Expansion joints and the interface zone of road pavement on bridges and overpasses

When actual intensity of transport traffic considerably exceeds the planned values, it leads to accelerated wear of road surface and formation of rutting. This problem is actual on high-speed main streets of Almaty city. Rutting in asphalt concrete pavement, especially in the areas of expansion joints, causes impacts of motor vehicles' wheels on the ends of joints (metal trims). Such loads lead to rapid failure of all expansion joints that are fixed in the roadway. It is obvious that the increase in traffic volume contributes to the increase in damage, but it is worth noting that uniform loading with a certain frequency leads to the same result, whereas impact loads occurring after the appearance and progression of damage have a much more damaging effect. To date, most efforts to reduce potholes and rutting at joints with expansion joints have focused on reducing rutting, especially in the areas adjacent to expansion joints.