What is "expansion joint"

Expansion \Ex*pan"sion\, n. [L. expansio: cf. F. expansion.]

1. The act of expanding or spreading out; the condition of being expanded; dilation; enlargement.

2. That which is expanded; expanse; extend surface; as, the expansion of a sheet or of a lake; the expansion was formed of metal.

   The starred expansion of the skies.
   --Beattie.

3. Space through which anything is expanded; also, pure space.

   Lost in expansion, void and infinite.
   --Blackmore.

4. (Economics & Commmerce) an increase in the production of goods and services over time, and in the volume of business transactions, generally associated with an increase in employment and an increase in the money supply. Opposite of contraction.

   Syn: economic expansion. [1913 Webster +PJC]

5. (Math.) The developed result of an indicated operation; as, the expansion of (a + b)^ 2 is a^ 2 + 2ab + b^ 2.

6. (Steam Engine) The operation of steam in a cylinder after its communication with the boiler has been cut off, by which it continues to exert pressure upon the moving piston.

7. (Nav. Arch.) The enlargement of the ship mathematically from a model or drawing to the full or building size, in the process of construction.
   --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

   Note: Expansion is also used adjectively, as in expansion joint, expansion gear, etc.

8. an enlarged or extended version of something, such as a writing or discourse; as, the journal article is an expansion of the lecture she gave.

9. an expansion joint. See below. [Colloq. or jargon] Expansion curve, a curve the co["o]rdinates of which show the relation between the pressure and volume of expanding gas or vapor; esp. (Steam engine), that part of an indicator diagram which shows the declining pressure of the steam as it expands in the cylinder. Expansion gear (Steam Engine). a cut-off gear. See Illust. of Link motion. Automatic expansion gear or Automatic cut-off, one that is regulated by the governor, and varies the supply of steam to the engine with the demand for power. Fixed expansion gear, or Fixed cut-off, one that always operates at the same fixed point of the stroke. Expansion joint, or Expansion coupling (Mech. & Engin.), a yielding joint or coupling for so uniting parts of a machine or structure that expansion, as by heat, is prevented from causing injurious strains; as:

   1. A slide or set of rollers, at the end of bridge truss, to support it but allow end play.

   2. A telescopic joint in a steam pipe, to permit one part of the pipe to slide within the other.

   3. A clamp for holding a locomotive frame to the boiler while allowing lengthwise motion.

   4. a strip of compressible material placed at intervals between blocks of poured concrete, as in roads or sidewalks.

      Expansion valve (Steam Engine), a cut-off valve, to shut off steam from the cylinder before the end of each stroke.

n. (context construction English) A structural separation between two building elements that allows free movement between the elements without damage to the system.

An expansion joint or movement joint is an assembly designed to safely absorb the heat-induced expansion and contraction of construction materials, to absorb vibration, to hold parts together, or to allow movement due to ground settlement or earthquakes. They are commonly found between sections of buildings, bridges, sidewalks, railway tracks, piping systems, ships, and other structures.

Building faces, concrete slabs, and pipelines expand and contract due to warming and cooling from seasonal variation, or due to other heat sources. Before expansion joint gaps were built into these structures, they would crack under the stress induced.