Theoretical Development and Design Aids for Expansion Joint Spacings

Theoretical Development and Design Aids for Expansion Joint Spacings

It has been a well known fact that buildings having inappropriate expansion joints in their spacings may be subject to exterior damages due to extensive cracks on the outer walls under service loads and structural damages due to excessive moment induced by temperature changes at ultimate load conditions. Unfortunately, consistent code provisions are unavailable regarding spacings of expansion joints from different foreign structural codes. And a more serious problem is that no quantitative measurements on spacings is given in our codes for building structures. In order to establish a rational guideline on the spacing of expansion joints, theoretical approaches are taken in this study. The developed theoretical formula is, then, converted to a design chart for structural designers' convenience in its use. The chart considers both service and ultimate load stages.