Modular Bridge Expansion Joints for Lacey V. Murrow Floating Bridge

Abstract

The Lacey V. Murrow Bridge (LVM Bridge) is a 2013-m-long floating bridge on Interstate 90 across Lake Washington in Seattle, Washington. Single-support-bar, swivel-joist modular bridge expansion joint systems are located at each end of the bridge between the shore approach spans and the floating pontoons. These joints were designed for 960 mm of longitudinal movement as well as horizontal and vertical rotations caused by wind, wave, temperature, and changes in lake level elevation. A similar joint in an adjacent floating bridge had experienced premature fatigue cracking at welded attachment details because of low fatigue strength. For the LVM Bridge the joint components were fatigue tested and designed by using fatigue limit-states loads, resulting in welded attachment details with improved fatigue strength. In addition, a stiffer center beam and reduced center-beam span lengths produced lower fatigue stress ranges. Joint movements and rotations, fatigue design methodology, results of dynamic analyses, field measurements of the dynamic response, and construction details are described. The total cost of the LVM joints was 1 percent of the final bridge cost. The Washington State Department of Transportation required a 5-year guarantee for the LVM joints. These are the largest modular bridge expansion joints in the United States to be tested and designed for fatigue.

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