Today, owners are looking beyond crack width control for concrete flatwork. This gives designers and contractors the opportunity to offer a performance-based design for the specific facility use. Factoring in joint stability requirements during the design phase yields both construction efficiency and a more sustainable slab.
For contraction joints in interior floors the maximum joint spacing has traditionally been calculated as simply 24 to 36 inches times the thickness of the slab. However, there are many factors to consider when determining the joint spacing for your specific project, including:
- Static or dynamic loading
- Rack loads versus lift truck loads
- Fork truck type and fork truck capacity
- Slab depth
Planning the right joint spacing, quality subgrade and load transfer systems will allow lateral movement of adjacent slab panels and prevent restraint. This approach to performance-based dowel design and resulting slab design focuses on the performance of the joints while optimizing project materials.
Call your local PNA expert (see Territory Manager Locator) to discuss appropriate joint types, details such as joint spacing and joint stability criteria to best suit your design, enabling you to reliably deliver durable, cost-effective concrete flatwork that meets yours or your customer’s expectations.