When Should You Use Expansion Joints In Concrete
Camila Farah
Expansion joints are provided in slabs pavements buildings bridges sidewalks railway tracks piping systems ships and other structures.
How often do you need expansion joints. Good design and construction of contraction joints has virtually eliminated the need for expansion joints except under special conditions. Expansion joints are placed in concrete to prevent expansive cracks formed due to temperature change. Normally the concrete does not expand to a size greater than its original length as cast.
Expansion joints cut through the entire width of the slab and are then filled with some sort of filler. When should you use expansion joint sealant. Concrete like many other materials expands when heated and shrinks when cooled. Long stretches of concrete do not require intermediate expansion joints.
According to several industry sources expansion joints even at 50 foot intervals are not necessary for the sidewalk project. Control joints in driveways should be spaced at intervals about equal to the slab width but drives wider than about 10 or 12 feet should have a longitudinal joint down the center. Joints should be sawed as soon as the concrete will withstand the energy of sawing without raveling or dislodging aggregate particles. After concrete is poured and moulded into shape it will harden and set which naturally causes a reduction in volume.
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A concrete driveway may experience temperature differentials from 20 degrees below zero to above 100 degrees in hot summers. Concrete undergoes expansion due to high temperature when in a confined boundary which leads to cracks. As a result it was concluded that expansion joints should not be used in concrete pavements built with normal aggregates under normal temperatures with contraction joints spaced less than 60 ft 18 m. Proper use of contraction joints at short spacings of 5 feet will allow for proper movement of the individual sidewalk slabs.
Expansion joints allows for movement without damage to the concrete.
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