Expansion joints for railway bridges

Railway bridges have different requirements for expansion joints than road bridges. Mat expansion joints are not driven over their surface directly and serve to seal the structure gap in a watertight manner while simultaneously absorbing the displacement and rotation of the superstructure. The traffic loads are usually transferred via the ballast bed.

MAURER mat expansion joints are approved by DB AG (German Federal Railways) by means of a Manufacturer-Related Product Qualification (MRPQ). In contrast, the guided cross-tie for larger movements corresponds to a bridging construction over the structural gap, which, in addition to the superstructure displacements, directly absorbs and transfers the traffic loads.

Mat joints (single-seal) - DB

MAURER Type DB40, DB80 and DB130

Approved according to RIL 804 and MRPQ
Maximum expansion joint gap 130 mm
Various transverse and longitudinal joints
Form-fitting and force-locked retention of the sealing profiles
Installation under the balast bed

Mat joints (two-seal) - DB

MAURER Type DB160 and DB260

Movement capacity of ± 80 mm or ± 130 mm by coupling two single-seal DB mat joints of Type DB80 or DB130

Guided cross-tie - CT

The guided cross-tie is a bridging construction with six degrees of freedom, which divides very large structural movements from service and earthquakes into smaller individual gaps by means of controlled sleepers.

MAURER Type CT

Adherence to the permissible rail support point forces and distances
Safe transfer of any traffic loads up to 300kM/h
Restraint-free accommodation of the displacements and rotations of the superstructure, regardless of direction and axis
Service life > 60 years
Delivery completely assembled
Quick and easy installation
Earthquake-resistant
Watertightness