Florida 4 story apartment project: We have precast concrete walls for elevator core, sitting on CIP Concrete Elevator Pit, PE suggests using non-shrink grout to seal the joint at top of elevator pit. Will this work?
All cementitious grout cracks. Non-shrink grout will limit any differential settlement in the placement of the precast walls.
I don’t know enough about Jerome’s project to know what will work in that application. But I take issue with the statement that “all cementitious grout cracks”. Type K cement is chemically different that portland cement and expands as it cures. Grouts and other products with Type K are blended with portland cement to create non-shrinking or even expansive products. They may crack due to settlement, movement, etc., but not due to shrinkage.
Full disclosure - CTS Cement Manufacturing Co. had me to write technical articles about their Type K products. I haven’t worked for them in years, and my comments are based upon the research I saw back then and involvement with ACI committees.
Even when conventional grout is used I have a difficulty believing there will be a problem as a result of differential settlement.
“Will it work” requires clarification as to what you expect.
If you are concerned about inflow of water suggest that you apply caulking or some other treatment.