PROPOSAL OF AN ACOUSTIC METHOD TO EVALUATE VERTICAL MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN PLATES OF STEEL EXPANSION JOINTS OF FINGER TYPE

Mal-function and damages of expansion joints not only affects the smooth traveling of vehicles on the bridge, but are also sources of inconvenient noises and vibrations. In addition, impact due to live loads may cause damages to the girder end structures, being worsened in case a smooth transition between adjacent girders is not assured. The present study performed a series of field and loading tests to investigate the accoustic and vibrational structural effects of vehicles traveling on the surface of steel finger expansion joints. Effects of vertical misalignment between the plates of the joint fingers were investigated and a diagnosis method based on acoustic evaluation is also proposed.