt clogging.
•Strip seal expansion joints are simple and easy to install, check, maintain and clean.
•High strength, can withstand the weight of vehicles and pedestrians.

Applications
• Strip seal expansion joints are suitable for kinds of bridges which are curved, slope, skew and wide. They can also
perform well on both new-built bridges and bridges have been built, both asphalt and concrete bridge surface. It also can
be used in the highway.
• Having a limited depth of the structure and being able to be installed quickly, strip seal expansion joints are extremely
well-positioned to replace the damaged one in a restoration project.
 Types of Bridge Joints
6. Rubber Bridge Expansion Joints

Rubber bridge expansion joints are mainly made of rubber, steel

plate and angle iron. Steel plates are set in the rubber bridge
expansion to strengthen the bearing capacity and they can slide
freely along the angle iron to meet the expansion deformation of
main grid.
Because of the excellent sealability and shock-absorbing effect
of rubber, rubber bridge expansion joints do well in proofing
water and reducing noise. The elasticity of rubber plates and its
shear deformation in the telescopic channel helps the whole
device to realize telescopic motion.
 Types of Bridge Joints
6. Rubber Bridge Expansion Joints
 Types of Bridge Joints
6. Rubber Bridge Expansion Joints

Features
•Rubber bridge expansion joints are made of prime-quality rubber, have anti-aging and have a long service life.
•Wear resistance, corrosion resistance.
•Rubber bridge expansion joints can withstand the weight of vehicles and pedestrians.
•During installation, bolt holes on the bottom and each junction are filled with adhesion agent which makes the whole
rubber bridge expansion joints be highly water-resistant.
•Rubber bridge expansion joints can ensure vehicles runs smoothly and no noise.

Application
Rubber bridge expansion joints for movements of up to 60 mm apply to normal bridges. Compared with expressway, rubber
bridge expansion joints are more suitable for being installed on the flyovers. They are also good choices for building new
bridges.
 Types of Bridge Joints
7. Modular Bridge Expansion Joints

Modular expansion joints, are composed by boundary

beams, middle beams, cross girders, displacement control
systems, bridge bearings, anchoring components and rubber
sealing belts. modular expansion joints are suitable for
longitudinal movements of 80 mm to 1200 mm.
Having good bearing capacity and stability, modular
expansion joints can accommodate movements in every
direction and rotations about every axis. Their individual
displacement control and load transfer systems enable
bridges to adapt the movement of the beam caused by
temperature and ensure the traffic safety.
 Types of Bridge Joints
7. Modular Bridge Expansion Joints
 Types of Bridge Joints
7. Modular Bridge Expansion Joints
 Types of Bridge Joints
7. Modular Bridge Expansion Joints
Features
•Safe & reliable. The load-bearing structure and displacement control system of modular expansion joints are separate
parts. When under stress, these two parts will not interfere with each other and have a clear division of labor to provide
security assurance.
•Uniform displacement. Modular expansion joints meet the requirements of high processing and assembling precision to
make sure that they can be flexible and proceed uniform displacement.
•Strong adaptability. Each junction adopts the structure which can both slide and be rotatably to content the demand of
various kinds of bridges.
•Save steel. In every displacement control cabinet, all the middle beams are supporting one cross beam which is benefit to
large-displacement bridges. This structure can reduces the quantity of beams, the volume of control cabinet and saves steel.
Application
Modular expansion joints for longitudinal movements of 80 mm to 1,200 mm can be widely applied on the bridges which
are slope, wide, curved and skew. They are used in highway bridge decks, bridgehead and other places to prevent bridges
 Why Are Expansion Joints There?
• Allow Bridge to
expand and contract
w/ temperature
changes.
• Protect Bearings that
are holding up bridge
span.
• Protect Steel &
View underneath Max Wilder Bridge
Concrete Structures
showing result of leaky joint seal. underneath – that are
holding up the bridge.
Bridge Preservation!
 Bridge spans move with
temperature.

Cold Hot

Bridge gets shorter. Bridge gets longer.

Therefore, the Therefore, the

Joint gets bigger. Joint gets smaller

Expansion Joints allow this to

happen under control.
On an incredibly hot
day, would expect the
gap to be large, or
small?
 Bridge Preservation
Bad things happen without proper
Bridge Joint performance.

Damaged Bearings Caused

By Drainage Through Failing Joint

Sandy River Bridge, New Sharon

 Deteriorated Steel Superstructure
Caused by Leaky or Missing Joint Seals

Martin’s Point Bridge, Portland-Falmouth

 Steel Superstructure Deterioration –
Through Joint Leakage

Big Holes,
Repair
Needed.

High Bridge,
Rumford
Serious Pier Deterioration
 Pier Deterioration From Joint Leakage

Compression
Seal Joint
Washing is needed to clean out seals.

Rails or steel armor

Debris Neoprene Seal

Our Goal is Wash the bridge

once per year.
 Joint Problems
Unidentified Bridge & Tukey’s Bridge, Portland

Closed Up Missing Steel

Expansion Joint Problems

Header Peeling Up

Seal Falling Out

Header Failure
Frank J. Wood Bridge, Topsham
Header Failure & Removal

Emergency Header Repair on Frank J. Wood Bridge

Removal of Header or Nosing

Exposed Rebar in
BTW - This this case
existing material
is steel.

Max Wilder Bridge

Replacement of Header (Nosing)

In this case,
Rapid Set DOT
Repair Mix.

Max Wilder Bridge