Have you ever crossed a bridge and wondered why there were

gaps left in the structure? This is why most building materials

expand when heated, and contract when cooled, because heat turns
into energy. So the more heat, the more energy, and so the
molecules of the bridge materials spread apart a tiny bit when they
get more energy. Conversely, when it's cold out, the atoms or the
molecules have less energy, and so are more rigid and are held
closer together.
The effects of the
expansion and
contraction of the bridge
causes a few effects.
During hot days, the
temperature rises and
causes the bridge to
expand, causing it to
crack or break,
endangering lives that
are on the bridge.

Figure 1: Rollers on bridges

So, we put rollers, expansion joints and many more to solve

problems relating to the expansion and contraction of matter.
Rollers are one type of mechanism that allows expansion and
rotation of the bridge. As the temperature changes a bridge
expands or contracts due to thermal expansion of the metal and
concrete that the bridge is made of. The ground stays at a fairly
constant temperature. Other causes of bridge motion are: a bridge
support may settle, the earth may move, heavy loads cause the
bridge to deflect, wind might make the bridge deflect, and the
bridge may shrink or creep as the concrete cures. It supports the
bridge and allows the bridge to move relative to the bridge
supports.
Bridge expansion joints are designed to allow continuous traffic
between structures accommodating movement, shrinkage, and
temperature variations on reinforced and pre-stressed concrete,
composite and steel structures. They stop the bridge from bending

out of place in extreme conditions and allow enough vertical

movement to permit bearing replacement without the need to
dismantle the bridge expansion joint. There are various types, which
can accommodate movement from 30 to 1000 mm. They include
joints for small movement, medium movement and large
movement. Expansion joints are also devices that are used to allow
for the heat-induced expansion and reduction that takes place in
various states of weather. They are often used in the construction of
bridges and sidewalks. The joints proper may be something as
simple as a caulk filled area that will give without coming open
during climate changes, or some type of interlocking metal device
that allows the teeth in the joint to move in response to changes in
temperature and humidity levels. Expansion joints are usually
placed at strategic points in the construction, making it possible for
the sections to expand and contract slightly without weakening the
overall structure. An expansion joint or movement joint is an
assembly designed to safely absorb the heat-induced expansion and
contraction of construction materials, to absorb vibration, to hold
parts together, or to allow movement due to ground settlement or
earthquakes. Besides bridges, they are also commonly found
between sections of buildings, sidewalks, railway tracks, piping
systems, ships, and other structures.
A bridge bearing is a
component of a bridge
which typically connects
the bridge piers to
the bridge deck. The
purpose of a bearing is
to allow controlled
movement and thereby
reduce the stresses
involved. Movement
could be thermal
expansion or
contraction, or
movement from other
sources such as seismic
activity. There are
Figure 2: Expansion joints
several different types
of bridge bearings that
are used depending on a number of different factors including the
bridge span. The oldest form of the bridge bearing is simply two
plates resting on top of each other. A common form of modern
bridge bearing is the elastomeric bridge bearing. Another type of
bridge bearing is the mechanical bridge bearing. There are several
types of mechanical bridge bearing, such as the pinned bearing,
which in turn includes specific types such as the rocker bearing, and
the roller bearing. Another type of mechanical bearing is the fixed
bearing, which allows rotation, but not other forms of movement.
Sadly, everything has its own pros and cons. The expansion
bearings are expensive to buy, install, repair and maintain. They
also cause water leakage through their joints, which corrodes the
reinforcement in the concrete. This, in effect, decreases the lifecycle
of the bridge. The joints in conventional bridges also increase
vehicular impact loads, which could damage bridges and vehicles.

Prepared by: Faith Ho Jian Ying