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 the translation and rotation of
the 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 and 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 Seal Joint
4. For the movement up to 150 mm Finger Plate Joint
5. For the movement > 150 mm Modular Compression Sealing Joint
Angle and Plate Joint

Compression Seal Joint

Copper Strip Joint

Finger Plate Joint

Modular Joint