12/7/2021

Joints in Slabs-on-Ground — Avoiding Floors That Live in Infamy

This Webinar is sponsored by ACI. The ideas expressed, however, are those
of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ACI or its
committees. The audience is expected to exercise judgment as to the
appropriate application of the information.
Please adjust your audio level at this time.

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• For continuing education credit, attendance for the entire duration of the
webinar will earn you a certificate of completion for 1 PDH (0.1 CEU). Your
certificate will be available in ACI University under the Certificates tab
within two days.

• For those who cannot join us live; the on-demand recording and quiz will
be made available about a week after the LIVE presentation. Successful
completion of the quiz will earn the certificate.

• Certificates will be available in ACI University under the Certificates tab.

• Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be

addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

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American Concrete Institute is a Registered Provider with The American

Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES).
Credit(s) earned on completion of this online course will be reported to
AIA/CES for AIA members.

The online course based on this webinar is registered with AIA/CES for
continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that
may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA
of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using,
distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

The American Institute of Architects has approved this course for

1 AIA/CES LU Learning Unit.

The American Institute of Architects has approved

this course for 1 AIA/CES LU learning unit.
ACI is an AIA/CES registered provider.

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Joints in Slabs-on-Ground — Avoiding Floors That Live in

Infamy

Course Description:
Joints in slabs-on-ground are the weak points in the floor. They’re intended to allow
movement. Construction or isolation joints are the slab edges. And contraction joints are
installed to weaken the slab at locations where tensile restraint stresses are relieved as
cracking beneath the joints. But these joints must be designed and detailed properly to
provide the serviceability desired. This webinar will cover the basics of joints in slabs-on-
ground and how to detail them to provide long-term performance. Minimizing random
cracking as well as controlling crack widths will be discussed. Strategies to extend
joint spacing and the concept of enhanced aggregate interlock will also be reviewed.

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Joints in Slabs-on-Ground — Avoiding Floors That Live in

Infamy

Learning Objectives:
• Explain the purpose of joints in slabs-on-ground and how to determine the
proper joint spacing needed.
• Discuss ways of detailing joints to provide the desired serviceability.
• Describe the purpose of joint filling and the importance and potential
challenges of maintaining the joint filler.
• List factors that need to be considered when extending the joint spacing to
minimize the number of joints that need to be installed, filled, and
maintained.

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Scott Tarr,
PE, FACI
Scott M. Tarr, FACI, is President of North S.Tarr Concrete
Consulting, Dover, NH. He is a licensed engineer with
nearly 30 years of experience in concrete floor slab
design and floor covering issues. He has authored
numerous articles and documents, including the book
Concrete Floors on Ground. He is Chair of ACI
Committee 360, Design of Slabs on Ground, and a
member of several ACI committees, including 301,
Specifications for Structural Concrete, and 302,
Construction of Concrete Floors. He is also a member of
ACPA, ASCC, ASCE, ASTM International, and ICRI.

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Joints in Slabs-on-Ground
Avoiding Floors That Live in Infamy
Scott Tarr, PE FACI
North S.Tarr Concrete Consulting, P.C.
December 7, 2021

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Jointing

• Joint Types
- Construction
- Isolation
- Contraction/Control

“Movement” Joints

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Construction Joints

• Designate Pour Limits

- Single Days Placement
• Butt-Type (Formed)
- Traditional Formed Keyways Not Recommended

• Doweled if Unbonded
- Load Transfer and Joint Stability
- Prevent Differential Movement

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Traditional Formed Keyway Joints

Form Includes Keyway Notch

“Female” Side of Joint Cast
“Male” Side of Joint Cast

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Traditional Formed Keyway Joints

Form Includes Keyway Notch

“Female” Side of Joint Cast
“Male” Side of Joint Cast
Concrete Shrinks and Joint Widens
Load Transfer is Lost
Unsupported “Female” Side Cracks
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Doweled Construction Joints

Smooth Devices That Transfer Vertical Load

From One Side of the Joint to the Other Without
Restricting Joint Widening.

Round Bars
Square Bars
Plates
Continuous
Diamond
Square/Rectangular

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Doweled Construction Joints

Must Consolidate
Around Dowels!

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Doweled Joints

Must Consolidate
Around Dowels!

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Isolation Joints

• Isolate Floor Slab (Match Existing)

- Perimeter Walls
- Interior Columns
- Slab Penetrations
- Bollards, Drains, Plumbing, Electrical

• Joint Material
- Compressible
- Full-Depth

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Contraction Joints

• Control Random Cracking Due To Restraint to

Concrete Shrinkage.
- Shrinkage Restraint and Curling Stresses
• All Jointed Floors are Expected to Curl.
• Install Joints at Proper:
- Spacing
- Depth
- Timing

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Contraction Joints

Joint - A crack placed where we

want it to be.

Crack -A joint placed where the

concrete wants it to be.

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Joints are Generally Preferred Over Cracks

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Joint Spacing

Random
ACI Crack
360R Control
Only!

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Extended Joint Spacing

• Design Extends Joint Spacing Beyond that

Recommended by ACI 360.
– Presumably Assumes No/Minimal Out-of-Joint
Random Cracking or Achieves Serviceable Cracking.
• Owner Should be Informed of Expectation
– Must Accomplish One or More of the Following:
• Reduce Concrete Shrinkage Potential
• Reduce Restraint
• Keep Random Cracks Tight and Closely-Spaced
– Design for Joint Widening
– Slab Systems That Require Sawcut Contraction Joints
Shrink and Curl.
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Contraction Joint Depth

• Create a Weakened Plane to determine Crack

Location
- Non or Minimally Reinforced – 1/4 Slab Thickness
- Fiber-Reinforced – 1/3 Slab Thickness
- Reinforced – No Contraction Joints
• Grooving/Tooling or Sawcutting
- Beware of Crack Promoting Insert (Vertical?)

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Contraction Joint Timing

• Before Tensile Stress Exceeds Developed

Tensile Strength (Crack)
- Restraint to Volumetric Decrease
Friction, Penetrations

• Just After Peak Heat of Hydration (Cooling)

- Drying Shrinkage & Temperature Contraction
- Generally 8 to 12 Hours After Placement

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Load-Transfer at Sawcut Contraction Joints

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Load-Transfer at Sawcut Contraction Joints

• Aggregate Interlock
• Dowel Baskets
• Enhanced
Aggregate
Interlock

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Enhanced Aggregate Interlock

s

Transferring a small amount of deformed

reinforcement through joints.
• Not Enough to Prevent Joint Activation (cracking
beneath the sawcut) and Cause Random Cracking.
• But Enough to Prevent Excessive Joint Widening.

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Enhanced Aggregate Interlock

s

t t

s
0.10% Reinforcing Has Been Found to Work Well
Cross-Sectional Area of Steel (πr2) as a Percentage of the
Cross-Sectional Area of the Slab (tꞏs).

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Actual Joint Activation

Joint widens at top

“V” Shaped
Sawcut – t/4
Joint Width

While bottom widening is

typically very minimal

Slab drying From the top surface

Joint width non-uniform through aggregate interlock portion
Light reinforcement to “Enhance” aggregate interlock

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“Hybrid” Construction Joint

Joint widens at top

Sawcut – t/4

Formed Joint – No Aggregate Interlock - Dowels

Slab drying From the top surface
Joint widens more than typical
Some designers restrain joint widening by adding deformed bars
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“Hybrid” Construction Joint

Plan View
Alternating Dowels and Deformed #3 Bars (3 ft Long)
Design for Load Transfer First
Add Restraining Bars if Desired (Spacing of 24” to 30” Ideal)
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“Hybrid” Construction Joint

Smooth Dowel Bars @ 12” o.c.

Deformed #3 Bars @ 24” o.c.
Dowel Plates @ 18” o.c.
Deformed #3 Bars @ ?
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“Hybrid” Construction Joint

Smooth Dowel Bars @ 12” o.c.

Deformed #3 Bars @ 24” o.c.
Dowel Plates @ 15” o.c.
Deformed #3 Bars @ 30” o.c.
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Joint Sealing vs. Joint Filling

• Sealing
- “Seal” the joint to prevent penetration
of water, dirt, debris, etc.
- Flexible to accommodate joint movement
without breaking “seal”
• Filling
- “Fill” the joint space to give compressive
lateral support to joint wall
- Semi-rigid to provide compressive support
while allowing minimal joint movement
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Joint Sealing

• Predominantly Exterior
• Large temperature and moisture swings so
large joint widening and narrowing
• Gives no compressive lateral support to joint
wall
• Needs joint shape factor (width:depth)
- Typically achieved with the use of a
backer rod beneath sealer

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Joint Filling

• Used on interior joints subjected to hard-

wheeled vehicles
- Minor temperature and moisture variations with
minimal joint widening and narrowing
- Supports joint wall
• Needs to be full-depth of joint sawcut
- Aspect ratio not needed as not intended to elongate
- Compressive lateral support to joint wall

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Exterior Pavement Joints

- Semi Tractor Trailer

90,000 lb
- 18 pneumatic tires @ ~120 psi
inflation pressure
- Results in typical footprint
of 6 in. by 7 in. for each tire

120 psi Contact Pressure

Higher on outer wall?

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Exterior Pavement Joint Sealing

Install Foam Backer Rod

120 psi

Install
Flexible
Joint
Sealant

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Interior Floor Joints

Solid Rubber
Polyurethane
300 – 500 psi

Pneumatic Tires 100 – 200 psi

700 – 800 psi
>1000 psi

>2500 psi

Steel Wheels
Hard Wheels WEBINAR

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Interior Floor Joint Spalling

• Wheel Type/Traffic
• Joint Filler Material
• Joint Stability (0.01”)

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Interior Floor Joint Filling

Monitor for Separation

due to Widening and
Curling Over Initial 18
Months.

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Questions?
Joints in Slabs-on-Ground — Avoiding Floors That Live in Infamy
This webinar is sponsored by the American Concrete Institute (ACI).
Thank you to our presenter: Scott Tarr.
Please use the question feature to submit your questions.
To earn continuing education for this webinar go to www.ACIUniversity.com.

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www.ACIUniversity.com

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