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Cover Plate for Gaps in Concrete Barrier

Question
State	WY
Description Text	A question I posed before the Pooled Fund Website in 2013 concerned a method of transferring load between a concrete bridge barrier and an approach concrete barrier. Shown below in red is a part of Midwest response: "If you feel that the connection is in need of improvement, a number of states have utilized a design that resembles a steel plate/shell that is bent to the shape of the barriers, placed over the top of the adjacent barrier ends, and bolted down on both sides. Of course, the bolts are placed in slots so that the joint can expand and contract. This type of connection would ensure a quicker load transfer as well as prevent vehicle snagging on the barrier ends if the expansion joint opens up." Could you send me a copy of details of this? What is the maximum gap you can cover with this type of design?

Question

State

Description Text

A question I posed before the Pooled Fund Website in 2013
concerned a method of transferring load between a concrete bridge barrier and
an approach concrete barrier. Shown below in red is a part of Midwest
response:

"If you feel that the
connection is in need of improvement, a number of states have utilized a design
that resembles a steel plate/shell that is bent to the shape of the barriers,
placed over the top of the adjacent barrier ends, and bolted down on both
sides. Of course, the bolts are placed in slots so that the joint can
expand and contract. This type of connection would ensure a quicker load
transfer as well as prevent vehicle snagging on the barrier ends if the
expansion joint opens up."

Could you send me a copy of details of this? What is
the maximum gap you can cover with this type of design?

System Performance Evaluation

System Types
Permanent Concrete Barriers

Applications

System Features

Date May 10, 2016
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Response
Response (active)	We recently had a student look through State DOT standard plans and drawings for such cover plates. I have attached the drawings that were located. Other states do something similar, but it may not be in the standards. These cover plates are largely untested, so the gap sizes that they can cover is not really known. Allowable gap size would be dependent upon plate and barrier shape, plate thickness, attachment hardware, and test level. We should know a lot more about such devices in a year or two as we currently have a Pooled Fund project to explore PCB gap hardware – YR 26 project.

Response

Response
(active)

We recently had a student look through State DOT standard plans and drawings for such cover plates. I have attached the drawings that were located. Other states do something similar, but it may not be in the standards.

These cover plates are largely untested, so the gap sizes that they can cover is not really known. Allowable gap size would be dependent upon plate and barrier shape, plate thickness, attachment hardware, and test level. We should know a lot more about such devices in a year or two as we currently have a Pooled Fund project to explore PCB gap hardware – YR 26 project.

Date May 17, 2016
Previous Views (142) Favorites (0)

Attachment California Channel Closure.pdf Attachment Kansas Expansion Joint.pdf Attachment New York Cover Plate.pdf Attachment Wisconsin Cover Plates for Parapet.pdf Attachment Wisconsin Cover Plates for Parapet 2.pdf