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2004
TECHNICAL note
DEFINITION
The word ‘joint’ is used in building parlance to cover
elements which have to perform quite different Beam soffit Scabble and clean
laitence off surface
functions, eg beam-column joints and isolation prior to placing
Longitudinal column
joints. In the former the joint has to provide continuity reinforcement beam reinforcement
of structural action between the members meeting
at the joint. In the latter the joint has to ensure
separation between the adjacent members to allow Figure 1
one member to move independently of the other.
This Technical Note deals primarily with
Stop-board to form joint
isolation joints and tends to use ‘joints’ in this sense.
However, a discussion of construction joints is
included because they are frequently referred to in
D
insitu concrete construction.
There are a number of ways in which joints can
be classified apart from the broad division stated
above. In this Technical Note a limited number of
specific joints defined by their situation are Figure 2
considered.
WHY JOINTS ARE NEEDED Planned construction joints The location and
The four basic reasons for requiring joints are detailing of planned construction joints can be
because considered and prepared. The location should be
■ the member or structure cannot be constructed determined in conjunction with the contractor. The
as a monolithic unit in one placement of contractor will be able to define the maximum size
concrete; of concrete placement possible on the particular
■ the member has to be of limited size so it can project taking into account the anticipated rate of
be handled by cranes, etc; placement and the constraints imposed by finishing
■ the structure or member on one side of the joint requirements. Where possible, the day’s placement
needs to be able to move relative to that on the should terminate to coincide with other joints in the
other; structure.
■ the design assumptions for the structure or Construction joints should be on a single plane
building need the joint at that point so the and preferably located at right angles to the main
analysis is simplified. reinforcement. They should preferably be vertical or
There is a major difference in the objectives and horizontal to the member. Keys are sometimes
requirements for joints constructed for the first included but these can lead to difficulties in
reason (construction joints) compared to the third stripping. If possible, they should be positioned
(isolation joints) as already noted. This Technical away from regions of high shear or high moment.
Note does not address joints required for design AS 36002 requires that in columns and walls a
reasons. construction joint be formed logically at the soffit of
the beams and slabs they support Figure 1. During
CONSTRUCTION JOINTS placement the concrete adjacent to the joint should
A construction joint is defined by the ACI1 as ‘the be well compacted and special attention should be
surface where two successive placements of paid to vibration. The joint should be stripped when
concrete meet, across which it may be desirable to the concrete has set and hosed down to expose the
achieve bond and through which reinforcement may coarse aggregate. Any problems in stripping of the
be continuous’. Generally, because continuity of joint will be eased if it is located away from regions
structural action will be required across the joint, of high moment and reinforcement congestion.
bond will be desirable and the reinforcement will be Immediately prior to placing concrete in the next
continuous. section, the surface should be coated with a cement
Construction joints may be either planned or slurry.
unplanned. Typical details for a construction joint in a
concrete pavement or industrial floor on grade are
shown in Figure 2. The slab reinforcement is
carried through the joint and extra tie bars are
inserted to hold the two sides together.
Filler
D/2
Bond breaker
D
GROUND-SUPPORTED FLOOR – FLOOR
CONTRACTION JOINT Induced crack
Description A joint between one section of a
ground-supported floor or pavement and the
Dowel at 300-mm crs L/2
adjacent section to allow the shrinkage of the (length, L, see table)
concrete to occur at defined locations. L/2 + 25
Figure 7
20
strip can be adjusted during erection. It is necessary
for the flashing strip to be installed after the Expansion gap
installation of the lower baffle strip and it should with sealant and
overlap the lower baffle strip and be turned up at backing rod
A A
Gap
Infill panel
Building frame
ELEVATION
Figure 10
Construction The minimum gap under the angle Alternative support can be provided by proprietary
supporting the outer skin should be detailed at fixings designed to offer this type of support while
20 mm which will allow for tolerances of construction not impeding in plane movements.
and the partial closure due to downwards-creep of The joint should be sealed with a suitable
the supporting structure and upwards-expansion of proprietary sealant on the external and internal
clay masonry. faces as shown. A backing rod should be used to
It is imperative that this outer skin be supported ensure the sealant cross-section has favourable
by the base structure laterally as well as vertically. dimensions. If required a fire-resistant sealant can
Ties back to the inner leaf which should be fixed to be provided at the inner face.
the concrete structure are required. The inner leaf The width of the joint should be sufficient to
can usually be built-in to the concrete frame. absorb the anticipated deflections under earthquake
Compression problems can be avoided by limiting loading.
panel dimensions, or using clay masonry with a low
coefficient of expansion, or concrete or calcium CONCLUSION
silicate masonry. The detailing of joints is an important aspect of
building design and this article provides general
Layout At each floor level as shown in Figure 9. principles and suggested details. Well designed and
constructed joints will enhance both a building’s
INFILL MASONRY PANEL TO CONCRETE FRAMES appearance and give the desired performance in
Description A joint between a masonry infill panel service.
and the supporting structure to isolate the panel
from the structure and prevent it from becoming REFERENCES
part of the lateral load-resisting structure. This can 1 ACI 116R-00 Cement and Concrete Terminology,
lead to failure of the non-structural element or Manual of Concrete Practice Part 1, American
more disastrously, failure of the main supporting Concrete Institute, Chicago, 2004
structure because it was not designed for the 2 AS 3600 Concrete Structures, Standards
modified structural behaviour. Australia, 2001
The joint should isolate the panel for in-plane 3 ACI 504R-90 Guide to Sealing Joints in Concrete
loads due to deflection of the main structure. Structures, Manual of Concrete Practice Part 6,
However, it must ensure that the panel is supported American Concrete Institute, Chicago, 2004
against free loads. The joint must also be 4 Design of Joints in Concrete Structures
weathertight and possibly fire-resistant. (CPN 24), Concrete Institute of Australia – new
revision to be published.
Construction The infill panel may be able to be
self-supporting against fire loading by the inclusion BIBLIOGRAPHY
of buttresses as shown in the Figure 10. The main ■ Precast Concrete Handbook, National Precast
concern is to ensure that the joint is kept clear of Concrete Association Australia, 2002
mortar droppings, and other construction debris.