D.S. Brown’s Swivel Expansion Joint Systems are one of the most intriguing features of the new Gerald Desmond Bridge in Long Beach, California. The Swivel Expansion Joint Systems are located where the east and west approaches connect to the main span of the bridge. At these “end bents,” the column-supported approaches meet the cable-supported main span. These two types of structures will react differently in an earthquake, and flexible connections are a must.
For more than 50 years, the D.S. Brown Company has provided expansion joint systems for bridges worldwide. Bridge expansion joint systems are directly exposed to heavy vehicular wheel loads and therefore, must resist the dynamic forces causing fatigue and wear.
