TY - JOUR TI - Reduction of displacement in concrete tram tracks under environmental effects using Polymer Flexible Joint technology AU - Kisiel, Paweł AU - Mikulski, Zbigniew AU - Kwiecień, Arkadiusz AU - Fielek, Piotr TI - Reduction of displacement in concrete tram tracks under environmental effects using Polymer Flexible Joint technology AB - Large displacements caused by temperature loads are a significant problem in the design and operation of concrete tram surfaces. There is frequently observed damage to expansion joints between slabs induced by high displacements as well as aging processes. As a result, water penetrates through cracked expansion joints causing structural degradation. Tests performed in situ indicate that polymer flexible joints may be used as concrete slab connections in concrete tram surfaces. Besides sealing, this technology allows transferring loads within large deformation states, additionally, rotation angles of slab edges are decreased, reducing the risk of damage to connections. This work analyzes the structural behaviour of a section of a tram surface connected by polymer flexible joint technology. A FEM numerical model in was constructed in Abaqus 6.12 with the analysis of thermal loads. This paper presents the analysis of deformation and stress distribution in structural elements, in cases of different constructional variants; the results are presented and conclusions are drawn. VL - 2015 IS - Budownictwo Zeszyt 2-B (12) 2015 PY - 2015 SN - 0011-4561 C1 - 2353-737X SP - 281 EP - 290 DO - 10.4467/2353737XCT.15.137.4174 UR - https://ejournals.eu/czasopismo/czasopismo-techniczne/artykul/reduction-of-displacement-in-concrete-tram-tracks-under-environmental-effects-using-polymer-flexible-joint-technology KW - concrete slab KW - polymer flexible joint KW - temperature load KW - tram surface