Why do roads split down the middle
Discussion
in earthquakes?
Like this: http://statik.trojka.rs/thumbnail/article_medium/s...
What is it in the construction of them that makes this happen? Any guesses?
Like this: http://statik.trojka.rs/thumbnail/article_medium/s...
What is it in the construction of them that makes this happen? Any guesses?
Can't believe this will be my first post on the forum!
It's a combination of expansion joints and crack control joints
Particularly the latter. They're placed into the road surface as an acknowledgement that the road surface will, at some point, expand and crack. Using these joints minimises the risk of cracking, and controls it to minimise cost and disruption when it does. Obviously it's not designed to handle an earthquake - rather, the road will be weakest at these joints, and so will likely fail spectacularly along the joint.
/boring quantity surveyor.
It's a combination of expansion joints and crack control joints
Particularly the latter. They're placed into the road surface as an acknowledgement that the road surface will, at some point, expand and crack. Using these joints minimises the risk of cracking, and controls it to minimise cost and disruption when it does. Obviously it's not designed to handle an earthquake - rather, the road will be weakest at these joints, and so will likely fail spectacularly along the joint.
/boring quantity surveyor.
Not convinced by that answer, expansion joints are only used in concrete roads and that one is an asphalt road. There will be a construction joint along the centreline and this is the weakest part of the road.
I suspect that the road surface is holding the ground together but has given way at its weakest point, the construction joint.
I suspect that the road surface is holding the ground together but has given way at its weakest point, the construction joint.
It could well be a construction joint, to be fair.
I acknowledge asphalt roads don't always require joints because of the 'flexible' nature of the asphalt, but many hundreds of thousands of miles of asphalt roads do indeed include expansion joints - it's quite common, in fact.
Like this one!
But given the crack is longitudinal you're right, it's the construction joint rather than an EJ.
Smartie!
I acknowledge asphalt roads don't always require joints because of the 'flexible' nature of the asphalt, but many hundreds of thousands of miles of asphalt roads do indeed include expansion joints - it's quite common, in fact.
Like this one!
But given the crack is longitudinal you're right, it's the construction joint rather than an EJ.
Smartie!
Edited by iphonedyou on Tuesday 22 March 14:32
Technically picture above isn't an expansion joint it's a plug joint to allow thermal movement of the joint in the concrete structure below. Asphalt unlike concrete has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion and doesn't need expansion joints.
The plug joint is basically a piece of rubberised asphalt that is flexible enough to allow movement of the underlying layer.
Here endeth today's sermon on the mechanics of asphalt roads.
The plug joint is basically a piece of rubberised asphalt that is flexible enough to allow movement of the underlying layer.
Here endeth today's sermon on the mechanics of asphalt roads.
Vlad the Imp said:
Technically picture above isn't an expansion joint it's a plug joint to allow thermal movement of the joint in the concrete structure below. Asphalt unlike concrete has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion and doesn't need expansion joints.
The plug joint is basically a piece of rubberised asphalt that is flexible enough to allow movement of the underlying layer.
Here endeth today's sermon on the mechanics of asphalt roads.
Consider my cap doffed, sir! The plug joint is basically a piece of rubberised asphalt that is flexible enough to allow movement of the underlying layer.
Here endeth today's sermon on the mechanics of asphalt roads.
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff