Modular Bridge Expansion Joint Assembly for Rapid Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional bridge expansion joints require significant traffic disruption for maintenance and replacement, with complex construction processes and long curing times, imposing a heavy burden on management and maintenance departments.
Innovation Solution
An easily maintainable assembly-type bridge expansion joint structure featuring paired connecting box bodies with displacement boxes, elastic supporting seats, and telescopic pieces, allowing for rapid assembly and maintenance without concrete curing time, enhancing stability and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional expansion devices are used, then structural stability is achieved, but traffic disruption increases due to required closure for repair and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion joint is divided into modular components including connecting box bodies, cross beams, side beams, middle beams, and elastic telescopic pieces that can be independently assembled and replaced. This segmentation enables rapid maintenance without requiring complete device replacement, significantly reducing traffic closure time while maintaining structural stability through the coordinated assembly of standardized modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs elastic supporting seats and elastic telescopic pieces that utilize elastic deformation to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of bridge beams. By changing from rigid connections to elastic connections, the device adapts to dimensional changes in bridge beams, maintaining structural stability while allowing for easy replacement of worn elastic components without traffic closure.
2Strength
If traditional expansion devices are used, then connection strength is achieved, but construction duration increases due to complex construction process and concrete curing time
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into pre-fabricated connecting box bodies with pre-embedded connectors, eliminating the need for on-site concrete pouring and curing. The box bodies can be directly assembled and bolted to bridge beam ends, reducing construction duration from weeks (including concrete curing) to days or hours, while maintaining connection strength through high-strength bolts and pre-embedded steel connectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the concrete-based mechanical connection system with a direct metal-to-metal bolted connection system. The connecting box bodies use high-strength bolts and pre-embedded steel connectors to achieve strong connections without requiring concrete pouring, formwork, or curing time, significantly accelerating the construction process while maintaining or improving connection strength.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional expansion devices are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but maintenance complexity increases imposing heavy burden on management departments
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion joint is segmented into standardized, interchangeable modules (connecting box bodies, cross beams, side beams, middle beams) that can be independently inspected and replaced. This modularity simplifies maintenance by allowing crews to replace only the specific worn component rather than the entire device, reducing maintenance complexity and training requirements while maintaining structural integrity through standardized connection interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting box bodies are designed as universal components with standardized dimensions, connection interfaces, and pre-embedded connectors that can be used across different bridge expansion joint applications. This universality simplifies maintenance by allowing the same components and procedures to be used throughout the infrastructure system, reducing the burden on management departments through standardized parts inventories and maintenance protocols.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Minimizes traffic disruption by enabling immediate use after assembly, improves construction efficiency, and provides stable, adaptable expansion joint performance through elastic deformation.
Implementation Method 1
bottoms of the two ends of the cross beam are connected to an inner bottom plate of the box chamber that is open opposite each other in the two connecting box bodies via a first elastic supporting seat respectively
Implementation Method 2
a bottom of the side beam is connected to a top of the cross beam via a second elastic supporting seat
Implementation Method 3
two sides of a top of the middle beam are elastically connected to the tops of the two side beams via an elastic telescopic piece respectively
Implementation Method 4
a groove filled with silicone gel is formed between the side beam, the elastic telescopic piece and the middle beam in the extending direction of the gap
Data Source
AI summary
The assembly-type bridge expansion joint structure comprises a to-be-connected bridge beam end, wherein a number of the to-be-connected bridge beam end is two, and a groove platform is provided on each of the two beam ends in an extending direction of a gap; a connecting box body, wherein a number of the connecting box body is two, each of the two connecting box bodies is fixedly arranged on the groove platform of the beam end, and a box chamber is provided on opposite side surfaces of the two connecting box bodies respectively, a plurality of box chambers are provided, which are open opposite each other, and the box chamber is provided in the extending direction of the gap; a number of the side beam is two.