lateral loading at construction joint surfaces?

lateral loads are live loads whose main component is a horizontal force acting on the structure. Typical lateral loads would be a wind load against a facade, an earthquake, the earth pressure against a beach front retaining wall or the earth pressure against a basement wall.

Alligator cracking is a load associated structural failure. The failure can be due to weakness in the surface, base or sub grade; a surface or base that is too thin; poor drainage or the combination of all three.