Horizontal Construction Joint in Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall
Horizontal Construction Joint in Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall
(OP)
Hey Guys,
Any thoughts on placing a construction joint in a shear wall? Would you dowel more than normal at the joint?
I have a footing at -3', and the joint is being placed at the slab +3', so theres 6ft between footing and joint. But there's a door at the slab, so less concrete to transfer the shear. Shear wall has 3 sides, side 1 and 3 are solid and identical and parallel to each other, and side 2 has the door and is perpendicular to the other two walls, and is the one im concerned about.
Let me know if you need more information.
Thanks!
Any thoughts on placing a construction joint in a shear wall? Would you dowel more than normal at the joint?
I have a footing at -3', and the joint is being placed at the slab +3', so theres 6ft between footing and joint. But there's a door at the slab, so less concrete to transfer the shear. Shear wall has 3 sides, side 1 and 3 are solid and identical and parallel to each other, and side 2 has the door and is perpendicular to the other two walls, and is the one im concerned about.
Let me know if you need more information.
Thanks!






RE: Horizontal Construction Joint in Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall
1) So long as your "dowels" are really just an extension of your vertical bars with appropriate lap splicing, I think that you should be fine.
2) Maybe run a quick shear friction check on the joint to ensure that you can deal with the shear force needing to be transferred.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Horizontal Construction Joint in Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall
Would it make sense to ask them to locate it at a mid-span of the wall? My instincts say mid-span = less shear, but then again, am i creating a hinge at mid-span of wall?
RE: Horizontal Construction Joint in Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall
Depends, mid-span = less shear for transverse loads. I wouldn't imagine that those would be critical however. And, for in-plane (shear wall) loads, the shear needing to be dealt with should be essentially constant between floor levels.
So long as you're lapping the bars above and below the joint, there's no hinge in the finished wall.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.