Expansion joint thru structural slab connecting pile caps?

[allanex50]

Our building is designed to have expansion joint. Part of structural slab is connecting to pile caps. And also, the said slab will become our basement floor. Is it safe that expansion joint will cut thru the slab joining the pile caps which is essentially part of the foundation?

Our design drawing does not provide detail on this expansion joint to show that joint will totally cut thru the slab like in the wall does have.

Please any expert can give his valuable opinion is highly appreciated.

 

[hokie66]

An expansion joint in a suspended slab must be supported on both sides of the joint. This support could take various forms, and could mean the slab is cantilevered, but you can't just randomly insert an expansion joint in a slab without designing it to suit.

Is your attachment supposed to show what you are talking about? If so, what part of it? You would be better just to give us a specific plan to comment on.

 

[rowingengineer]

Agree with Hokie, also if this is a basement floor they can be without the expansion joint while the walls can have an expansion joint. This is due to the relatively low thermal change in the slab compared to the walls, of course this is horses for course situation thus posting the specific will help us comment. if you can't post the specifics I would contact the EOR and confirm the requirements.

http://www.nceng.com.au/

"A safe structure will be the one whose weakest link is never overloaded by the greatest force to which the structure is subjected” Petroski 1992