Production and Installation of D80 and 160 Type Bridge Expansion Joints

Bridge Expansion Joint: Refers to the expansion joint installed between two beam ends, between the beam end and the abutment, or at the hinge position of the bridge to accommodate deck deformation. The expansion joint must allow free movement both parallel and perpendicular to the bridge axis, be sturdy and reliable, provide a smooth transition for vehicles without sudden jumps or noise, prevent the infiltration of rainwater and debris, and allow for easy installation, inspection, maintenance, and cleaning. At the location of the expansion joint, both the railing and the bridge deck pavement are disconnected.

The function of bridge expansion joints is to adjust the displacement and connection between superstructures caused by vehicle loads and bridge building materials. Production and Installation of D80 and 160 Type Bridge Expansion JointsOnce the expansion device of a skew bridge is damaged, it will seriously affect driving speed, comfort, and safety, and may even cause traffic accidents.

Butt-type expansion joint devices can be divided into two types based on their structural form and stress characteristics: filled butt type and embedded butt type. Production and Installation of D80 and 160 Type Bridge Expansion JointsThe filled butt-type expansion device uses materials such as asphalt, wood planks, oakum, and rubber to fill the gap, keeping the expansion body under compression in all conditions. This type of expansion device is generally used in conventional bridge projects with expansion amounts of less than 40mm but is now rarely seen. The embedded butt-type expansion joint device uses steel components of various shapes to securely fix rubber strips (or bands) of different profiles, utilizing the tension and compression deformation of the rubber strips to absorb beam deformation. The expansion body can be either under compression or tension.