AASHTO MSMB-1

Guidelines for Maintaining Small Movement Bridge Expansion Joints, 1st Edition

Published by	Publication Date	Number of Pages
AASHTO	2021	130

Category: AASHTO

AASHTO MSMB-1 – Guidelines for Maintaining Small Movement Bridge Expansion Joints, 1st Edition

These guidelines provide bridge maintenance practitioners with detailed procedures for replacing, repairing, and maintaining Small Movement Expansion Joints (SMEJs). “Small movement” is defined as an expansion joint with a total movement of 4 inches or less. SMEJs serve an important function in the life-cycle of a bridge. They provide a smooth transition from one span to another in a multi-span bridge or from the approach roadway to the deck, and they direct water and other chemicals off of the deck and away from the bridge. While the cost of a joint may be small relative to the total cost of the bridge, the consequences of a joint failure can be significant and, as such, there has been a growing awareness of the need to develop detailed procedures for maintaining, repairing, and replacing SMEJs.