Abstract
Investigations have been made into the performance of fifty buried joints over a seven year period, including studies of installation practice, joint design and materials, measurement of structural movements at selected joints and the determination of the factors affecting performance. These factors were evaluated and graded according to the severity of their effect on the long term serviceability of the joint. Structural movements, traffic, workmanship, installation conditions and compaction of the surfacing were the key factors but often it was a complex combination of these factors which caused premature failure. (Author/publisher)