- #1
newyork
- 10
- 0
Homework Statement
Concrete highway slabs are poured in lengths of 10.0 m. How wide should the expansion gaps between the slabs be at a temperature of 20 degrees C to ensure that there will be no contact between adjacent slabs over a temperature range of -24 C to 45 C?
Homework Equations
Change in length= (coefficient of linear expansion)(initial length)(change in temp)
(I represented the coeff by α)
α of concrete=12x10^-6 degrees C^-1
The Attempt at a Solution
Change in length=(12x10^-6)(10)(-25-20)=-0.0054 m (is it ok that this is negative?)
Change in length=(12x10^-6)(10)(45-20)=0.003
Now, do I add these values to get the total change in length?
(-0.0054m)+(0.003m)= -0.0024m
I understand the equation and the idea of it, but I don't know if I solved the problem correctly.