Practice rather than theory: the showcase project in Washington D.C.

How can uniform load transfer be achieved despite uneven or complex contact surfaces?

This was precisely the situation faced by our client, Fort Myer Construction, earlier this year on Interstate 395 in Washington D.C. During the installation of a new elastomeric bearing, MM1018 FL is currently being used to fill the gap/cavity between the top of the ‘sole plate’ and the bottom of the beam. This creates a full-surface, force-fit connection to ensure uniform load transfer to the elastomeric bearings. MM1018 establishes the connection between the sole plate and the anchor plate embedded in the concrete beam, as well as between the sole plate and the concrete itself.

What makes this special is that:
The anchor plate embedded in the concrete did not cover the entire surface. Furthermore, the transition to the rough concrete had to be made both force- and form-fitting. MM1018 fulfils precisely this role on the bridge over the Potomac River, ensuring a full-surface connection and uniform load transfer to the 92 bearings in total.

This project, which is currently still underway, clearly illustrates how the market is currently developing:

• Infrastructure projects must be implemented more quickly
• Rework must be minimised
• Systems must adapt to real-world construction site conditions
• Long-term solutions are becoming more important than short-term repairs