Transition slab between the abutment and the deck of a bridge with expansion and contraction joints having a long service life, and methods for absorbing the expansion and contraction movements of the deck of a bridge

Abstract

A transition slab connected at opposing ends to a deck compression slab and to an anchoring. The transition slab absorbs the expansions of the deck by means of compressing sheets of polymer, elastomer or the like, that are arranged in parallel spacing and integrated in the transition slab to be oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the road. The transition slab absorbs the contraction movements of the deck limited expansion due to the summation of crack openings in induced cracks. Crack planes are created by forms made of wood, polymer or the like arranged in parallel, spaced relation within the body of the transition slab.

Claims

1. A transition slab between an abutment and a deck of a bridge with expansion and contraction joints, said transition slab resting on the ground of a platform of the abutment which is heavily compacted to withstand vertical actions, and linking up with a road, said transition slab integrating: reinforced concrete with rebars for transverse force distribution; a first connection for connecting one side of the transition slab with a compression slab of the deck; a second connection for connecting an anchoring with the opposite side of said transition slab; wherein said transition slab comprises: forced crack planes that are parallel to and spaced from one another, the crack openings of which are perpendicular to the direction of the road; wood or polymer in thin forms of about 0.5-2 cm, such that they force the suitable mapping of the crack planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the road which can absorb the contraction movements of the deck through the summation of the crack openings in the forced cracks, and rebars suitably sewing the forced cracks between the deck and the anchoring block.

2. The slab according to claim 1, wherein it has polymers or elastomers having a low modulus of elasticity arranged in thin layers or sheets of about 0.5-3 mm to allow expansion movements of the deck.

3. The slab according to claim 1, wherein an asphalt paved surface is arranged on said transition slab.

4. The slab according to claim 1, wherein said transition slab is produced in situ.

5. The slab according to claim 1, wherein said transition slab is prefabricated.

6. The slab according to claim 1, wherein said transition slab is made on a layer having a low coefficient of friction with the concrete.

7. The slab according to claim 2, wherein an asphalt paved surface is arranged on said transition slab.

8. A method for absorbing the contraction movements of a deck of a bridge, wherein the method comprises: interposing a transition slab, according to the features described in claim 1, between the deck of the bridge and the abutment, for absorbing the contraction movements of the deck by means of the summation of several crack openings in forced cracks in the transition slab.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the method further comprises including in the transition slab thin layers or sheets of about 0.5-3 mm of polymers or elastomers having a low modulus of elasticity for further absorbing the expansion movements of the deck by means of the contraction of said layers or sheets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is better understood with the aid of the graphical description given by way of example and illustrated by the drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1a teaches an elastomeric expansion joint known in the state of the art, located between the abutment and the compression slab of the deck of the bridge;

(3) FIG. 1b illustrates a finger expansion joint known in the state of the art, located between the abutment and the compression slab of the deck of the bridge;

(4) FIG. 1c shows a modular expansion joint known in the state of the art, located between the abutment and the compression slab of the deck of the bridge;

(5) FIG. 2a shows, by means of a longitudinal section of the junction between the deck, the abutment and of the platform of said abutment in the longitudinal direction of the road, the location of a transition slab with expansion and contraction joints located in the section of a semi-integral abutment;

(6) FIG. 2b shows, by means of a longitudinal section of the junction between the deck, the abutment and of the platform of said abutment in the longitudinal direction of the road, the location of a transition slab with expansion and contraction joints in the section of an integral abutment;

(7) FIG. 2c illustrates, by means of a plan view, the location of the novel transition slab with expansion and contraction joints; and

(8) FIG. 3 shows the constructive detail of the transition slab with expansion and contraction joints.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN INVENTIVE EMBODIMENT

(9) The present invention will now be described more completely with reference to the attached drawings in which the element is shown. This invention can however be carried out in many different ways and should not be interpreted as being limited to those mentioned in the present document, but rather, the invention is provided so that this complete and thorough description fully transmits the scope of the invention to the persons skilled in the art.

(10) FIG. 1a shows a prior art elastomeric expansion joint 1, located between the abutment 2 and the compression slab of the deck of the bridge 3;

(11) FIG. 1b shows a prior art finger expansion joint 4, located between the abutment 2 and the compression slab of the deck of the bridge 3;

(12) FIG. 1c prior art shows a modular expansion joint 5, located between the abutment 2 and the compression slab of the deck of the bridge 3;

(13) wherein the number 6 indicates the paved road surface.

(14) FIG. 2a shows the location of the expansion and contraction joint in the transition slab 7, in the section of a semi-integral abutment 8.

(15) The expansion and contraction joint in the transition slab 7 is located between the anchoring 9 and the compression slab 10 of the deck 11.

(16) Part 12 of the transition slab 7 absorbs the expansion of the deck 11, another part 13 of the transition slab 7 absorbs the contractions of the deck 11.

(17) The invention includes the possibility of accommodating any skewing 14 of the abutment as a result of a triangular screeding of the slab.

(18) The invention must be carried out on a properly compacted fill 15.

(19) The asphalt paved surface 16 on the slab protects said slab.

(20) A static fixed plane 17 is located at the end of the anchoring 9 with the expansion and contraction joint in the transition slab 7.

(21) The expansion movement of a vertical portion 18 of the deck 11 is absorbed by the contraction of the transition slab 7 due to the compression of the sheets or layers 23 of polymer, elastomer or the like, the thickness of which is SW, typically between about 0.5 and 3 mm.

(22) The contraction movement of a vertical portion 19 of the deck 11 is absorbed by the expansion of the transition slab 7 due to the summation of the crack openings 24 of the induced cracks the characteristic width of which is WK, typically not wider than 3 mm, and the spacing between crack planes SM.

(23) FIG. 2b shows a similar location of the expansion and contraction joint in the transition slab 7 in the section of an integral abutment 20;

(24) FIG. 2c shows the location of the novel expansion and contraction joint in a plan view. This drawing depicts a deck 11 composed of beams, but any other type of deck 11 can be possible.

(25) FIG. 3 shows the constructive detail of the expansion and contraction joint in the transition slab 7, centered in the part in which they limit the area 12 of the transition slab allowing the expansion of the deck 11, with the part 13 of the transition slab allowing the contraction of the deck 11;

(26) The thin layers 23 of polymer, elastomer or the like are arranged in parallel and having a thickness of SW, allow the expansion movements of the deck 11, although these movements could be absorbed by the ground and the invention may not comprise the layers 23;

(27) Forms 25 made of wood, polymer or the like arranged for forcing the suitable map of crack planes 24 parallel to and spaced a distance SM from one another, the openings WK of which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the road, and which can absorb the contraction movements of the deck 11 through the summation of all the crack openings in the induced cracks WK=19;

(28) The spacing SM can be variable.

(29) The longitudinal rebars 21 sew the cracks 24 of the slab 7;

(30) The transverse rebars 22 aid in transverse force distribution;

(31) The cracks of the slab may appear on the top part of the asphalt paved surface 26, but not wider than 3 mm which would not entail a problem for the drivers or the vehicles;

(32) An impermeable layer 27 should be placed between the asphalt paved surface 16 and the slab 7.

(33) A sliding layer 28 is placed between the properly compacted ground 15 and the slab 7.

(34) The foregoing detailed description in reference to the drawings illustrates rather than limits the invention. There are various alternatives that fall within the scope of the attached claims. The word comprises does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word a or an preceding an element or a step does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps. The mere fact that the respective dependent claims define respective additional features does not exclude a combination of additional features corresponding to a combination of dependent claims.