Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

SS017a-EN-EU

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

This document provides guidance for the conceptual design of movement joints in steel
buildings.

Contents
1. Context 2

2. Effects of temperature variation 3

3. Treatment of movement joints 5

4. References 9
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Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

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Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

SS017a-EN-EU

1. Context
Building performance is influenced by several physical phenomena whose effects are not easy
to quantify:
‰ Temperature changes and thermal expansion
‰ Differential settlement of the foundations
‰ Creep and shrinkage during drying of the concrete
‰ Vibrations
For smaller buildings, and general construction, these phenomena may frequently be ignored.
For larger scale construction, or special circumstances, one or more of the following features
to accommodate relative movement between different parts of the structure should be
adopted:
‰ Expansion joints: these permit displacement to limit thermally induced forces in long
buildings. Their specification depends on temperature range and the thermal expansion
coefficient of the materials (see Section 2)
‰ Construction joints: these control drying shrinkage of concrete floors and ground slabs
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‰ Separation joints: these ensure separate behaviour of parts of the building that are of
different height or structural orientation
‰ Compacting joints: these are specialist devices that mitigate the effects of the
differential settlement that may arise from variations in substrata below the building.

Arrows indicate compression forces when expansion is constrained.

Figure 1.1 Effects of restrained expansion in a long building

1
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1 = Separation joint

Figure 1.2 Separation of a single building into separate blocks

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Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

SS017a-EN-EU

The overall design of the buildings must take account of the positioning of joints, in
particular, their influences on overall structural behaviour and analysis.
Individual joints must be specified to accommodate the predicted magnitude of the horizontal
and/or vertical displacements.
The positioning of vertical and horizontal bracing and its design must be compatible with
joint positions. The bracing positions must not inhibit the movements for which the joints
have been provided. Each separate part of the building must be adequately braced.
All other components of the building and its equipment (for example a conveyor) must take
account of joint positions and their predicted displacements.
Expansion joints and construction joints are the most common type of movement joint and are
discussed in more detail below. Other types of movement joint generally require specialist
design and are beyond the scope of this document.

2. Effects of temperature variation

EN 1991-1-5 gives principles and rules for calculating thermal actions on buildings, bridges,
other structures and their structural elements [1].
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Values of the maximum shade air temperature Tmax and minimum shade air temperature Tmin
may be specified by the National Annex to EN 1991-1-5.
In steel structures, with a coefficient of linear thermal expansion α = 12x10-6 per °C (as given
in EN 1993-1-1 § 3.2.6 [2]), the effects of the variations of the temperature can be significant.
In assessing temperature variation, it is important to distinguish between internal and external
steelwork. The latter is likely to be subject to much greater variation than the former.
External frames may be exposed to a temperature range from -23°C to + 35°C, relative to the
temperature at which they are built. The free expansion/contraction at these temperatures is -
3 mm / + 0.4 mm per metre length of building. In practice, all expansion is partly constrained
and actual movements will be slightly less.
Thermal movements can lead to:
‰ Damage at supports, including cracking or even instability of walls supporting long
beams or trusses
‰ Connection failure
‰ Significant internal forces in statically indeterminate structures.

2.1 Design of typical industrial steel buildings

In typical industrial steel buildings, stability in the tranverse direction is achieved by portal
frame action and longitudinal direction by vertical bracing .
Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Two design cases need to be considered:

‰ For portal frames, the expansion should be considered by calculation,
‰ For the vertical bracing in the longitudinal direction, the interaction between the
expansion and the vertical bracing design needs to be considered.

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Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

SS017a-EN-EU

A part of the elongation of the structural components in the longitudinal direction can
generally be absorbed by the slip in connections.
Nevertheless, expansion joints should be provided when the temperature differential becomes
important (external structures, or uninsulated construction), or the slips in connections
become insufficient to absorb the full thermal expansion. The building length above which
expansion joints are used in practice varies between countries. For example, in France, with a
continental climate, expansion joints are recommended for expansion lengths above 50m, i.e.
a building length of 100 m with mid-length bracing. In the UK, with a more temperate
climate and different construction traditions, expansion joints are only recommended for
buildings over 150 m in length. Even above this length, industry advice acknowledges that
expansion joints may be omitted if large individual members such as eaves and beams and
crane girders are designed to resist stresses due to restraint expansion.
Position of vertical bracings:
It is not recommended to set out vertical bracing systems at both ends of the building unless
there is an expansion joint in between. This arrangement would inhibit the expansion of the
longitudinal members and could induce high forces in the structural components of the long
sides and in their connections.
For long buildings it is recommended to set out only one vertical bracing at the mid point of
the long sides, thus allowing expansion towards the ends in both directions.
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Figure 2.1 Bracing layouts that are NOT recommended

(1)

(2)

< 50m to 75m < 50 m to 75m

Key:
1 Permanent bracing
2 Possible temporary bracing for erection stability. Where the building erection is required to start at
one end of the building, it will be necessary to provide temporary bracing to stabilise the first two
frames to be erected. This temporary bracing should be removed.
Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Figure 2.2 Recommended bracing arrangements

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Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

SS017a-EN-EU

2.2 Particular cases

‰ Built-up members
Components of built-up members can sometimes have very different temperatures, for
example when the build-up member comprises a mixture of chords located outside of the
building and chords inside.
The forces generated in the lacings or battens, due to these local temperature differences,
should be taken into account during their design.
‰ Erection stage
In the same way, if the frame is erected in exceptionally hot or cold weather, adjustment
of the components should be carried out in order to allow the construction to return to its
null position when the temperature is back to normal.
‰ Cases of fire
It may also be necessary to ensure the free expansion of the steel structure in the event of
fire, in order to provide better stability to the components of the structure.

3. Treatment of movement joints

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The primary function of movement joints is to absorb the effects of the thermal expansion
during the design working life. However, if necessary they can also act as other types of
joint:
‰ Construction joints
‰ Compacting joints.
Design of movement joints has to take account of:
‰ Building architecture
‰ Local and overall geometry
‰ Any forces or reactions transferred across the joint
‰ Specified displacements and notations in one or more directions.
In most steel structures, the movement joint cuts the building into two blocks. Different
approaches may be taken at the joint position, as discussed in Section 3.1 to 3.3.

3.1 Double portal frame at expansion joint location

The portal frame or main beam is repeated on both sides of the expansion joint, as shown in
Figure 3.1.
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Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

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(1)

< 50 m < 50 m < 50 m < 50 m

50 < L < 200 m

Key:
1 Expansion joint
Note: the 50 m expansion length is appropriate in continental climates; 75 m may be achievable in
more temperate climates.

Figure 3.1 Typical positioning of bracings in a long building

The purlins are provided with cantilevers with sufficient clearance to accommodate the
specified expansion.
3 3

2 2
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1
1

With cleat Without cleat

Key:
1 Distance between axes of portal frames
2 Maximum contraction
3 Centreline of expansion joint
Note: Cleats are preferred with light gauge, cold formed purlins. They may be omitted where heavier,
hot-rolled purlins are adopted.

Figure 3.2 Double portal frames at expansion joint

Advantages
‰ Possibility to absorb substantial horizontal and vertical displacements,
Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

‰ Use of conventional connections and joints between the elements of the structure,
‰ Possibility to separate both parts of the building for the fire limit state. A fire wall may
readily be built adjacent to the expansion joint.
‰ Solutions recommended in seismic regions (in this case, the joint must satisfy seismic
design rules concerning the gap between blocks).

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Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

SS017a-EN-EU

Disadvantages :
‰ Modification of the grid of the building,
‰ Doubling of foundation works,
‰ Requires an additional frame
‰ Serious consequences on the design of the joints to be used for cladding, roofing and
sealing,
‰ High costs.
As with all expansion joints, it is important to detail the cladding and roofing carefully, to
avoid water ingress and maximise air tightness.

3.2 Connection with slotted holes

1
1 2
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2
Without cleat With cleat

Key:
1 Expansion joint
2 Maximum expansion

Figure 3.3 Connections with slotted holes

Advantages
‰ economy of material
‰ simple fabrication
‰ low cost
‰ Possibility of inserting a stainless plate between two sheets of P.T.F.E (for example
Teflon), and between two components of the structure to ensure better slip.
Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Disadvantages
‰ Very small displacements possible,
‰ Delicate adjustment on site of the initial position of the bolt in the slotted hole,
‰ Not recommended in seismic zone.

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Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

SS017a-EN-EU

As with all expansion joints, it is important to detail the cladding and roofing carefully, to
avoid water ingress and maximise air tightness.

3.3 Use of special bearings

If high loads have to be transmitted across the expansion joint, several types of special
structural bearings can be used.

These are the subject of specific standards gathered under the number of European standard
EN 1337 [3].

Two common types of bearings are presented below.

3.3.1 Elastomeric bearings
These bearing systems, made of a thick laminated elastomer (steel reinforcing plates bonded
between layers of elastomer), allow horizontal displacements by deformation of the
elastomeric layer of into a parallelogram.
The thickness of elastomer is calculated according to the vertical load and the requirement for
rotation and horizontal displacements.
When horizontal displacements are important, a bearing plate on P.T.F.E (for example
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Teflon) and a stainless steel plate can be added to ensure better slip.

Key:
1 Steel plate
2 Hard elastomer
3 Stainless steel plate
4 Sheet of P.T.F.E (for example Teflon)
5 Laminated elastomer

Figure 3.4 Elastomeric bearing

Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Advantages
‰ Possibility of absorbing both rotation and small vertical displacements (differential
settlement of columns) at the beam support.

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Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

SS017a-EN-EU

Disadvantages
‰ Expensive detailing of the supporting column
‰ Difficult to design and implement

3.3.2 Pot bearings

They can also the damp oscillations and vibrations within the structure. As shown in
Figure 3.5, a pot bearing may allow one-way or multidirectional slip, as well as rotation at the
support. Depending on the design, pot bearings compromise a supporting base, a cushioning
shock absorber, a piston (with guidance if movement in one direction is prevented), and a slip
plate.
1
2
3
4
5

6
7
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Key:
1 Steel guidance key
2 Upper steel plate
3 Stainless steel sheet
4 P.T.F.E (for example Teflon)
5 Steel piston
6 Elastomeric pad
7 Steel pot

Figure 3.5 Pot bearing

Advantages
‰ Developed for bridges and building structures supporting very high loads.
Disadvantages
‰ High cost.
Because of their high cost and relatively low loads they are rarely used in buildings.

4. References
Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

1 EN 1991-1-5: Eurocode 1: Actions on structures – Part 1-5: General actions – Thermal

actions

2 EN 1993-1-1: Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures – Part 1-1 : General rules and rules
for buildings

3 EN 1337: Structural bearings (in 11 Parts)

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Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

SS017a-EN-EU

Quality Record
RESOURCE TITLE Scheme Development: Movement joints in steel buildings

Reference(s)

ORIGINAL DOCUMENT

Name Company Date

Created by Valérie LEMAIRE CTICM 09/12/2005

Technical content checked by Alain BUREAU CTICM 09/12/2005

Editorial content checked by

Technical content endorsed by the

following STEEL Partners:

1. UK G W Owens SCI 2/3/06

2. France A Bureau CTICM 2/3/06

3. Sweden A Olsson SBI 2/3/06

4. Germany C Müller RWTH 2/3/06

This material is copyright - all rights reserved. Use of this document is subject to the terms and conditions of the Access Steel Licence Agreement

5. Spain J Chica Labein 2/3/06

Resource approved by Technical G W Owens SCI 9/6/06

Coordinator

TRANSLATED DOCUMENT

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Translated resource approved by:

Created on Tuesday, December 04, 2007

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