***DISCLAIMER: This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only

and may/will contain errors.**************************************

Created by Mathew Picardal: https://www.youtube.com/c/MatPicardal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matpicardal/

Masonry Design Examples

***DISCLAIMER: This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only

and may/will contain errors.**************************************
Created by Mathew Picardal: https://www.youtube.com/c/MatPicardal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matpicardal/
Flexural and Shear Design Example:

Referenced from "2015 Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures" by Brandow,

Ekwueme, and Hart: http://cmacn.org/bookstore-CMACN.htm

Example 1:

Design the reinforcement for the 32-inch deep beam shown in the below
figure. The compressive strength of the masonry is 2000 psi. Grade 60
steel is used for the longitudinal reinforcement and Grade 40 steel is used
for the shear reinforcement. Assume that the beam is simply supported and
the effective length is 16'-0".

SOLUTION:

Load Combo: D+L

w ≔ 800 + 400 = 1200 plf

L ≔ 16 ft Effective Span Length

w ⋅ L2
M ≔ ―― = 38400 lb - ft Applied moment
8

w⋅L
V ≔ ――= 9600 lbs Applied shear
2

P≔0 lbs Applied axial load

 f'm ≔ 2000 psi Masonry compressive strength

Em ≔ 900 ⋅ f'm = 1800000 psi Masonry modulus of elasticity for compression

Fb ≔ 0.45 ⋅ f'm = 900 psi Masonry allowable compressive stress

Fs ≔ 32000 psi Grade 60 longit steel

Fsv ≔ 20000 psi Grade 40 shear steel

Es ≔ 29000000 psi Steel modulus of elasticity

Estimate required steel, assume j=0.9:

j ≔ 0.9

b ≔ 7.63 Width of beam

d ≔ 28 in. Effective depth of the flexural member, distance from

extreme compression fiber to centroid of reinforcing steel

M ⋅ ((12))
Asreq ≔ ―――= 0.571 in. 2 Estimated area of steel required
Fs ⋅ j ⋅ d

Try (2) #5 longitudinal bars

As ≔ 2 ⋅ 0.31 = 0.62 in. 2 Area of steel provided

As
ρ ≔ ―― = 0.0029
b⋅d

Es
n ≔ ―― = 16.1
Em

ρ ⋅ n = 0.047
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
2
k≔ ((ρ ⋅ n)) + 2 ⋅ ρ ⋅ n - ρ ⋅ n = 0.263

k
j ≔ 1 - ―= 0.912
3
Final flexural stress checks:
2 ⋅ M ⋅ ((12))
fb ≔ ―――― = 642.981
k ⋅ b ⋅ j ⋅ d2
 if ⎛⎝fb ≤ Fb , “OK” , “Not good”⎞⎠ = “OK”

M ⋅ ((12))
fs ≔ ―――= 29090 psi
As ⋅ j ⋅ d

if ⎛⎝fs ≤ Fs , “OK” , “Not good”⎞⎠ = “OK”

Therefore, use (2) #5 longitudinal bars

Shear Design:

dv ≔ 32 in. Actual depth of masonry member in direction of shear

considered - usually beam depth

V
fv ≔ ――= 39.3 psi
b ⋅ dv
Assume M/Vdv=1.0, conservative

γg ≔ 1

FvMAX ≔ 2 ⋅ ‾‾‾
f'm γg = 89.4 psi

Check:

if ⎛⎝fv ≤ FvMAX , “OK” , “Not good”⎞⎠ = “OK”

Check masonry shear strength alone:

0.25 ⋅ P
Fvm ≔ 0.5 ⋅ ((4 - 1.75 ((1)))) ⋅ ‾‾‾
f'm + ――― = 50.3 psi
b ⋅ dv

if ⎛⎝fv ≤ Fvm , “OK” , “Not good”⎞⎠ = “OK”

Therefore, no shear reinforcing is needed since masonry

alone is sufficient.
Shear Design Example:

Referenced from "2015 Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures" by Brandow,

Ekwueme, and Hart: http://cmacn.org/bookstore-CMACN.htm

Example 2:

Design the shear reinforcement for an 8 inch CMu beam given the following:

L ≔ 20 ft Effective Span Length

dv ≔ 24 in. Actual depth of masonry member in direction of

shear considered - usually beam depth

b ≔ 7.63 in. Beam width

w ≔ 1220 plf Dead and live load

f'm ≔ 2000 psi

Fs ≔ 32000 psi Grade 60 steel

SOLUTION:
w⋅L
V ≔ ――= 12200 lbs Applied shear
2

V
fv ≔ ――= 66.6 psi Applied shear stress
b ⋅ dv
Assume M/Vdv=1.0, conservative
γg ≔ 1

FvMAX ≔ 2 ⋅ ‾‾‾
f'm γg = 89.4 psi

Check:

if ⎛⎝fv ≤ FvMAX , “OK” , “Not good”⎞⎠ = “OK”

Check masonry shear strength alone:

0.25 ⋅ P
Fvm ≔ 0.5 ⋅ ((4 - 1.75 ((1)))) ⋅ ‾‾‾
f'm + ――― = 50.3
b ⋅ dv

if ⎛⎝fv ≤ Fvm , “OK” , “Not good”⎞⎠ = “Not good”

Therefore, will need to add shear reinforcing:

Assume #4 bars for the shear reinforcing:

Av ≔ 0.2 in. 2 Shear bar area

Find how much steel shear strength is required:

Fvs ≔ fv - Fvm = 16.3 psi

Re-arrange shear equation to solve for shear steel spacing:

0.5 ⋅ Av ⋅ Fs ⋅ dv
s ≔ ――――― = 25.712 in.
Fvs ⋅ ⎛⎝b ⋅ dv⎞⎠

Note additional shear requirements: s must not exceed the smaller

of 48 inches or one-half beam effective depth:
dv
―= 12 in.
2

Since masonry is modular, spacing is best kept at 8 inch increments.

Therefore, use #4 shear bars spaced at 8 inches on center

Axial Design Example:

Referenced from "2015 Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures" by Brandow,

Ekwueme, and Hart: http://cmacn.org/bookstore-CMACN.htm

Example 3:

Design a 24-inch by 32-inch, 30 foot high CMU column to support a concentric

dead and live load of 425 kips. The masonry compressive strength is 2000 psi
and Grade 60 steel is used. For illustrative purposes, ignore minimum
eccentricity requirements.

SOLUTION:

f'm ≔ 2000 psi Masonry strength

b ≔ 31.63 in. Column width

t ≔ 23.63 in. Column thickness

P ≔ 425000 lbs Applied axial load

Fs ≔ 32000 psi Grade 60 steel

Assume pinned-pinned condition since it's not given:

H ≔ 30 ((12)) = 360 in. Effective column height

t
r ≔ ――= 6.82 in. Least radium of gyration
‾‾
12

H
―= 52.8
r

H
―< 99
r

Therefore:

Need to solve for area of steel, split equation up into masonry strength and
steel strength component:
⎛ ⎛ H ⎞2 ⎞
Pm ≔ 0.25 ⋅ f'm ⋅ ((b ⋅ t)) ⋅ ⎜1 - ⎜――― ⎟ ⎟ = 320603 lbs Masonry compressive
⎝ ⎝ 140 ⋅ r ⎠ ⎠ strength
 strength

Ps ≔ P - Pm = 104397 lbs Required axial strength from steel

Re-arranging steel axial strength equation to solve for Ast:

Ps
Ast ≔ ―――――――― = 5.85 in. 2 Area of steel required
⎛ ⎛ H ⎞2 ⎞
0.65 ⋅ Fs ⋅ ⎜1 - ⎜――― ⎟ ⎟
⎝ ⎝ 140 ⋅ r ⎠ ⎠

Try (8) #8 vertical longitudinal bars

Ast_provided ≔ 8 ⋅ 0.785 = 6.28 in. 2 Area of steel provided

Check vertical reinforcement ratios and hook requirements:

Ast_provided
ρ ≔ ―――― = 0.0084
b⋅t

ρ < 0.04 = 1 OK

ρ > 0.0025 = 1 OK

Also, provide hooks and ties for intermediate bars to meet hook requirements:

Check tie requirements:

Use #3 ties
s ≔ min ((16 ⋅ 1 , 48 ⋅ 0.375 , t)) = 16 in.

Therefore, use #3 ties @ 16" on center

Axial & Flexural Design Example:

Referenced from "2015 Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures" by Brandow,

Ekwueme, and Hart: http://cmacn.org/bookstore-CMACN.htm

Example 4:

Verify that a 20 ft high, 16 inch concrete masonry column can support the
service loads shown in the figure below. The masonry compressive strength is
2000 psi, and Grade 60 steel is used. Conservatively ignore the contribution of
steel in compression.

SOLUTION:

f'm ≔ 2000 psi Masonry strength

b ≔ 15.63 in. Column width

t ≔ 15.63 in. h≔t Column thickness

P ≔ 28000 lbs Applied axial load

Fs ≔ 32000 psi Grade 60 steel

Fb ≔ 0.45 ⋅ f'm = 900 psi Masonry allowable compressive stress

 H ≔ 20 ft Column height

P ≔ 28000 lbs

V ≔ 1000 lbs

As ≔ 4 ⋅ 0.785 = 3.14 in. 2 Longit bar reinf area

Av ≔ 0.11 in. 2 Shear bar reinf area

d ≔ 12 in. Effective depth of the flexural member, distance from

extreme compression fiber to centroid of reinforcing steel

Em ≔ 900 ⋅ f'm = 1800000 psi Masonry modulus of elasticity for compression

Es ≔ 29000000 psi Steel modulus of elasticity

Check minimum eccentricity requirements of 0.1 column dimension

does not govern:

0.1 ⋅ b
emin ≔ ――= 0.13 ft
12
P ⋅ emin = 3647 lb - ft

M ≔ V ⋅ H = 20000 lb - ft Moment caused by seismic load

P ⋅ emin < M = 1 Therefore, OK, design for moment caused by sesimic

STEP 1: Check Axial Only:

Assume pinned-pinned condition since it's not given:

H ≔ H ⋅ 12 = 240 in. Effective column height

t
r ≔ ――= 4.51 in. Least radium of gyration
‾‾
12

H
―= 53.2
r

H
―< 99
r
Therefore:
 P
fa ≔ ―― = 114.6 psi
b⋅t

⎛ ⎛ H ⎞2 ⎞
Fa ≔ 0.25 ⋅ f'm ⋅ ⎜1 - ⎜――― ⎟ ⎟ = 428 psi Masonry compressive strength
⎝ ⎝ 140 ⋅ r ⎠ ⎠

if ⎛⎝fa ≤ Fb , “OK” , “Not good”⎞⎠ = “OK”

STEP 2: Check Combined Flexural & Axial:

b ⋅ t2
Sn ≔ ――= 636.4 in. 3 Section modulus
6

M ⋅ ((12))
fb ≔ ―――= 377.1 psi
Sn

if ⎛⎝fa > fb , “UNCRACKED” , “CRACKED”⎞⎠ = “CRACKED”

Therefore, use cracked sections:

As ≔ 2 ⋅ 0.79 = 1.58 in. 2 Note, this is flexural steel used to resist

tension, so only 2 bars will activate
As
ρ ≔ ―― = 0.0084
b⋅d

Es
n ≔ ―― = 16.1
Em

ρ ⋅ n = 0.136

If masonry compressive stress governs:

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ 2
⎛ P ⎞ ⎛ P ⎞
k ≔ ⎜ρ ⋅ n - ――― ⎟ + 2 ⋅ ρ ⋅ n - ⎜ρ ⋅ n - ――― ⎟ = 0.552
⎝ b ⋅ d ⋅ Fb ⎠ ⎝ b ⋅ d ⋅ Fb ⎠

k
j ≔ 1 - ―= 0.816
3
Mm ≔ 0.5 ⋅ Fb ⋅ k ⋅ b ⋅ j ⋅ d 2 - P ⋅ ((d - 0.5 ⋅ h)) = 339043 lb - in
If steel tensile stress governs:
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
2
⎛ n⋅P ⎞ ⎛ n⋅P ⎞ ⎛ n⋅P ⎞
k ≔ ⎜ρ ⋅ n + ――― ⎟ + 2 ⋅ ⎜ρ ⋅ n + ――― ⎟ - ⎜ρ ⋅ n + ――― ⎟ = 0.472
⎝ b ⋅ d ⋅ Fs ⎠ ⎝ b ⋅ d ⋅ Fs ⎠ ⎝ b ⋅ d ⋅ Fs ⎠

k
j ≔ 1 - ―= 0.843
3
Ms ≔ As ⋅ Fs ⋅ j ⋅ d + P ⋅ ((0.5 ⋅ h - 0.33 ⋅ k ⋅ d)) = 677769 lb - in

⎛ Mm Ms ⎞
Ma ≔ min ⎜―――, ―――⎟ = 28.3 k - ft Governing Allowable Moment
⎝ 1000 ⋅ 12 1000 ⋅ 12 ⎠ Capacity

M
M ≔ ――― = 20 k - ft Applied Moment
((1000))

if ⎛⎝M ≤ Ma , “OK” , “Not good”⎞⎠ = “OK”

Shear Design:

dv ≔ h = 15.63 in. Actual depth of masonry member in direction of shear

considered - usually beam depth

V
fv ≔ ――= 4.1 psi
b ⋅ dv
Assume M/Vdv=1.0, conservative

γg ≔ 1

FvMAX ≔ 2 ⋅ ‾‾‾
f'm γg = 89.4 psi

Check:

if ⎛⎝fv ≤ FvMAX , “OK” , “Not good”⎞⎠ = “OK”

Check masonry shear strength alone:

0.25 ⋅ P
Fvm ≔ 0.5 ⋅ ((4 - 1.75 ((1)))) ⋅ ‾‾‾
f'm + ――― = 79 psi
b ⋅ dv

if ⎛⎝fv ≤ Fvm , “OK” , “Not good”⎞⎠ = “OK”

Therefore, no shear reinforcing is needed since masonry

alone is sufficient.
Check additional column reinforcing requirements:
Ast_provided ≔ 4 ⋅ 0.785 = 3.14 in. 2 Area of steel provided

Check vertical reinforcement ratios and hook requirements:

Ast_provided
ρ ≔ ―――― = 0.0129
b⋅t

ρ < 0.04 = 1 OK

ρ > 0.0025 = 1 OK

Check tie requirements:

Using #3 ties
s ≔ min ((16 ⋅ 1 , 48 ⋅ 0.375 , t)) = 15.63 in.

Therefore, use #3 ties @ 16" on center