Constructing Running Bond Patterns
The biggest problem with a running bond pattern is that the sawcut joint pattern in the design will create a weakened plane , which will crack and transfer into the adjacent panel without a sawcut , creating unsightly cracks . The 500 , 520 and 550 Newport Center Drive ( NCD ) projects utilize a running bond pattern over 105,000 square feet of Lithocrete hardscape . Within our joint plan design , we were able to work with the Irvine Company and designers to develop a construction joint and dowel system that allowed the concrete panels to slip away from the connecting panel . We first created a joint plan with isolation at key areas where the building was isolated from the hardscape with a caulked expansion joint detail around the building and columns . Next , we isolated the palm tree areas , from the fire lane and fountain areas , identifying the best balance of where isolation should occur .
This separated the plaza into various , individually functioning areas . Then we introduced the doweling and dowel basket schedule , where we found that by eliminating dowels for the first 36 inches on the ratcheting construction joint and dowel basket joints , helps to return the connecting panels in the east-west position . This acts as one solid pour , allowing the panels to shrink back away from the adjacent panels without the typical stress fractures that commonly occur . The proof that this works is in 105,000 square feet of hardscape constructed both on structure and grade with varying thicknesses ( four inches on pedestrian and eight inches in vehicular ) with no visible cracking on a design that normally would have many cracks and defects . ( Please see joint plan showing plan view and sections of the design we created and used on the NCD project ).
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