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Types of Joints in Concrete Constructions

Joints are placed in concrete structures to prevent cracking from stresses caused by expansion, contraction, and movement. There are four main types of joints: construction joints define concrete placements; expansion joints accommodate volume changes; contraction joints regulate cracking from shrinkage; and isolation joints separate the concrete from other materials like walls to prevent damage from differential movement.

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889 views7 pages

Types of Joints in Concrete Constructions

Joints are placed in concrete structures to prevent cracking from stresses caused by expansion, contraction, and movement. There are four main types of joints: construction joints define concrete placements; expansion joints accommodate volume changes; contraction joints regulate cracking from shrinkage; and isolation joints separate the concrete from other materials like walls to prevent damage from differential movement.

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Joints in concrete construction are construction, expansion, contraction and

isolation joints. These joints are placed in concrete slabs and pavements at
regular intervals to prevent development of cracks in concrete.

Table of Contents
 Types of Joints in Concrete Constructions
o 1. Construction Joints
o 2. Expansion joints
o 3. Contraction Joints
o 4. Isolation Joints

Types of Joints in Concrete Constructions


Types of joints in concrete constructions are:
1. Construction Joints
2. Expansion Joints
3. Contraction Joints
4. Isolation Joints

1. Construction Joints
Construction joints are placed in a concrete slab to define the extent of the
individual placements, generally in conformity with a predetermined joint
layout.

Construction joints must be designed in order to allow displacements


between both sides of the slab but, at the same time, they have to transfer
flexural stresses produced in the slab by external loads.

Construction joints must allow horizontal displacement right-angled to the


joint surface that is normally caused by thermal and shrinkage movement.
At the same time they must not allow vertical or rotational displacements.
Fig.1 summarizes which displacement must be allowed or not allowed by a
construction joint.
Fig.2: Types of Construction Joints in Concrete Structures
2. Expansion joints
The concrete is subjected to volume change due to many reasons. So we
have to cater for this by way of joint to relieve the stress. Expansion is a
function of length. The building longer than 45m are generally provided with
one or more expansion joint. In india recommended c/c spacing is 30m. The
joints are formed by providing a gap between the building parts.

Also Read: Expansion Joint in Concrete – Types and Characteristics


3. Contraction Joints
A contraction joint is a sawed, formed, or tooled groove in a concrete slab
that creates a weakened vertical plane. It regulates the location of the
cracking caused by dimensional changes in the slab.

Unregulated cracks can grow and result in an unacceptably rough surface as


well as water infiltration into the base, subbase and subgrade, which can
enable other types of pavement distress.

Contraction joints are the most common type of joint in concrete pavements,
thus the generic term “joint” generally refers to a contraction joint.
Contraction joints are chiefly defined by their spacing and their method of
load transfer. They are generally between 1/4 – 1/3 the depth of the slab
and typically spaced every 3.1 – 15 m
Also Read: Contraction Joint in Concrete – Their Location and Construction
4. Isolation Joints
Joints that isolate the slab from a wall, column or drainpipe

Isolation joints have one very simple purpose—they completely isolate the
slab from something else. That something else can be a wall or a column or
a drain pipe. Here are a few things to consider with isolation joints:

Walls and columns, which are on their own footings that are deeper than the
slab subgrade, are not going to move the same way a slab does as it shrinks
or expands from drying or temperature changes or as the subgrade
compresses a little.

Even wooden columns should be isolated from the slab.


If slabs are connected to walls or columns or pipes, as they contract or settle
there will be restraint, which usually cracks the slab—although it could also
damage pipes (standpipes or floor drains).

Expansion joints are virtually never needed with interior slabs, because the
concrete doesn’t expand that much—it never gets that hot.

Expansion joints in concrete pavement are also seldom needed, since the
contraction joints open enough (from drying shrinkage) to account for
temperature expansion. The exception might be where a pavement or
parking lot are next to a bridge or building—then we simply use a slightly
wider isolation joint (maybe ¾ inch instead of ½ inch).
Blowups, from expansion of concrete due to hot weather and sun, are more
commonly caused by contraction joints that are not sealed and that then fill
up with non-compressible materials (rocks, dirt). They can also be due to
very long unjointed sections.

Very long unjointed sections can expand enough from the hot sun to cause blow ups, but
this is rare.
Isolation joints are formed by placing preformed joint material next to the
column or wall or standpipe prior to pouring the slab. Isolation joint material
is typically asphalt-impregnated fiberboard, although plastic, cork, rubber,
and neoprene are also available.

Isolation joint material should go all the way through the slab, starting at
the subbase, but should not extend above the top.

For a cleaner looking isolation joint, the top part of the preformed filler can
be cut off and the space filled with elastomeric sealant. Some proprietary
joints come with removable caps to form this sealant reservoir.

Joint materials range from inexpensive asphalt-impregnated fiberboard to


cork to closed cell neoprene. Cork can expand and contract with the joint,
does not extrude, and seals out water.

Scott Whitelam with APS Cork says that the required performance is what
determines the choice of joint materials. How much motion is expect,
exposure to salts or chemicals, and the value of the structure would all come
into play—and of course the cost.

Polyethylene foam isolation joint material comes in various colors. C2 Products


At columns, contraction joints should approach from all four directions
ending at the isolation joint, which should have a circular or a diamond
shaped configuration around the column. For an I-beam type steel column, a
pinwheel configuration can work.

Always place the slab concrete first and do not install the isolation joint
material and fill around the column until the column is carrying its full dead
load.

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