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Concrete expands as it gets warmer and contracts as it gets colder. Left to itself these size changes can lead to cracks occurring, if different parts of the structure heats up/cools off at a different rate than other parts. By dividing the concrete into sections separated by joints that allow for some movement the thermal stresses can be managed and the risk of the concrete cracking goes away.

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Q: What is expansion contraction joint how concrete expands contracts?
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Why are the concrete slabs laid with gaps?

Concrete expands when heated and contracts when cooled. Roads are built with gaps filled in with rubber, tar or other flexible mass which will not wash away when it rains. This prevents them from cracking into pieces as they contract in winter and prevents and buckling when it is hot in summer and the slabs expand. Bridges have gaps, usually a set of metal 'teeth' to prevent them from crushing themselves. If the gap is at vertical columns it is because the slab must be isolated from the columns so that when the building moves it will not crack the slab. The boxes (or diamonds) are lined around the perimeter of the opening with 1/2" expansion material and around the column to all movement (including the expansion and contraction of the slab itself). There are reasons to leave other holes such as for future plumbing work etc.


What is jet grouting?

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What is organic planning?

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What causes potholes or large cracks in a pavement to appear in a street?

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Related questions

How does law of expansion and contraction work in thermometers?

The material in the thermometer expands and contracts as temperature increases or reduces.


What are examples of thermal expansion and contraction?

the Mercury in a thermometer expands when heated and contracts when the temperature cools down.


Why are pieces of rubber placed between slabs of concrete?

Concrete expands and contracts depending on the temperature. The strips are called expansion joints.


Why are there gaps at regular spots in the side walk?

They're called "expansion joints". Concrete expands and contracts with temperature changes. The expansion joints allow this to happen without cracking the concrete slab.


Why does the expansion joints in a sidewalk get narrow in the summer and get wider in the winter?

Expansion joints in sidewalks are designed to accommodate the natural expansion and contraction of the concrete due to temperature changes. In the summer, the concrete expands with the heat, causing the joints to narrow. In winter, when the concrete contracts in the cold, the joints widen to prevent cracking and damage to the sidewalk.


What are the causes of expansion and contraction of water on soil formation?

in the daytime the suns heat expands rocks.and in the night it contracts. this causes the rocks to crack and eventually breakdown which foorms soil


How does Thermal expansion and contraction affect dental waxes?

it expands and ur bf


What is Thermal stress and the effects?

when the temperature of the body is lowered or raised, it contracts or expands accordingly. If this expansion or contraction is prevented, then a stress is produced called thermal stress


Matter expands when its gets hotter and contracts when it cool?

The explanation of Thermal Expansion.


Matter expands when it gets hotter and contracts when it cools?

The explanation of Thermal Expansion.


Why are there gaps between the slabs of concrete pavements?

There are 2 reasons for that. Reason one: They can be expansion joints. In the winter the pavement contracts and in the summer it expands. these joints are generally gaps that go the whole way threw the pavement. Generally these joints are filled with some sort of caulking to keep moisture from getting underneath the pavement. Reason two: They can be put there as joints for the concrete to crack. when sidewalks are made and other concrete pavements, they anticipate the concrete cracking, so they put in gaps that dont go all the way threw the depth of the concrete as a place for the concrete to crack and not be unsightly.


What are the gaps in the concrete road made of and why is that material used?

There are several ways that the thermal expansion joints in a concrete road surface can be made:cut by a concrete saw after the concrete sets, there is no material in the jointfilled with a compressible fiberboard spacer before pouring the concrete, this spacer is left behind in the joint and easily compresses when the concrete expands and expands when the concrete contractsfilled with interleaved steel teeth before pouring the concrete, these teeth slide past each other as the concrete expands and contracts they provide a smoother road surface and are commonly used on bridgesetc.