"Fishmouthing" and bowing thermal insulated precast concrete walls

[Darius909]

I was wondering if anyone has a method to reduce the "fishmouthing" at the corner joint of 2 thermally insulated precast concrete walls. I'm consulting on an industrial building, built early 2000's. The shop drawings have a corner angle on the inside of the joint to prevent lateral movement.

In reality, there is no such angle. Resulting in a 3-4" wide opening at the joint. (see attached)

The building owner is worried about further movement, and I'd like to reduce the opening by jacking it back somehow, using the internal corner column, but i'm worried about causing further cracking if the panel isnt as ductile as I was hoping.

Any advice would be appreciated?

Thanks

Darius

 

[Darius909]

attached is photo of joint

 

[Darius909]

Attached image taken from iside with light coming through and the column I wish to use if possible.

 

[XR250]

Is the "fishmouthing" caused by the thermal gradient through the panel?

 

[Darius909]

@XR250 From the research I've done, that is the thinking, as the inside is temp controlled, and the bowing walls are worst south/West facing.

 

[XR250]

My guess is that the panels would have cracked in other places if the original angle was used.

 

[XR250]

FWIW, I built my previous house using insulated concrete panels. The pre-caster was reluctant to ever have any continuity between the interior and exterior wythes because of this issue.

 

[Darius909]

I see, that makes sense, I was hoping to make a connection with slotted holes to allow for some movement.
Thank you for your input. Strange that the detail was in the shop drawings, but not implemented.

 

[JohnRwals]

This detail cannot be implemented if the corner column is located too close.
You may use the corner column to add connections instead of wall-wall connection.
Did you try PCI Design Handbook formula, Delta=...?
Is this happening only at one corner?
Do you think this joint width changes cyclically according to the daily temperature change?

 

[Darius909]

@JohnRwals
Thanks for the reply, yeah I've looked at the PCI handbook for guidance. They speak more to causation than to repair.
My client feels uncomfortable with the gap between the walls at the joint.

I was hoping to use a connection(see attached) similar to this, but on both sides of the column into the respective wall, with a slotted hole to allow for some thermal movement.

At the very least stabilize the gap and prevent it from growing any further, and then caulk it up to put my clients mind at ease.

I think closing the gap would be prohibitively expensive

 

[JohnRwals]

Darius,
Did you try PCI formulas?
Did you have similar numbers with what is happening, Delta and P for repair?
Do you think this gap is growing?