CONSTRUCTION JOINTS
On many
jobs there will be starting and stopping points-you won't pour the entire slab
or driveway all at once. That's where you will place a construction joint. Here
are a few tips:
·
Construction
joints are formed using some sort of bulkhead, made of wood, steel, plastic, or
precast concrete. These bulkheads are often used as screed rails during
placement and finishing of the slab.
·
Construction
joints should be worked into the overall joint plan, where they can also
function as contraction joints.
·
A
construction joint should also be used in cases of equipment breakdown, an
unexpected shortage of materials, or bad weather, although the joint should
still be worked into the jointing pattern—placed where a contraction joint was
planned. If that's not possible, the odd section may later have to be removed.
·
If
the slab will have no significant traffic crossing the joint, a plain butt
joint, with no reinforcement crossing the joint, is acceptable. If there is to
be traffic other than foot traffic, you will need to use some sort of load
transfer device—see Load Transfer for more on this topic.
·
For
many years, the typical way to transfer shear at a construction joint was with
a keyed joint. Many steel bulkhead forms are available with a keyed profile,
however most experts no longer recommend keyed joints since they seldom stay
tight enough to provide positive shear transfer. ACI 360, Design of Slabs on
Ground, states that "the male and female components lose contact when the
joint opens due to drying shrinkage," which can lead to "breakdown of
the joint edges and failure of the top side portion of the key."
·
Use
internal vibration during concrete placement at the construction joint to
assure proper consolidation along the edge and around any dowels, load transfer
devices, or armored joint assemblies--especially if the concrete has larger
top-size aggregate.
·
Be
sure to cure the vertical face after removal of the bulkhead by applying a
liquid curing compound.
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