Posted by Bruce Beveridge on June 02, 1999 at 05:04:54 in 199.179.162.144:
In Reply to: Re: Expansion joint-another question for Bruce posted by Doug May on June 01, 1999 at 16:06:21:
The riveted plates had some give to them at that scale. An expansion joint in the hull would definitely weaken it greatly. Just like a bridge, the steel has some give but the more fragile areas like the pavement cross girders have an expansion joint. The superstructure was made of thinner steel and this was needed to keep the steel from twisting apart.
Bruce