Armoured Joint Installation

Summary

Armoured Joint Installation - The correct installation of an armoured joint is critical in ensuring that no problems with the joint occur in the future.

Technical Information

Matching halves must have temporary locating devices to provide stability during construction and accuracy across and along the joint when in service. These devices should be removed during construction or be self-separating. Inaccuracies are not easily remedied after construction.

Anchorage fittings such as shear studs need to provide adequate stability without creating planes of weakness in the concrete close to the joint. They should extend to the full length of the joint and be provided close to the ends of each rail and near to joint intersections. In addition, consideration can be given to welding the armouring sections at corners and intersections on site or by the use of prefabricated sections. However it is important to ensure that at intersections, all four corners are free from connection to each other. It must be possible to compact the concrete fully under and around the anchorages and any other steel sections used for load-transfer mechanisms.