Different Types Of Concrete Joints And Their Applications

Tony’s Masonry
Aug 28, 2017 · 2 min read

Concrete is used in almost all construction works owing to its strength, workability, reliability and reasonable cost. Usage of concrete demands different construction procedures for effective building, and one of them is concrete joints.

Concrete joints involve joining of two more concrete structures of slabs by means of reinforcement or other suitable techniques. Concrete joints are commonly used by commercial concrete contractors in Manhattan in building large and heavy structures such as pillars, beams, flyovers and bridges.

Concrete joints are of four distinct types based on their suitability and strength distribution. They are as follows:

  1. Construction Joints: These joints are designed to allow displacement between both sides of the slab but also transferring the stress produced on them by external loads with maximum effect. Construction joints are installed in concrete slabs in line with a predetermined joint layout. They must be able to displace horizontally while preventing vertical or rotational displacements at the same time. Commonly used by commercial contractors in Manhattan to join beams/sidewalk slabs together.
  2. Expansion Joints: These joints are suitable for concrete structures that may change volume by expansion due to heat. The gap provided between the concrete structures allow for unhindered expansion so that it doesn’t weaken the joint by force. Longer concrete structures are usually provided with a predefined number of expansion joints.
  3. Contraction Joints: A contraction joint is a groove in a concrete slab that creates a vertical plane that can prevent any concrete problems such as cracking or water seepage from spreading to the rest of the structure. Commercial contractors in Manhattan and Brooklyn use such joints commonly in pavement and highway construction.
  4. Isolation Joints: As the name suggests, isolation joints isolate concrete structures from other dissimilar objects such as wooden structures or drain pipes. It is because concrete is subjected to slight expansion and contraction according to temperature at a rate dissimilar to the other materials in its proximity. If there is no isolation joint, the change in volume of concrete can result in bumps or tear of the structure. Isolation joints prevent exactly that.

If no joints are provided in concrete slabs, especially the long, continuous ones, they can pile up and crack vigorously in extremely hot weather. Hence it is necessary to provide joints in one form or other to increase their longevity and strength. Sometimes, sealants can be used to seal joints, although their usage is uncommon.

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Tony’s Masonry

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