EVALUATION OF EXISTING BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS

THIS REPORT GIVES A PRESENTATION OF SEALING PROBLEMS REVEALED BY INSPECTION OF JOINTS ON RANDOMLY SELECTED SAMPLE OF BRIDGES CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 1960 AND 1970 IN GEORGIA. SINCE THE INSPECTION WAS MADE IN 1972 THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF BRIDGES 2 TO 12 YEARS OLD. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY WERE TO EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE OF BRIDGE JOINT SEALANT SYSTEMS PRESENTLY EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, STATE OF GEORGIA AND TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR RESEARCH TO IMPLEMENT NEW TECHNIQUES IN BRIDGE SEALING SYSTEMS. THE CONCLUSIONS OF THIS STUDY ARE THAT FAILURE OF SEALANTS TO PREVENT ENTRY OF WATER AND PREVENT CORROSION AND LEAK STAINING IS EXTENSIVE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION IN AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE SEALANT PERFORMANCE. DOCUMENTATION OF TYPE, COST, AND INSTALLATION DETAILS WHICH WILL AID IN FUTURE EVALUATION OF INOVATIVE SEALS ALREADY BEING SPECIFIED IS RECOMMENDED. /NTIS/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • RES PROJ NO 7112
• Corporate Authors:

  Georgia Department of Transportation

  One Georgia Center
  600 West Peachtree Street, NW
  Atlanta, GA  United States  30308
• Authors:
  • Thornton, J B
• Publication Date: 1973-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 116 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Corrosion; Evaluation; Expansion joints; Joint sealers; Joint sealing
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00216015
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Georgia Department of Transportation
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 19 1974 12:00AM