Road Bridge Expansion Joints - Reduction of the Overrolling Noise Caused of Vehicles during Crossing the Expansion Joints

Our modern understanding of environment protection encloses the protection from noise, especially the protection from traffic noise. Therefore, the company RW Sollinger Hutte GmbH (RWSH) in Uslar, Germany, developed a noiseless Modular Expansion Joint (MEJ) characterized by a lamella structure of the surface. This MEJ is equipped with especially extruded elastomeric profile which is inserted between the middle and edge steel profiles. The new-developed elastomeric profile should fulfil several functions: Beside the known sealing function (watertight surface) the profile can cause a level surface of the lamella crossing and is likely to control the gap openings between the middle and edge steel profiles. The level surface is the most important new property of the MEJ to reduce the noise which is caused by running over by cars and trucks. The new developed low noise MEJ was already tested under practically oriented conditions. Besides, comparative measurements with other designs of expansion joints have been carried and evaluated.