STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING DIGEST

(interface) may be subjected to compression, in If H/te is more than limiting value suggested, water-
presence of which the leakage will reduce. Hence bar should be provided at the section to reduce the
an equivalent thickness can be accounted in which leakage through construction joints. It is preferable
part of section in tension is discounted. to provide higher thickness, compared to
providing water-bar. Life of water-bar (7 to 10
If N is the size of compression block (depth of
years) is very much less compared to service life of
neutral axis), tension part = t - N, if tension area
structure. For replacing water-bar, structural
offers half the creep resistance (to liquid ow)
modication would be needed (i.e. design is short
compared to compression, the equivalent thickness
of maintainability or poor restorability), and hence
= te = 0.5 t + 0.5 N , but te £ t
use of water-bar should be avoided.
The limiting hydraulic gradient (H/te) through
At a construction joint, if H/te is be >20, the water
monolithic member (away from any joint) can be
side face of the member should be applied with
much higher (say >1.5 to 2 times) and where there is
surface waterproof coating minimum 150 mm (but
no structural crack.
not less than thickness of slab or wall) on each side
Limiting H/te at construction joints of joint. The coating is a maintenance item.
Tension on One Both i.e. direct The construction joint should be sealed on water
faces tension face if H/te is would be >15. The sealant could be
predominant
polysulde or silicone sealant in a grove 3 mm × 3
Crackwidth 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 mm mm. Sealant shall be bonded to concrete on two
® opposite sides by use of suitable primer, and third
(i.e. back opposite of outer free surface) side it
Workmanship H/te H/te H/te H/te Grouting
should be un-bonded by providing a thin bond
¯ need
breaking material. At the wall junction with slab,
Ordinary 30 38 23 30 Occasionally sealing in groove may not be convenient, and hence
Average 35 43 28 35 1 or 2 cycles at the tension corner sealant in triangular shape can
be bonded to the concrete. However sealant should
Good 39 47 32 39 2 or 3 cycles
also have protection against stripping. The sealant
Excellent 42 50 35 42 3 or more is also a maintenance item.
needed
9. Minimum Reinforcement
At bottom end of wall with base, where bending
moment, shear force, direct tension and stress There are four different considerations to be
concentration are present (e.g. wall bottom with coordinated which govern the minimum
oor slab of elevated tank) the limiting H/te can be reinforcement.
kept a bit more conservative. At important joints
(i) Critical steel ratio related to grade of
(with H/te >35) having high stress (example wall
concrete.
bottom), the tensile stress in steel should not be
>0.42 fy in limit state of serviceability. (ii) The length of structure or length between
expansion joint, or pattern of joints and
It should be noted that for keeping H/te higher, the
spacing of joints.
limiting crackwidth shall reduce requiring higher
amount of steel provision and sealing of joint at (iii) Control over cracking due to temperature-
liquid face is advisable. shrinkage effects.

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