Tilt Panels - Horizontal Joints

[Toby43]

Hi all,
Have got a project that is a Single Storey Portal frame shed with Tilt-up Cladding panels. Now the spacing of the Portal frames is approx. 6m and the Panel height to eaves is approx. 10m. Such large panels as one may pose an issue with craneage, so I am considering splitting the panels in half so that 2 panels would be vertically stacked on one another. The issue I have is the horizontal joint this creates at mid-height. I have opted for this as initially horizontally spanning 6m is less taxing than spanning 10m vertically.
Ideally I won't gravity loads to pass down the panels to the footing below and the face loads to span horizontally to the portals. The face loading is no problem, but if I provide shims (during erection) and grout in final place for gravity transfer (same detail as panel to ffoting), do I then have a waterproofing issue? Can shims work with a "tongue and Groove" or stepped detail to minimise water ingress?
Any comments or experience with horizontal joints transferring in-plane gravity loads appreciated.

Regards
Toby

 

[civeng80]

I cant see any reason why you cannot just seal the horizontal joint the way the vertical joints are sealed at the columns. I have designed quite a few portal frame buildings with precast panels half height and stacked and sealed and never had any issues. Hope that helps.

 

[GC_Hopi]

Horizontal joint are fairly common in precast systems, see spandrel beams. Any tongue and groove or stepped would just invite concrete chipping. Spec a good sealant and detail the joint per civeng80. I see plenty of "20 to 30 year" sealants on the markets.

 

[hokie66]

If these are just cladding panels, I agree with the others. But if the "in plane gravity loads" are more than just the load from the panel above, you may have a stability issue.

 

[Toby43]

Thanks all for your comments.
Hokie - Yes only panel weight in transferring in-plane
civeng80 - do you spec. shims as per panel to footing detail during erection?

Thanks again.