Masonry - Revision

March 2008

Vertically loaded masonry

 Problem 1
An internal loadbearing masonry wall
has a clear vertical span of 2.5 m and
supports a rigid continuous floor
together with loads transferred from
upper storeys.
Unfactored vertical loads acting on this
masonry are:
Dead load
- 127.5 kN/m
Imposed load
- 15.0 kN/m
It is necessary to use a 190 mm high x
140 mm wide aggregate concrete block.
What strength block, would be required
to take the applied loads?
Assume designation (iii) mortar is to be
used.
Assuming normal control of manufacture
and construction m = 3.5

2500mm

Examples

Wall part of
4 storey
building

End
conditions

Design loads (?)

Dead load Gk
=
Imposed load Qk =

127.5 kN/m
15.0 kN/m

Design dead load = f Gk

= 1.4 x 127.5 = 179kN

Design imposed load

= f Qk = 1.6 x 15 = 24
TOTAL
= 203 kN/m

Capacity reduction factor

Depends on slenderness ratio and eccentricity of load

Slenderness ratio = effective height/effective thickness

24.3.2 Effective height. 24.3.2.1 Walls

Effective height of a wall :
a) 0.75 times the clear distance between lateral supports which provide
enhanced resistance to lateral movement; or
b) the clear distance between lateral supports which provide simple
resistance to lateral movement.

Wall clamped in position - Enhanced restraint at top and bottom

Effective height
= hef = 2.5 x 0.75 = 1.875 m
Effective thickness
= Actual thickness
= tef = t = 0.14 m

1.875
hef
S Ratio
=
= 13.39 < 27 OK
0.14
t ef

Capacity reduction factor

Depends on slenderness ratio and eccentricity of load

Eccentricity of load.
Internal wall with no eccentric loads, so
eccentricity = 0.00mm

13.4

= 0.90

Design vertical load capacity/unit

length. (Clause 28.2.2)
.t. f k
Nm
N=
or f k =
t
m
203 x 103 x 3.5
2
=
5.64
N/
f k=
mm
0.9 x 140 x 10 3
Masonry characteristic strength is known.
What units are required?

Aspect ratio of unit = 190/140 = 1.36

Solid blocks
Aspect ratio = 1.36
fk = 5.64,
Select appropriate parts of
table 2 , BS5628 : Part 1
Inspect table and
Interpolate between
make a judgement
tables

designation (iii)
mortar

5.64

Try blocks of strength 10.4N/mm2

( 1.36 0.6 )
x ( 8.2 4.1)
f k = 4.1+
( 2.0 0.6) )

fk = 6.33N/mm2 5.64N/mm2 so OK

 Lower lift of a 4-storey cavity wall carries

factored total load of 130 kN/m. 25kN/m of
this is applied at an eccentricity of t/6 to the
inner leaf of the bottom lift. The remaining
load from the floors above is applied axially
to the same leaf.
What strength of block is required?
Calculate the vertical load capacity of this
cavity wall.

Assume
90mm solid block outer skin
140mm thick solid block inner skin.
190mm high units used
50mm cavity
Designation (iii) mortar
m = 3.5 for
Normal (manufacturing /const.) control

3000mm

Design example 2

End
conditions

Lower lift of cavity wall

Solution
Capacity reduction factor
depends on eccn of applied load & slenderness ratio
Eccentricity of 1st floor loading
ex = t/6 = 140/6 =23.3mm
BRE guidance Lecture notes
Eccn of Resultant total load.
Moments about wall centre
130x = 25 x 23.3
So x = 4.48mm = 0.03t
Less than 0.05 t (See Table 8).

23.3mm
xmm
Resultant 130kN
105kN

25kN

Slenderness ratio
= effective height/ effective thickness = h ef/tef
24.3.2 Effective height. 24.3.2.1 Walls
a) 0.75 times clear dist between lateral supports
which provide enhanced resistance to lateral
movement; or
b) clear dist between lateral supports which provide
simple resistance to lateral movement.
Effective height = 0.75 x 3000 = 2250mm

Effective thickness :
Greatest of
2/3(t1 + t2) = 2/3(140 + 90) = 154mm
t1 = 140mm
t2 = 90mm

Slenderness ratio = 2250/154.1 = 14.6

3000mm

Effective height :

End
conditions

14.6

= 0.872

Design vertical load capacity/unit

length. (Clause 28.2.2)
.t. f k
Nm
N=
or f k =
t
m
130 x 10 3 x 3.5
2
=
3
.
77
N/
f k=
mm
0.86 x 140 x 10 3

Aspect ratio = 1.36

fk = 3.77,

Solid blocks

Select appropriate parts of Inspect table

Try a
table 2 , BS5628 : Part 1 and make a
5.2 N/mm2 unit
judgement
Interpolate between
designation (iii) mortar
tables

3.77

Try blocks of strength 5.2N/mm

Aspect ratio of unit = h/t = 190/140 = 1.36

Interpolating between Tables 2(c-d), BS 5628
1.36 0.6
f k 2.5
(5.0 2.5) 3.86 N / mm 2
2 0.6
But 3.86 3.73N/mm2 so OK
Use 5.2 N/mm2 unit in wall
.t. f k 0.87 140 3.86
Actual vertical load capacity N =

134.3kN
3.5 1000
m

Laterally loaded masonry walls

Basic design example

Free edge

Simply supported
H=L

L
Determine the required thickness of a single leaf wall
supported as shown above using the following criteria:

Basic design example

Characteristic wind load = 0.45 kN/m 2

Height of wall to free edge = 4.5 m
Length of wall between restraints= 4.5 m
Conc. blocks (solid) strength = 7.3 N/mm 2
m = 3.0
Normal category constn control
[Table 4]
Category I or II units
Panel not providing stab. to struct.
f = 1.2 [Clause 18(b)]
Ignore effects of self weight

Basic design example - Flexural

loading
The design bending moment per unit
height of the wall is given by the following
expression (Clause 32.4.2).

m= W k f L

Basic design example - Flexural

loading

Bending moment coefficient () depends

on
orthogonal ratio (fkb/fkp)
aspect ratio h/L
support conditions

Basic design example - Orthogonal ratio (fkb/fkp)

Try a 7.3N/mm2 block, 190mm thick

Determine [fkb and fkp] (Table 3)
fkb for 100mm wide 7.3 N/mm2 = 0.25
fkb for 250mm wide 7.3 N/mm2 = 0.15
fkb for 190mm wide block, = 0.19
(by linear interpolation)

Basic design example - Orthogonal

ratio
fkp for 100mm wide 7.3 N/mm2 = 0.60
fkp for 250mm wide 7.3 N/mm2 = 0.35
fkp for 190mm wide block, = 0.45
(by linear interpolation)

Basic design example - Orthogonal

ratio
Orthogonal ratio = fkb/fkp

f kb 0.19
=
= 0.42
f kp 0.45

Basic example - Aspect ratio

Aspect ratio =

h 4.5
=
= 1.0
L 4.5

Moment coefficients () Table 8

From BS 5628 Table 8A
Support conditions-simple
for h/L = 1.0
= 0.083 with = 0.5
(required) = 0.42
= 0.087 with = 0.4
Therefore by linear interpolation

= 0.0862 when = 0.42

Applied design moment per unit

height

Since Wk = 0.45 kN/m2 ,

f = 1.2,
L=4.5
= 0.0862
m

= 0.0862 x 0.45 x 1.2 x 4.52

= 0.943 kNm/m

Design moment of resistance.

(Clause 32.4.3)

For a panel bending in two directions

M=
Now, fkp = 0.45,

f kp Z

m
t = 190

then M = 0.45 x 1902 x 10-3

3.0 x 6
= 0.903 kNm/m (<0.943)
[Not OK]

Applied moment

(Second try)

Using a 215 block

fkb = 0.17, fkp = 0.41

=
0.17/0.41 = 0.41
= 0.0866
Hence m
= 0.947 kNm/m

Design moment of resistance

(Second try)
For a panel bending in two
directions

M=

f kp Z

Now, fkp = 0.41, t = 215

M = 0.41 x 2152 x 10-3
3.0 x 6
= 1.053 kNm/m (> 0.947) [Therefore OK]
Therefore use block of thickness 215mm (7.3
N/mm2)

Basic example - Slenderness

limits
For a panel simply
supported on more
than one side.

(Clause 32.3)

h x L 1350 tef2

since wall is single leaf tef = t

hx1
4.5x4.5x 106
t

123mm
1350
1350

Basic example - Slenderness

limits shall exceed 50
In addition no dimension
(Clause 32.3)

tef. since h and L both = 4.5 then

4.5x 10
t
90 mm
50

Basic example - Shear design

(Clause 21)

Consider the wind load to be distributed

to the supports as shown below

4.5m
45o
4.5m

Basic example - Shear design

(Clause 21)

Total load to support = fWkx(loaded area)

Total shear along base
= 1.2 x 0.45 x {(4.5 x 2.25)/2} = 2.734 kN
Assume this is a udl along base
Design SF per metre run, is

2.734
=
= 0.61 kN
4 .5

Basic example - Shear design

(Clause 21)

The design shear stress (vh) is therefore

vh = 0.61 x 103 = 0.0028 N/mm2
215 x 1000

Basic example - Shear design

(Clause 21)

Charac. shear strength (fv) from clause 21

= 0.35 + 0.6 gd
Ignoring self weight, characteristic strength
fv = 0.35 N/mm2

Basic example - Shear design

(Clause 21)

Design shear stress (vh) limited so

fv
vh
mv
vh = 0.0028 N/mm2

f v 0.35
=
= 0.14 N/ mm2
mv 2.5

Therefore OK along base

Basic example - Shear design

(Clause 21)

Total shear to each vertical support

= 1.2 x 0.45 x 2.25
(2.25 + 4.5) = 4.10
kN
2
Assume this load to be a udl up the sides,
design shear force per metre run
= 4.10 = 0.91 kN
4.5

Basic example - Shear design

(Clause 21)
Use 2 mm thick anchors into dovetail slots in column.
Charac. strength of each tie = 4.5 kN, (Manuf. Data)
Place ties at 900 mm centres. Assume m = 3.0.
Design load resistance per metre run of wall
=

4.5 x 1000 = 1.67 kN

> design shear force
3.0 900
Vertical shear adequate

Tutorial - Problem 1
Free edge

Continuous
supports

Simple supports

Determine the max. wind load a single leaf

brick wall 103mm thick supported as shown
may sustain.

Height of wall to free edge = 2.6 m

Length of wall between restraints = 3.47 m
Bricks (water absorption between 7.0 and 12.0%)
Mortar of designation (iii) [M6 and M4]
Normal category construction control
m = 3.1
Category I or II of units
Panel not providing stability to structure, f = 1.2
In this example, ignore the effects of self weight

Tutorial - Problem 2
As for problem 1 but include self weight
Density of the brickwork is 22.0kN/m3

Tutorial - Problem 3
Concrete columns
Blockwork
Brickwork
PLAN
Joint at floor

ELEVATION

 Design a cavity wall, 4.5m by 3.375m

high to withstand a wind pressure of 0.6
kN/m2.
Outer leaf - Clay brickwork running past
supporting columns
(Water absorption > 12%)
(mortar designation (iii)). [Mortar M4 or M6]
Density 17.0kN/m3
Inner leaf Blockwork abutting the columns with a
soft control joint.
Thickness of leaves = 100 mm.
Density of blockwork = 10.0 kN/m3.

Tutorial - Problem 4
Opening
4.0m

1.5m
1.0m
1.5m

Continuous
supports

1.5m 1.0m

1.5m

Design a single leaf wall

panel, 4m long by 4m
high, with a centrally
placed 1.0 x 1.0m window
to resist a characteristic
wind pressure of 0.6
kN/m2. All edges are
considered to be fixed.
m = 3.0
f = 1.2
10.4 N/mm2 blocks

Concentrated loads

Question Concentrated loads.

A 300mm wide x 500mm deep reinforced concrete beam
is to be built into a 100mm thick masonry wall. The
masonry is assumed to comprise 7.3N/mm 2 concrete
blocks in designation (iii) [M4] mortar. The blocks are
215mm high and the partial factor for materials has been
assessed to be 3.5. The reaction at the end of the beam
is 50.0kN and a uniformly distributed load of 20.0kN/m
exists along the wall at the level of the top of the beam.
The density of the concrete blockwork is 20kN/m 3, and
the wall is supported 2400mm below the beam on a level
slab. For design purposes, assume the wall is pinned at
the top and bottom. Is the blockwork selected
adequate?
Can you improve on this design? Discuss what would
happen if the wall was 140mm wide?

300 x 500mm
deep RC beam

0.4 x 2400 =
960mm
2400mm

45o

Figure 1
Layout of problem

 Check at level A.
Masonry strength [ht/least dim of blocks

= 2.15] = 6.4N/mm2 Table 2 BS5628 Part 1

Figure 4 bearing type 1
Enhance strength by 1.25, strength

= 6.4 x 1.25 = 8.0N/mm2

Design strength of masonry

= 8.0/3.5 = 2.28N/mm2
Stress imposed on masonry

= (50 x 103)/(300 x 100) = 1.67N/mm2 so OK

Solution.

R = 100.88kN

Check 0.4h m down.

Masonry strength = tfk/m
50.88kN
Determination of :
Depends on :Slenderness ratio = effective height/effective thickness
e
= 2400/100 = 24
t/6=16.7mm
Eccentricity of load.
This needs to be determined 0.4m down.
Axial load [udl along wall over 0.960 x 2 + 0.3 = 2.22m]
= 20 x 2.22 = 44.4kN
Axial load from 1460mm of masonry along 2.22m
= 20 x 0.1 x 1.46 x 2.22 = 6.48kN
Moments about centre line.
50 x 16.67 = 100.88 x e, so e = 8.3mm = 0.08t
Determination of : From table 7 and by interpolation
= 0.47 + 0.4 x 0.03 = 0.482
Stress capacity at 0.4m down = tfk/m = 0.482 x 6.4/3.5 =
0.88N/mm2
Applied stress in masonry = (100.88 x 103)/(2220 x 100)
= 0.45N/mm2 so OK

50.0kN

Other areas

Combined vertical and lateral load

qlat = (4tn)/ha

ha

qlat

Diaphragm walls
When would they be used.
What are the principles of their design
Advantages and disadvantages

Retaining walls
Drainage
Sulphate and frost protection

Reinforced masonry
Pocket walls
Infill walls
Reinforcement
Details
Max and min reinforcement