Aohong is a professional manufacturer of Modular Expansion Joints for Bridge, offering precision-engineered solutions for accommodating structural movements in large-span bridges. Modular Expansion Joints are designed to handle multi-directional displacements—longitudinal, transverse, and vertical—making them ideal for bridges with movements from 80 mm to over 2,000 mm. These joints are especially effective for curved, skewed, sloped, and wide bridge structures, including highway overpasses and expressway bridges. Each system consists of edge and center beams, load-bearing support bars, and watertight sealing elements, all managed by a mechanical control system that ensures uniform movement and even spacing. With field-proven durability and high resistance to seismic loads and thermal changes, Modular Expansion Joints provide long-lasting performance and minimal maintenance requirements for modern infrastructure.
Features of Modular Expansion Joints
Independent Load-Bearing & Displacement Systems:
The structure of Modular Expansion Joints separates the load-bearing frame from the displacement control system, ensuring stability under dynamic traffic and environmental conditions.
Equal Spacing Control:
Equipped with a mechanical regulating system, the expansion joint ensures synchronized movement of each center beam to maintain balanced displacement across the structure.
Watertight Sealing System:
The modular joint uses elastomeric box seals or strip seals that create a sealed barrier, preventing water infiltration and protecting the substructure from damage.
Durability & Flexibility:
The multi-beam system supports heavy traffic loads while accommodating ongoing structural movement caused by temperature variation, live loads, and seismic activity.
Modular Joint Types:
- GQF-MZL Modular Expansion Joints – Designed for large movements up to 1,200 mm
- Low-bedding Expansion Joints – GQF-C, GQF-Z, GQF-F, GQF-L types for smaller movements below 80 mm
Structural Components of Modular Expansion Joints
Center Beam
Carries vertical and horizontal loads, supports elastomeric seals, and provides a skid-resistant driving surface. Transfers forces to the crossbeams.
Edge Beam
Anchored to the abutment or bridge deck, it absorbs and transfers loads from the center beam and ensures the integrity of the sealing system.
Support Beam (Cross Beam)
Acts as a load distributor between center beams and the main bridge structure. Capable of rotation and sliding to accommodate structural movement.
Pantograph
A variable-length crossbeam that controls the synchronized movement of all center beams, maintaining equal spacing during expansion or contraction.
Crossbeam Box (Joist Box)
Supports the crossbeams and ensures consistent pre-stressing through its rigid structure, unaffected by bearing surface shifts.
Elastomeric Seal
A watertight, flexible rubber seal installed between beams. It does not bear vehicular loads but prevents water intrusion and protects substructure components.
Bearings (Fixed/Sliding)
Facilitate rotational movement and load transfer between center beams, crossbeams, and the bridge deck. Bearings may be fixed or allow sliding.
Prestress Element
Prevents uplift between beams and ensures secure contact between structural elements. Allows rotational movement and absorbs reaction forces.
Control Element
Maintains uniform gap width between center beams at different opening positions during joint movement.
Anchors
Secure the entire modular joint assembly to the bridge structure, ensuring structural stability and long-term performance.
Applications
- Highway and expressway bridges
- Bridgeheads and viaducts
- Long-span bridges with large thermal and seismic movement
- Curved and skewed bridge structures
- Urban elevated roads and interchange structures
Technical Features
- Movement Capacity: 80 mm – 2,000+ mm
- Longitudinal, transverse, and vertical movement accommodation
- Seismic resistance and post-earthquake functionality
- Mechanically locked sealing elements
- Easy part replacement without full demolition
- Anchored securely with reinforced edge beams and substructure