expansion joint
Thermal movement allowance
An expansion joint is a gap or flexible connection built into structures—bridges, buildings, pipelines, concrete slabs—to accommodate expansion and contraction from temperature changes.
Without them, materials would crack or buckle as they heat and cool.
The ribbed metal strips crossing highway bridges are expansion joints: You can feel the car thump over each expansion joint.
Gap-blocking substance
- caulkWaterproof gap filler
- neopreneSynthetic rubber polymer
- siliconeFlexible synthetic polymer
- polyurethaneVersatile synthetic resin compound
rubber · elastomeric · bituminous · mastic · gasket · filler · foam · membrane
Unfilled space between
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- buildingEnclosed roofed structure
- concreteSolid building mixture
- slabThick flat piece
pavement · highway · viaduct · sidewalk · railroad · platform · subway · deck
Removal from usual location
- travelMovement between locations
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
- swayRock back and forth
shift · deflection · rotation · settlement · creep · shrinkage · seismic · articulation
Reduction in size
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- heatTransferred thermal energy
- seasonalRecurring at fixed intervals
- cyclingRiding on two wheels
coefficient · differential · ambient · weather · climate · freeze-thaw · summer · winter
Reduction of mental tension
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- compressionForcing into smaller space
tension · accommodate · spalling · buckling · structural failure · separation · isolation · continuity
sealant
Gap-blocking substance
polyurethane · rubber · elastomeric · bituminous · mastic · gasket · filler · foam · membrane · gland
gap
Unfilled space between
slab · pavement · highway · viaduct · sidewalk · railroad · platform · subway · deck · roadway
displacement
Removal from usual location
- travelMovement between locations
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
sway · shift · deflection · rotation · settlement · creep · shrinkage · seismic · articulation · accommodation
contraction
Reduction in size
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- heatTransferred thermal energy
- seasonalRecurring at fixed intervals
cycling · coefficient · differential · ambient · weather · climate · freeze-thaw · summer · winter · daily
stress relief
Reduction of mental tension
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
compression · tension · accommodate · spalling · buckling · structural failure · separation · isolation · continuity
- barrierswalls, wall, fences, fence, barrier
- jointsknee, elbow, ankle, dovetail, wrist
- bridge partsspan, deck, girders, abutment, pier
- pavementasphalt, concrete, tar, cobblestone, brick
- steam powersteam, steam power, steam engine, steam engines, steam turbine
- industrial partsvalve, gasket, flange, pipe, fitting
joint, expansion, expanded, expansive, expanding, expands, expandable, overexpansion, expandability