Horizontal Construction Joint in Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall

[JNEnginr]

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!

 

[KootK]

Stair shaft?

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.

 

[JNEnginr]

Thanks for the reply. It's an Elevator.

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?

 

[KootK]

My instincts say mid-span = less shear

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.

but then again, am i creating a hinge at mid-span of wall?

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.