Page 349 - Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures

CHAPTER 6
WALLS UNDER GRAVITY

AND TRANSVERSE LOADS

6.1 INTRODUCTION

Walls form the most visible and functional components of masonry and other struc-
tures. They are provided to perform a multitude of functions. In bearing wall structural
systems, masonry walls can be provided to carry both gravity and lateral loads (both
in-plane and out-of-plane). Masonry walls are often provided as nonload-bearing ele-
ments in many forms such as curtain walls, panel walls, partition walls, in-fill walls,
screen walls, fence walls, and highway sound barrier walls. Masonry walls are often used
advantageously as means to impart architectural beauty to buildings and other structures.
This is particularly true in case of brick walls and veneer walls. Available in many shades
of red, brown, and gray colors, both bricks and veneers are often used to impart and/or
enhance aesthetic qualities of masonry structures. For example, bricks can be used, for
economic or architectural reasons, on the exterior of concrete masonry wall to form a
composite wall.
Discussion in this chapter is focused on analysis and design of masonry (concrete and
clay) subjected to both gravity and out-of-plane loads; the latter being those induced by
wind and earthquakes. Walls may also be subjected to out-of-plane forces from other sources
such as earth pressures (e.g., earth-retaining walls, basement walls, walls of buried struc-
tures, bridge abutments, etc.) and liquid pressures (on walls of liquid-retaining structures).
Walls subjected to in-plane lateral loads, called shear walls, are discussed in Chap. 7. Walls
subjected to lateral earth pressures (retaining walls and subterranean walls) are discussed in
Chap. 8. Several new terms are introduced in this chapter in the context of masonry walls
and related construction practices. These terms are defined in “Glossary” provided at the
end of the last chapter in this book.

6.2 TYPES OF MASONRY WALLS

Masonry walls may be built from solid or hollow masonry units. Although common in
past decades, solid masonry units are rarely used today, and consequently, not discussed in
this book. Modern masonry walls are constructed from hollow masonry units or combined
hollow and solid masonry units. Spurred by a combination of experience, research, and
advances in producing various types of masonry units, modern masonry offers many types

6.1