EXPANSION JOINT IN BRIDGE DECK

Expansion joint is a structural discontinuity in bridge designed

to permit relative movement of bridge deck.

Functional Requirement of Expansion Joints

• The joint must accommodate translational and rotational
movement of the super structure
• The joint must provide riding quality of the pavement surface
• The joint shall be almost maintenance free for the design life
of the structure
• The joint must be constructed and detailed such that they
prevent damage to deck, bearing, pier and abutment from
water, chemical and other foreign materials
 The movement at the bearing is more than at the expansion joint for the
same deck since the latter is installed much after the deck is cast on top of the
bearing and therefore suffers movements only due to temperature and parts
of concrete shrinkage and creep.

• Maximum permissible gap in a joint is generally limited to 100 mm for deck

joints with a single opening not more than 80 mm (for each opening) in deck
joints with multiple opening.

• Minimum gap should not be less than 20 mm in order to prevent the transfer
of forces through the debris trapped in the joint.

MOVEMENT AND TYPE OF EXPANSION JOINTS

1. For the movement up to 22 mm Copper Strip Joint

2. For the movement up to 60 mm M.S. plate and R.S. Angle Joint
3. For the movement up to 75 mm Compression/Slab Seal Joint
4. For the movement up to 150 mm Finger Plate Joint
5. For the movement > 150 mm Modular Compression Seal Joint
Angle and Plate Joint

Compression Seal Joint

Copper Strip Joint

Compression Seal Joint
Compression seal
Angle section with
anchorage details

Angle section with

anchorage details Angle
section
Compression seal

Compression seal
Slab Seal Joint

Slab seal Ss nut and bolt

Deck slab

Expansion joint Steel frame

Installation of Slab Seal Joint

• Steel structure are to be inserted as shown above in either sides, little lowered
position.
• Top of the insert shall be at par with finished level of wearing coat to maintain the
camber.
• Steel structure and main reinforcement bar shall be anchored with proper welding.
• Steel structure are to be packed with proper mixture of concrete as same as deck
casting.
• With proper alignment, manufacturer's recommended adhesive to be applied on
the steel inserts and the elastomeric slab seal shall be placed over there.
• Elastomeric seal shall be tightened with S.S. nut & bolt and shall be locked with
washer.
• The cavity of the nut & bolt shall be filled with elastomeric plug, duly applying the
adhesive recommended by the manufacturer.
Finger Plate Joint
Modular Joint