PostPosted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:59 am Post subject: How to calculate the expansion joint?

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May please browse earlier discussions on sefi by eminent members - - -

A] Calculation of Expansion joint width from thermal considerations

For thermal movements:

a= Thermal coeff =[ 12/1000000 ] per degree C - - - for concrete

T = temperature variation = T1-T2 = say 34 degree

L = Length of building portions between joints = say max 45m

Then expansion gap from thermal considerations can be worked

Gap needed for expansion of both portions =2*[a *L/2 *T]

Thermal expansion gap = 2*[12/1000000]*22.5*34 = 0.037m =37mm

Normally a gap of 25mm/ 40mm/50mm is provided for buildings upto

4 to 5 storeys from thermal considerations. This may further be checked

as separation joint for storey drift requirements during EQ and critical of

two shall be provided as the expansion /separation joint.

B ]Separation joint for storey drift requirements during EQ

Clause 7.11.3 of IS 1893-2002

The clause is 'Two adjacent buildings ,or two adjacent units of same building with
separation joint in between shall be separated by a distance equal to R times the

sum of calculated storey displacements as per 7.11.1 of each of them to avoid

damaging contact when two units deflect towards each other.When floor level of

two similar adjacent units or buildings are at the same elevation level, the R

in this requirement may be replaced by R/2.

The permissible storey drift as per IS1893 is = 0.004*H

Considering a storey of height 3.0m on average, the

permissible drift per storey works to =0.004*3.0*1000 = 12mm

per storey.

(i) When storey floors are at same elevations

Generally storey floors are at same elevation in adjacent blocks.

The separation gap works =2* 12*5/2=60mm per storey ,

is needed for buildings with R=5.0

However actual storey drift may be much less than permissible

due to presence of shear walls, this may result in lesser requirement

of gap .

(ii) When storey floors are NOT at same elevations

In such case separation gap works =2* 12*5=120mm per storey ,

is needed for buildings with R=5.0

Since actual storey drift may be much less than permissible

due to presence of shear walls, this may result in lesser requirement

of gap

The clause through this, safeguard structure against pounding effect during
out of phase deflections

Recommendations of IS 4326 regarding separation joints

These are old and based on IS 1893 - 1984

For Design seismic coeff Ah=0.12

Box system/or Frames with shear walls - - - - Gap width =15mm per storey

Moment resistant RCC frames - - - - - - - -- - -Gap width =20mm per storey

Moment resistant Steel frames - - - - - - - -- - -Gap width =30mm per storey

Minimum total gap shall not be less than 25mm. For other values of Ah

gap shall be calculated propotionately.

For buildings more than 40m height actual storey drifts shall be worked out

and gap width shall not be less than sum of dynamic deflections