Resent constructions of road bridges’ expansion joints

Abstract

At present, there are high requirements for materials and construction elements in civil engineering in common. These intentions are fully applicable to such bridge construction elements as expansion joints. The new developed models are needed, in which all the defects and limitations of the previous models are solved and the maximum of operational life is reached. The main types of bridge expansion joints: closed joints, filled-type joints, covered joints. In this article the construction features, advantages and disadvantages of the listed expansion joints are considered. On the basis of the gotten results it is seen that new and developed models of different types expansion joints have better rates in all of considered criteria. It means that these joints have bigger structural reliability and provide longer operational life of the construction. The most effective models of bridge expansion joints are: closed-type joints with metal support plate, filled-type joints with convex V-shaped compensator and covering slab, covered joints with finger slabs and flap hinged rods and springs.