Investigation of premature strip seal joint failures and recommendations for assuring proper strip seal joint installation: Bridge 5/104W.

Details

• Creators:
  Boone, Craig
• Corporate Creators:
  Washington (State). Dept. of Transportation. Bridge and Structures Office
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Bridges
  • Expansion joints
  • Joint sealers
  • Failure analysis
  • Strip seal joints
• Publication/ Report Number:
  WA-RD 858.1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Washington ; United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  Washington (State). Dept. of Transportation. Office of Research and Library Services
• Abstract:
  This document summarizes an investigation that was performed to identify the cause(s) of premature failures of ; strip seal expansion joints that were installed on WSDOT Bridge No. 5/104W. The document also includes recommendations ; for assuring proper installation of strip seal expansion joints. The investigation found that these ; strip seal joints failed in two ways, (1) the rubber gland fell out of the steel extrusions, and (2) the anchorage of ; the steel extrusions to the header concrete had failed. The investigation concluded that the rubber glands had fallen ; out of the steel extrusions because the glands were never completely seated in the steel extrusions during installation. ; The investigation identified three possible causes of the steel extrusion anchorage failures. Of the ; three possible causes, the investigation concludes the most likely cause of the steel extrusion anchorage failures ; was due to movement of the anchorages in the fresh header concrete before it gained strength. The movements ; were due to the steel extrusion on one side of the joint being constrained to the steel extrusion on the opposite side ; of the joint when the header concrete was placed. When the bridge expanded/contracted due to temperature ; changes, the extrusions in the fresh concrete moved, creating a “sloppy” connection between the anchorage steel ; and header concrete. The recommendations for assuring proper installation of strip seal expansion joints include ; educating bridge engineers and construction inspection staff, as well as making improvements to contract plans ; and provisions.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/31064/dot_31064_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.48 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:fb65d72485af219ee30249ca8448a37e8517eddab500d80bcc4b15c1ad79d3c0