Elastomeric Concrete Plug Joints: A New Durable Bridge Expansion Joint Design
Elastomeric Concrete Plug Joints: A New Durable Bridge Expansion Joint Design

Author: Soundar S. G. Balakumaran

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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Expansion joints are important components of bridges that accommodate the movements between deck spans that result from thermal loads, traffic loads, and other environmental factors. Experience shows that joints undergo premature deterioration on a regular basis, thus leading to unexpected problems caused by leakage of water and other corrosive chemicals over the components of the superstructure and substructure, thus leading to premature deterioration of those components. Millions of dollars have been spent by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) over more than 50 years for repairs and replacements of joints. Several types of closed joints have been developed and installed in the past three decades to combat this problem. In addition, jointless details at piers and abutments have been developed and installed in the same time period to eliminate the need for joints. However, the issue persists. VDOT's Structure and Bridge Division has developed a new design for a flexible joint system with bonded and debonded zones. An elastomeric concrete material acts as the load-bearing surface and the component that allows free expansion and contraction. This joint system has been installed in selected pilot bridges on secondary roads for observation. This study evaluated the performance of this joint system and detailed the challenges faced in developing it. The elastomeric concrete plug joint system was successfully implemented in five pilot bridges in Virginia. Short-term performance of the system was satisfactory under Virginia weather conditions. Rutting during the summer months has not been observed even though one of the elastomeric materials had failed in the laboratory testing. Expansion cracking during the winter months was not observed in the first year after installation. It was determined that shore durometer hardness values can be used as a preliminary filter to select elastomeric material with resistance to permanent indentation. Dynamic modulus testing can be used as a measure of the toughness and flexibility of elastomeric concrete material under different temperatures. However, these tests do not give a complete picture of the material properties, so engineering judgment is also necessary in order to make decisions regarding the elastomeric materials. The Virginia Transportation Research Council and VDOT's Structure and Bridge Division should continue to monitor visually the performance of the elastomeric concrete plug joint systems installed during this study and continue to evaluate new elastomeric concrete candidates for the joint system. Further, the Virginia Transportation Research Council and VDOT's Structure and Bridge Division should expand the trials to other VDOT districts for various exposure conditions.

Elastomeric Concrete
Elastomeric Concrete

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 12

ISBN-13: 9780921303152

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It has been noted in several field condition surveys that a large percentage of expansion joint failures have been the result of the premature breakdown of the transition or end dam areas. This has been attributed to the materials typically used in these areas being non-energy absorbing and brittle in composition. The failures of these materials have resulted in the development of a new compound known as elastomeric concrete which is helping expansion joints to remain watertight and, thus, extending the life of our nation's bridges. The first expansion joints in Canada utilizing elastomeric concrete end dams were installed in 1979. Since the initial installations, thousands of linear feet of elastomeric concrete headers have been installed on bridges all over the country. A decade later, this paper looks back at some of these installations and how they have performed after years of traffic impact loading and environmental extremes. Elastomeric concrete consists of a flexible binder material which is mixed with sand and aggregate. The resultant mix is placed in the expansion joint transition area and is typically heat-cured to form a durable resilient impact absorbent end dam which also anchors the expansion joint system in place. The paper also explores the various types of elastomeric concrete systems currently available and their differences in application and performance. The installation procedure of elastomeric concrete has proven to be the major factor in the success or failure of the expansion joint system. Numerous methods have been employed over the past decade in an effort to simplify and expedite the installation process. A review of these methods along with the equipment employed is undertaken in an effort to help the specifier determine which system offers the best possible results. In conclusion, elastomeric concrete has now been successfully installed on structures in nearly all the provinces as well as numerous projects abroad. Some of the successful installations are compared to projects where problems have developed to determine what precautions can be taken to prevent future concerns. Standard generic specifications have been developed which help ensure that the specifier can obtain a high quality elastomeric concrete. A review of these material requirements is also presented. For the covering abstract of the Conference see IRRD Abstract no. 807839.

Evaluation of Elastomeric Concrete in Bridge Expansion Joint Header Repair Applications
Evaluation of Elastomeric Concrete in Bridge Expansion Joint Header Repair Applications

Author: Jennifer Distlehorst

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 10

ISBN-13:

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Elastomeric concretes were developed to prevent the spalling of the portland cement concrete adjacent to bridge deck expansion joints. Two types of elastomeric concretes were installed on I-135 bridges in Wichita in 1991. These joints and several others on I-135 with both elastomeric and conventional concrete header materials were surveyed annually for the next ten years. Spalling at each joint, rutting of the elastomeric materials and overall condition of the materials were measured and recorded. Laboratory tests of field-cast specimens were performed to determine the mechanical properties of the materials. The results of the tests and surveys show that the elastomeric concretes reduced spalling at bridge expansion joints. However, the joint headers formed of elastomeric concretes were as likely to develop distress as were the portland cement concrete joint headers.

Material Property and Quality Control Specifications for Elastomeric Concrete Used at Bridge Deck Joints
Material Property and Quality Control Specifications for Elastomeric Concrete Used at Bridge Deck Joints

Author: Janos Gergely

Publisher:

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13:

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The purpose of this research was to determine the minimum requirements in order to ensure satisfactory long-term performance and to develop a quality control program, including field sampling and testing during installation. There were two main phases to the research performed within this study. The first phase dealt with identification of critical material properties to establish a prequalification program. A total of eleven products were obtained and lab-mixed to determine the effects of varying polymer and aggregate types. This phase would also provide a baseline for material property values throughout the remainder of the research. In the second phase, site visits were made to fresh installations throughout North Carolina to obtain sample elastomeric concrete mixed in the field. Those sites were later revisited to obtain material from the same expansion joint after at least 4 months in service. When revisited, samples were obtained through means of coring. Cored sample test data could then be compared to the fresh sampling data to determine changes in physical properties with time. Older existing joints (over 5 years in-service life) were also identified and sampled to determine the physical property changes associated with long-term cyclic loading and environmental weathering.

Continuous and Integral Bridges
Continuous and Integral Bridges

Author: B. Pritchard

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 1994-06-23

Total Pages: 310

ISBN-13: 1482271389

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This book contains the invited contributions to the 1993 Henderson Colloquium organised by the British Group of IABSE (International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering). It provides an international review of new techniques of designing and constructing joint-free bridges - an approach which is rapidly being developed and used in man

Asphalt Plug Joints
Asphalt Plug Joints

Author: Brian K. Bramel

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13:

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The asphaltic plug joints (APJs) are a type of bridge expansion joint that have been promoted as simple general purpose expansion devices for bridges with less than 50 mm (2 in.) total motion. APJs have been developed by trial and error and used when little engineering research existed outlining their complex behavior. To help designers to better understand this behavior and be able to properly apply them, the University of Wyoming has developed engineering-based design guidelines and material specifications. With the material relaxing by viscous flow at about the same rate as the bridge places motion demands on the joint, minimal loads and stresses are created. With these small loads almost no limit on the allowable motion exists from a structural perspective.