There are numerous joints in every structure because it takes months to develop a building. Almost in every building, it has different joints. These joints need particular attention so that they can’t create a problem for you in the future. Here we discussed some differences between different types of joints

1. Difference Between Control,
Construction, and Expansion Joints

2. • We know that concrete is strong in compression and weak in tension
that’s why we use reinforcement for high tensile strength. The added
content of the concrete makes it incredible in strength.

3. • Today we are going to see the difference between Control, Construction,
and Expansion Joints.

4. What is Contraction/Control Joints?
• Once the concrete gets poured and hardened, the water in it starts to
evaporate and makes the concrete to shrink and develop shrinkage
cracks, especially on longer slabs. Contraction or Control joints are
provided to avoid this crack from developing to the entire area.

5. Purpose of Control Joints
• Basically, control joint is the action of making a saw cut groove and weaken the
slab where we think the crack may occur due to shrinkage (Mostly at the
middle of the slab).

6. What is Construction Joints & Its
Purpose?
• In a day we only pour a certain amount of concrete and leave the rest to the
next day even though it all act as one complete structure for load transfer.
Construction joints are used to strengthen the unit and make it as one whole
unit.

7. • That means we purposefully make the concrete pour in certain shapes. So
that the next fresh set of concrete will blend together with the older one
and act as one whole unit. This is known as construction joint.

8. What is Expansion Joint?
• Expansion Joint on the other hand, as we told earlier, the materials gets expand
due to temperature. If we construct the adjacent structure without providing
expansion joint then the volume change will affect the adjacent structure and
gets it defigured. Makes the whole structure collapsed.

9. Purpose of Expansion Joints
• Providing expansion joints makes room for the structure to allow to move
or expand according to their properties. These gaps will be filled by some
allowable materials such as bitumen or fiberboard. We can see these
mainly at Bridge decks and sometimes in a long set of building units
constructed very closely.

10. • These are the primary differences between Control, Construction, and
Expansion Joints. If you want to know more about materials used in
construction joints, Click on the following Link.
Materials Used For Construction Joints