Importance of Expansion Joints in Architectural Structures

Importance of Expansion Joints in Architectural Structures

 Expansion joints

 

Expansion joints is an assembly, that designed to hold parts together. It safely absorb the expansion and contraction of construction materials affected by heat.They are commonly found between sections of buildings, bridges, sidewalks, railway tracks, piping systems, ships, and other structures.

Building faces, concrete slabs, and pipelines expand and contract due to warming and cooling from seasonal variation, or due to other heat sources. Before expansion joint gaps were built into these structures, they would crack under the stress induced. It can act as more than one joint at a time. Since it can move it is also known as a movement joint. Along with controlling the expansion and contraction, movement joints can prevent the cracking of floor and cement structure.

Expansion joints are used in piping systems to absorb thermal expansion or terminal movement where the use of expansion loops is undesirable or impractical. Expansion joints are available in many different shapes and materials.Applications of Expansion joint

• Vibration, Noise, Shock, Corrosion, Abrasion
• Stresses, Load Stress, Equipment Movement
• Vibration, Pressure Pulsation and Movement in a Piping System
• internal or external pressure at working temperature
• weight of the pipe it self and the parts supported on it
• movement imposed on pipe sections by external restraints
• thermal expansion

Importance of Expansion Joints in Architectural Structures

Importance of Expansion Joints in Architectural Structures - Build Care Waterproofing Solutions

Expansion Joints in Architectural Structures

Expansion Joints 

Expansion Joints are the structures which used to absorb the thermal expansion and thermal contraction of building materials caused by heat. In order to avoid these issues Expansion Joints are used. Expansion joints are also called Movement Joints. Those are a bellows type device. It also avoids the issues caused by vibration, seismic activity and to allow movement caused by ground settlement. There are different types of expansion joints with variety of applications. 

Importance of Expansion Joints in Architectural Structures

It is important to confirm the safety and durability of buildings during construction. Today the buildings are constructing in an attractive manner. Building's designs, construction and decorating methods are changing day by day. Now most of the buildings are constructed by utilizing natural resources like wind and sunlight. Buildings structures expand and contract according to the climate changes. Thermal contraction of building materials occurs in cold weather and expansion occurs when it is hot weather. Thermal stress varies according to weather changes. To avoid these types of issues Expansion Joints are needed. Expansion Joints can effectively manage the variations and control problems due to vibration, it also hold the building materials together and allow the movement of materials due to earthquake. These joints are placed where a slab meets the building, where a slab meets another slab etc.

Types of Expansion Joints

There are different types of expansion joints with various applications.

• Bridge Expansion joints
• Railway Expansion Joints
• Ducted Air Systems
• Pipe Expansion Joints
• Rubber Expansion Joints
• Fabric Expansion Joints
• Metal Expansion Joints 

Expansion Joint Accessories

• Liners
• Covers
• Particulate Barriers
• Limit Rods