What would happen if there were no expansion joints?

Author: Nathaniel Jacobson  |  Last update: Wednesday, July 9, 2025

If expansion joints are not present in a large building or structure, that building is subject to cracking or damage over time. An expansion joint cover is designed to close those gaps while functioning to accommodate the expected movement.

What would happen without expansion joints?

Without expansion joints, bridges cannot absorb the forces caused by temperature fluctuations or heavy loads. As a result, the bridge may start to deform, meaning it could bend or twist out of shape. This bending makes the bridge unstable and more likely to collapse under the pressure of daily use.

What would happen if there were no joints?

Our bodies would resemble a collection of disconnected bones if they lacked joints. We won't be able to do things like bend and stretch because we won't be able to bend and stretch. We will also be unable to move since joints are important for joining the bones and making the skeleton flexible.

What would happen if expansion joints weren't used?

Without functional joints, concrete cannot properly expand and contract. This can cause internal stresses, leading to cracking, spalling, and significant structural damage.

Why are expansion joints necessary?

In building construction, expansion joints are strategically placed gaps that allow concrete slabs to expand and contract without damaging the structure. They act as a buffer zone, absorbing thermal movement and preventing the formation of cracks and fissures.

Why Railroads Don't Need Expansion Joints

Why are expansion gaps necessary?

An expansion gap is a crucial space left around the edges of a room when installing laminate flooring. This gap allows the flooring to expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity, preventing issues like buckling, warping, or lifting.

How big can a concrete slab be without control joints?

My rule of thumb is squares up to 12' don't need control joints (similar to ecnerwal) but rectangles do when the length is more than 150% of the length or a 4 foot wide pad longer than 6' needs a control line since this is 8' I would put one at 4'.

What would happen to a bridge that did not have expansion joints?

Temperature Movements

Without expansion joints, the bridge would be subjected to excessive stress, leading to cracks and structural instability. Expansion joints allow the bridge to expand and contract freely, reducing the strain on the structure.

What is the purpose of a pipe expansion joint?

Expansion joints are designed to safely absorb the movement in pipework systems due to heat-induced expansion and contraction of pipework. When a pipeline is subject to a change in temperature it will expand or contract in direct proportion to that change.

Can we avoid expansion joints in buildings?

Can we build without expansion joints? While building without expansion joints entirely may not be feasible at present, there have been attempts to minimize their presence and integrate them more seamlessly into architectural designs.

What happens without joints?

Since bones don't bend, without joints, it would be impossible for you to move around! The different types of joints are based on how much they can move. Freely movable, or synovial (suh-NOW-vee-uhl), joints can move a lot and are the most common joints in the body.

What are joints and why are they important?

A joint is the part of the body where two or more bones meet to allow movement. Generally speaking, the greater the range of movement, the higher the risk of injury because the strength of the joint is reduced.

Can we bend our body at every part?

Therefore, we cannot bend our body at every body part. The body can be bent only at the joints.

Why do railroads not need expansion joints?

Try as they might, railroads could never make these joints quite as rigid as the rest of the rail, meaning that (in addition to the extra wear) they would create additional load on the ballast below, and the flexing would cause freight cars to rock side-to-side in a phenomenon called rock and roll.

What would happen if we didn't have joints?

Joints are where two bones meet. They make the skeleton flexible — without them, movement would be impossible.

Why do walls need expansion joints?

The purpose of the expansion joint is to allow for the natural expansion and contraction of the building materials due to temperature changes, moisture, and other factors that cause building materials to expand and contract.

How important is expansion joints?

A: An expansion joint is essentially a gap on both sides of a wall. The joint(s) are necessary for a structure to be able achieve one or more of the four types of movement (thermal, wind sway, settlement, and seismic) without causing damage to the structure.

Why are pipe joints needed?

Pipe joints are essential components in plumbing and piping systems, connecting individual pipes to create a continuous and secure flow path. Various types of pipe joints are utilised based on the application, pipe material, and the required strength and flexibility.

At what distance is an expansion joint required?

Expansion joints in walls at 30 m maximum intervals. (If the walls are panel walls between columns at not more than 9 m centres no joints are necessary.) Control joints over centre of openings may be given at half the spacing of expansion joints.

What happens to concrete without expansion joints?

All concrete will shrink slightly as it dries and, when it's set, will expand or contract depending on the ambient temperature. To prevent cracks from forming, concrete expansion joints should be incorporated to allow for movement, particularly in slabs with a surface area exceeding 6m2.

Why are expansion joints necessary for a bridge?

Bridges made of concrete are going to expand and contract slightly for a number of reasons, including temperature changes, shrinkage of the concrete, settlement, ice and even the weight of vehicles. Bridge expansion joints are what allow the concrete to naturally expand and contract without cracking.

Why don't railroads buckle?

As most track is made up of long pieces of rail that are stretched and welded together, there is much less chance of buckling in very high temperatures because there is reduced compression.

Can you add expansion joints after concrete is poured?

Therefore, planning expansion joints before pouring concrete and installing them shortly after provides the best thermal performance.

How much weight can a 4 inch concrete slab handle?

Typical Weight Capacity: A well-constructed 4-inch concrete driveway can typically support weights ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 pounds, which is sufficient for most passenger cars and light SUVs.

What happens if you don't cut concrete within 24 hours?

What happens if you cut concrete after 24 hours? Wet concrete will crack up once it starts to dry. This process happens due to weather or temperature fluctuations and the material's natural ability to shrink.

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