Do silage pit walls need expansion joints?

Deepsouthwest

Contractor here at the moment adamant that u need expansion joints in silage pit walls that he's doing. Don't remember putting them in any previous walls. Is it a new thing or is he covering up cos he hasn't enough shuttering to complete any of the walls in one pour, which he told me

darragh_haven

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

Contractor here at the moment adamant that u need expansion joints in silage pit walls that he's doing. Don't remember putting them in any previous walls. Is it a new thing or is he covering up cos he hasn't enough shuttering to complete any of the walls in one pour, which he told me

Yes. Expansion joint about every 20ft (6m). But up to 33ft (10m) in certain situations.

cjpm

Either put in exp. joints or else you can try filling the cracks! Concrete shrinks when it dries. No two ways about it. You are actually dealing with a good contractor, the dodgy fellas pour the whole lot in one go

dzer2

Have a silage wall here since 80, 66 ft long 7 ft high, no expansion joint and has never cracked often had the pit 4 foot over it when compacted. Concrete only shrinks when drying when slump is to high properly mixed concrete is the answer.

rangler1

dzer2 wrote: »

Have a silage wall here since 80, 66 ft long 7 ft high, no expansion joint and has never cracked often had the pit 4 foot over it when compacted. Concrete only shrinks when drying when slump is to high properly mixed concrete is the answer.

I think it's the stronger concrete that cracks more, have concrete in here since the eighties myself, I'd say it only needed to be 20n at the time, haven't been able to put in concrete since without it cracking

dzer2

rangler1 wrote: »

I think it's the stronger concrete that cracks more, have concrete in here since the eighties myself, I'd say it only needed to be 20n at the time, haven't been able to put in concrete since without it cracking

The slump and mixture is wrong if there is too much cement and not enough ash and additives lots of drivers and contractors add to much water to make it flow as its the cheap option. If I were putting in a tank under the ground I would put in a water bar alright.

Deepsouthwest

Have the floor riddled with expansion joints, but haven't seen them in walls before, thought they could expand/contract without them

onyerbikepat

Page 6 of the following;
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/farmingschemesandpayments/farmbuildings/farmbuildingspecifications/pdfversions/S120.pdf