Control joints are provided in a concrete slab to reduce cracks formed due to shrinkage. The specifications of the control joints such as the depth, timing and place of the cut play an important role in the efficiency of the control joint.
In this article, we discuss all the technical specifications one needs to know in order to cut control joints.
1. The Timing of the Control Joint Cut
The time when the concrete slab is saw-cut to make control joints is an important aspect for the efficient use of control joint. Factors such as concrete mix, weather conditions, hardness of concrete and types of machines used for making the control joints determine when to cut the concrete slab.
When the concrete is sawed with the help of blade before it has reached its initial setting time, the aggregates may strew out of the concrete slab and leave a messy, weakened edge along the joint. This effect is known as R.
Sawing too late can result in uncontrolled cracking as the concrete contracts during curing.
The weather condition in which the cuts are made determines the time of making control joints. In hot weather conditions, sawing can be started 4 hours after the concrete is poured. In cold weather conditions, sawing can be started 12 hours after the concrete is poured.
The best way to determine whether the slab is ready is to make trial cuts to check for ravelling. Saw-cutting should start as soon as the ravelling stops during these trial cuts.
2. Location of Control Joint
It is recommended to place the control joints in the centre of the slab dividing the concrete into equal segments. The spacing of the joints is in the range of 24 to 36 times the thickness of the concrete slab.
If you are using high shrinkage concrete, you might want to decrease the cut spacing. The factors that determine the location of control joints are :
- Continuity: The joints must be continuous.
- Square Pattern: They must form segments in square patterns.
- Reinforcement: The ideal location of placing the control joints is where the steel reinforcement is less or not found.
- Size of the segment: The square segments formed in the hot climatic conditions larger than conventional segments due to the fast setting of concrete in a big area.
3. Depth of the Control Joint
The thumb rule used to determine the depth of the control joint is to cut the joints one-quarter to one-third the slab thickness. If the concrete slab laid is 150mm thick, the depth of the joint must be 40mm to 50mm.
If the joint is too deep, aggregate interlocking will not be sufficient to transfer loads. If the saw cut is too shallow, random cracking might occur.
4. How to Cut the Control Joints
The locations where the joints are to be made are calculated and marked using a chalk-line. It must be made sure that all the segments created are of the same size and the cuts are in a straight line.
It is recommended to use machines for making the joints rather than using manual means. If water-cutting is used, make sure that the water is running all the way down to the blade.
The machine blade depth must be set to the depth of the control joint and the concrete slab must be sawed following the chalk mark.
The saw cuts must be cleaned and filler material must be filled in the cuts to protect the reinforcement from corrosion and from a watertight joint.
Tips for Making Control Joints
- Do not twist the saw blade.
- Do not let the blade spin in the cut as this will increase wear on the bond.
- When cutting concrete with heavy rebar, use blades with soft metal segment bonds.
- Always the required PPE (personal protection equipment).
Read More: Difference between Control Joint and Expansion Joint?