ABSTRACT
Inadequate consideration to long term performance of the bridge expansion joint, and their exchangeability when finally end of service life approaches, could pose severe consequences to bridge owners or managers. A simple and low technology product selected predominantly based on lower initial product cost will almost always require premature replacement whereas a properly selected and engineered high quality joint may provide more than 40 years of uninterrupted service. Direct costs for maintenance and premature intervention or replacement and indirect costs of disruption to the commuters can be accumulated to many multiples of initial “savings” in product cost of low technology expansion joint. Understanding long term performance of expansion joints with the aid of engineering and testing of these joints can certainly help optimizing the life-cycle costs of the bridge expansion joint. This will benefit the bridge owners, commuters and society.
