Arbridge Series Elastomeric Expansion Joints are engineered to handle a wide range of movements, from moderate ±25 mm shifts to very large ±200 mm+ displacements. Integrating elastomeric cores with reinforced metallic elements and robust anchoring, they provide exceptional durability, watertightness options, and minimal maintenance over a long service life.
The Arbridge Series Elastomeric Expansion Joints are engineered expansion joint systems developed specifically for bridges and other large-movement civil structures. The series is intended for demanding environments where structural thermal movement, seismic activity, heavy vehicular or rail loads, wind and live loads produce multi-directional displacements. These systems provide reliable, long-term accommodation of axial, lateral and vertical movements while protecting the structural edges and ensuring safe, continuous traffic passage.
Available in a range of movement capacities — from moderate movements (±25 mm) up to very large movements (±200 mm and beyond) — the Arbridge Series is suitable for highway bridges, railway bridges, pedestrian-vehicle composite decks, steel plate girders, and retrofit projects. The system integrates elastomeric movement cores with reinforced metallic elements and robust anchoring details to offer exceptional durability, watertightness options, and low maintenance over long service life.
Highway bridges (road deck expansion joints)
Railway and metro bridges (rail-compatible models)
Composite steel-concrete bridges and plate girder bridges
Movable supports and seismic joints in major civil works
Bridge rehabilitation and joint replacement projects
Viaducts, flyovers, and elevated structures exposed to heavy traffic
The Arbridge Series consists of modular units combining elastomeric and metallic elements engineered to operate as an integrated expansion joint assembly.
3.1 Elastomeric Movement Core
Material: High-performance elastomers such as EPDM, neoprene or specially formulated rubber blends selected for elasticity, aging resistance, fuel/oil resistance and low temperature flexibility.
Function: Provide the primary movement capacity, absorb repeated cyclic deformation, damp vibration and provide initial sealing against ingress of debris and water.
Manufacture: Elastomer is factory-vulcanized to selected steel plates or inserts where required to form composite modules, ensuring consistent bonding and mechanical performance.
3.2 Reinforcement Plates and Bearing Elements
Steel plates or profile inserts embedded within or bonded to the elastomeric element give the joint its load transfer capability.
Materials: Mild steel with protective coatings, galvanized steel or stainless steel in corrosive environments. Plate thickness and geometry are selected to accommodate design loads and fatigue demands.
Function: Provide bending stiffness for load distribution, resist wheel impact and localised pounding, and act as an interface to anchoring details.
3.3 Edge Profiles / Transition Members
Robust metallic side profiles are provided to protect concrete edges and form transition surfaces for traffic.
Options include flush top plates, chamfered profiles, or specially profiled transition covers to reduce dynamic impact and noise.
3.4 Anchoring and Fixing Components
Anchors: Mechanical anchors, embedded studs, or chemical anchors sized and spaced to safely transmit tensile and shear forces into the concrete substrate.
Backing and grout: Where specified, a poured backfill or grout zone transfers loads and seals the anchor recesses.
3.5 Drainage and Sealing Accessories
Integrated drainage channels, weep systems or dedicated drain outlets may be incorporated to remove water from the joint zone.
For watertight requirements, compatible internal waterstops or secondary sealing systems can be specified.
4.1 Movement Capacity and Multi-Axis Accommodation
Models cover a broad spectrum of movement range: typical offerings include ±25 mm, ±50 mm, ±100 mm, ±150 mm and ±200 mm (custom ranges available).
The elastomeric core and module geometry are designed to accept axial expansion/contraction, lateral shear and differential vertical displacement caused by live loads, thermal variation and seismic action.
4.2 Load and Fatigue Resistance
Reinforced composite structure appropriately sized to resist repetitive vehicular and dynamic loads, including heavy trucks and rail traffic where applicable.
Designed to meet cyclic fatigue demands using validated test methods and life-cycle assumptions.
4.3 Durability and Environmental Resistance
Elastomeric materials are selected for resistance to UV, ozone, road oils, fuels, de-icing salts and general atmospheric ageing.
Metallic elements are available with corrosion protective systems (galvanizing, epoxy primer, or stainless options) for marine or aggressive environments.
4.4 Noise and Ride Quality
Low-profile top designs and energy-absorbing elastomer cores reduce wheel impact and noise generation, improving ride comfort and decreasing long-term structural shock.
4.5 Drainage & Watertight Options
Standard designs allow controlled drainage of surface water away from the structural gap.
Watertight variants include internal sealing and waterbar systems to prevent infiltration to the deck or substructure.
Note: The following values are representative. Project-specific engineering is required to select the correct model and to verify capacities.
Movement capacity (examples): ±25 mm, ±50 mm, ±100 mm, ±150 mm, ±200 mm
Module length: commonly 2.0 m (factory standard) — other lengths can be provided for specific projects
Top plate materials: carbon steel (coated), stainless steel, or heavy-duty aluminum profiles
Elastomer hardness: typically 55–75 Shore A (application dependent)
Operating temperature range: −40°C to +80°C (material dependent)
Typical installation depth: 80–300 mm (varies with model and deck construction)
Design life expectancy: 20+ years under normal traffic and environmental conditions (subject to maintenance)
6.1 Design Coordination
Joint selection must be integrated with bridge structural drawings, movement studies (thermal, creep, shrinkage, seismic), and traffic loading assumptions.
Consideration should be given to support details, deck wearing surface continuity, and drainage routing.
6.2 Substrate Preparation
Deck ends must be sound, level and free of loose material. Concrete repair of spalled edges should be completed prior to anchoring.
Achieve required concrete strengths and tolerances before fixing units.
6.3 Fixing and Anchoring
Securely anchor side profiles and reinforcement elements using specified anchors; ensure correct embedment depth and torque values.
For heavy loads, use embedded anchors cast into new deck pours or chemical anchors in drilled holes for retrofit work.
6.4 Sealing and Finishing
Where watertightness is required, install internal seals and perimeter seals per manufacturer instructions.
Fill transition zones with compatible deck wearing materials or protective cappings to provide smooth vehicle passage.
6.5 Commissioning
Verify movement clearance across range of expected displacements.
Confirm drainage operability and absence of unfilled voids.
Record as-installed dimensions and anchorage details for future maintenance.
Routine Inspection Frequency: Perform visual inspections at regular intervals (e.g., annually) and after significant events (storms, earthquakes, heavy traffic incidents).
Key Inspection Items: Elastomer condition (cracks, deformation), anchor integrity (corrosion, loosening), drainage blockages, top plate wear and deformation.
Maintenance Actions: Clean drainage, tighten or replace anchors, seal minor defects, replace modular sections if damaged. Modular design allows replacement of single units without major deck works.
Lifecycle Considerations: Proactive maintenance extends service life; design redundancy and easy access for replacement reduce long-term ownership cost.
Engineered for Bridges: Designed specifically for high-movement, heavy-load bridge applications rather than light floor use.
Wide Movement Range: Multiple models cover small to very large displacements including bespoke solutions for exceptional cases.
Robust Load Transfer: Reinforced composite construction resists wheel impact and distributes forces into the deck effectively.
Durability in Harsh Environments: Material selection and protective finishes address exposure to fuels, salts and UV.
Low Downtime Maintenance: Modular replacement lowers life-cycle cost and disruption to traffic.
Sealing and Drainage Options: From basic drainage to full watertight systems tailored for critical bridge decks and substructure protection.
When selecting an expansion joint model for a bridge project, consider:
Maximum anticipated movement (thermal + seismic + settlement + live load differential).
Traffic type and loading (heavy trucks, frequent buses, rail axle loads).
Required degree of watertightness (protect deck and bearings vs. allow controlled drainage).
Environmental exposure (marine, de-icing salt, chemical exposure).
Installation constraints (new construction vs. retrofit, available depth, access).
Maintenance plan and lifecycle targets.
Engage a qualified structural engineer to perform movement analysis and to verify compatibility with deck and bearing conditions before final specification.
Railway-compatible models with specific transverse stiffness and wheel impact tolerance.
Large-movement modules for long spans and seismic joints.
Corrosion-resistant builds (stainless steel and specialized coatings) for coastal structures.
Low-noise or anti-vibration variants for urban bridge settings.
Watertight designs with integrated waterbar & drainage routing for substructure protection.
The Arbridge Series Elastomeric Expansion Joints deliver a purpose-built solution for bridges and large civil structures that require dependable movement accommodation, robust load transfer, and durable environmental performance. The product family’s modular approach, broad movement range, and configurable options make it well suited to both new construction and rehabilitative projects where lifespan, safety and maintainability are primary concerns.
Explore our heavy-duty Aluminum Finger Expansion Joints for movements from 150mm to 1200mm. Offering superior corrosion resistance, lower lifecycle cost, and full compliance with AASHTO & Eurocode standards. The durable alternative to steel joints.
The Aluminum Finger Expansion Joint, also known as a comb joint, is a heavy-duty mechanical system engineered to accommodate the largest thermal expansions, contractions, and dynamic movements in bridge and structural applications. It is specifically designed for movement ranges from 150 mm to 1,200 mm.
The system operates on an intermeshing finger principle. It consists of a series of symmetrical or asymmetrical aluminum finger plates anchored on either side of the expansion gap. These robust "fingers" interlock with each other, bridging the gap. As the bridge structure moves, the fingers slide and/or lift over one another, safely absorbing multi-directional movements (longitudinal, transverse, and rotational) while maintaining a continuous deck surface for traffic.
Elastomeric bridge expansion joints, commonly known as rubber Bridge Expansion Joint or mat expansion joints, provide a durable and cost-effective sealing solution for bridges with low to moderate movement ranges. Their design leverages the inherent properties of elastomers to ensure smooth traffic flow and long-term performance.
Finger expansion joints are engineered to accommodate structural movements ranging from 80 mm to 1,200 mm. These joints consist of steel finger plates, CR (chloroprene) rubber sheets, anchor bolts, and other essential components. A durable rubber sheet is mounted over the retractable steel assembly, while anchor bolts secure the entire structure in place.
The fingers are oriented in the direction of vehicle travel, which helps reduce noise and enhance driving comfort. Additionally, a built-in drainage channel directs rainwater into the bridge’s drainage system, preventing water accumulation and supporting long-term durability.
Also referred to as comb expansion joints, finger expansion joints feature symmetrical or asymmetrical comb-like (saw-tooth or sinusoidal) plates. These plates are anchored on one side of the deck joint gap and interlock to span the opening. Symmetrical finger joints, often called cantilever expansion joints, are typically used for smaller movement ranges. In contrast, asymmetrical designs—known as supported finger expansion joints—are better suited for larger expansion requirements.
Available in various tooth profiles to match specific application needs.
Modular Expansion Joints are engineered systems designed to accommodate large longitudinal movements in bridge structures, typically within a range of 80 mm to 1200 mm. The core mechanism consists of a series of parallel, movement-controlled center beams, supported at predetermined intervals by a substructure of cross beams or girders. This assembly is anchored between two edge beams, which are rigidly and watertightly connected to the bridge deck. The top surfaces of all beams are precision-set flush with the road surface to ensure a continuous running plane.
Explore our high-performance Strip Seal Expansion Joints for movement ranges from 0 to 80mm. Featuring a robust steel and EPDM/Neoprene design, they deliver superior watertight sealing, noise reduction, and durability for bridge and infrastructure projects.
The Strip Seal Expansion Joint is a premier solution for effectively sealing expansion gaps in bridges and structures with movement ranges from 0 mm to 80 mm. Its intelligent design combines high-strength steel with a durable elastomeric seal to create a reliable, long-lasting barrier against the elements and dynamic traffic loads.
Westcoast New Area, Qingdao City ,Shandong Province ,China
