expansion joints
Structural flex spaces
Expansion joints are gaps built into structures—bridges, sidewalks, pipelines—that allow materials to expand and contract with temperature changes without cracking or buckling.
Metal plates or flexible material typically cover the gap while permitting movement: You can feel the car thump over expansion joints on a bridge.
Without them, concrete would split and steel would warp.
Structure spanning an obstacle
- concreteSolid building mixture
- constructionProcess of building something
- structuralRelating to building framework
- modularMade of separable units
metallic · rubber · gasket · sealant · filler · steel · aluminum · neoprene
Clear vocal expression
- slidingMoving smoothly across surface
- gapUnfilled space between
- swayRock back and forth
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
vibration · shift · dilation · displacement · rotation · deflection · settlement · creep
Transferred thermal energy
- contractionReduction in size
- elongationIncrease in length
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- coefficientNumber multiplying a variable
cycling · differential · seasonal · climate · warming · cooling · fluctuation · gradient
Seismic ground movement
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- isolationComplete separation from others
- dampingDissipation of vibrational energy
- absorptionProcess of taking in
resilience · buffering · mitigation · flexibility · ductility · shock · acceleration · retrofitting
bridge
Structure spanning an obstacle
- concreteSolid building mixture
- constructionProcess of building something
- structuralRelating to building framework
modular · metallic · rubber · gasket · sealant · filler · steel · aluminum · neoprene · silicone
articulation
Clear vocal expression
oscillation · vibration · shift · dilation · displacement · rotation · deflection · settlement · creep · rocking
heat
Transferred thermal energy
- contractionReduction in size
- elongationIncrease in length
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
coefficient · cycling · differential · seasonal · climate · warming · cooling · fluctuation · gradient · ambient
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- isolationComplete separation from others
- dampingDissipation of vibrational energy
absorption · resilience · buffering · mitigation · flexibility · ductility · shock · acceleration · retrofitting · fault
highway
Major road for travel
underpass · tunnel · railroad · subway · runway · sidewalk · dam · pipeline · building · skyscraper
- rubber productsrubber bands, rubber gloves, rubber boots, rubber mats, rubber seals
- civil engineeringbridges, highways, tunnels, foundations, dams
- brickworkbricks, brick wall, brick walls, brickwork, bricklaying
- railway tracksrails, steel rails, track bed, rail bed, railbed
- Road Constructionasphalt, concrete, paving, cement, grading
- steam powersteam, steam power, steam engine, steam engines, steam turbine
expand, expansion, expanded, expanding, joints, expands, expansions, expandable, expander