Joints in concrete

pavement
 IMPORTANCE OF PAVEMENT JOINTS

Pavement joints are vital to control pavement

cracking and pavement movement

Without joints, most concrete pavements would be

riddled with cracks within one or two years after
placement.
 4 principal types of joint

1. Contraction joints
2. Construction joints
3. Expansion joints
4. Isolation joint
CONTRACTION JOINTS
Are provided traverse to the carriageway.

Localize shrinkage or permits contraction of concrete

during curing.

Normally formed by sawing a groove on concrete

Depth: slab thickness

CONSTRUCTING CONTRACTION JOINT

The pavement is sawed by 1/4D. It should be sawed as soon as

the concrete is enough not to be torn. Which maybe as little as 4
hrs after placement but not more than 12 hrs.
Pavement Width (m) Joint Spacing(m)

6.10 3.75

6.70 4.00

7.00 4.25

7.30 4.50

Spacing for Contraction joints

 Construction joints
Are used whenever there is an interruption of paving
operations such as that w/c occurs at the end of the day or
when placing of concrete must stop because of equipment
breakdown or bad weather.

May be formed longitudinally(parallel to the direction of

travel) or transversely.
Longitudinal construction joint
Longitudinal Construction joints
Are formed between lanes when the carriageway is cast in separate
lanes widths.

A concrete key is formed and tie bars are provided at the joint.

Tie bars should be deformed 12mm dia. Steel bars & 750mm long.

Spaced in accordance with the table on the next slide.

Traverse Construction joints

Construction Joints Coincident with Planned Contraction joint

Construction joint Not coincide with Contraction Joint

Coincident with planned contraction joint
Construction Joint coincident with planned contraction joint

In this case, the construction joint should be provided with dowel.

Dowels should be smooth round bars. Located at the mid depth of
the slab.

Slab thickness Dowel bar diameter

(mm)
175 20
200 25
230 25
250 30
275 30
300 36
325 40
350 40
 Construction Joint not coincident with contraction joint
Same as the longitudinal construction joint
Occurs at middle third.
 Expansion Joints
These are not considered necessary provided that the
recommended spacing for contraction joints are followed.

These are provided at intervals of 18-21 to allow for the

expansion of the slab due to rise in temp.

Rarely used in the Philippines.

When to use Expansion joint

1. The pavement is divided into long panels (60 ft(18m) or more) without
contraction joints in-between.

2. The pavement is constructed while ambient temperatures are below

40F (4C).

3. The contraction joints are allowed to be infiltrated by large

incompressible materials.

4. The pavement is constructed of materials that in the past have shown

high expansion characteristics.

In most situations, these criteria do not apply. Therefore, expansion

joints should not normally be used.
Isolation joint
This is basically a form of expansion joint w/c consist of a
compressible joint filler and sealant. (10mm)

It is provided wherever there is an inter face between the

concrete pavement and fixed structures such as chambers and
bridge decks.

It ensures that movements in the structures are not carried into

the concrete pavement slab.