Masonry Walls

You can analyze and design a masonry wall with or without a parapet using either the Allowable Stress Design (ASD) or Strength Design methods. Walls can be pinned-pinned, fixed-pinned or fixed only.

Double click anywhere that the cursor turns into a finger pointer to edit the object under the cursor.

Right click over an object to see a menu.

General

  • Equations used in the design are shown as part of the report.

Applied Loads

  • The sign conventions for the external loads are as follows:
    Vertical & Story Point LoadsDown is positive
    Horizontal Distributed LoadsLeft is positive

Wall Design

  • Stress reversals are taken into account when calculating stresses. Therefore, when tensile stresses move from one side of the wall to the other, a new d is calculated based on the distance from the rebar centerline to the tension face of the wall. Depending on the location of the rebar, this new d may control the design because this distance may be much smaller than the input value.
  • Masonry design is based on concrete masonry.
  • Section properties for masonry design are based on face shell mortar bed.

Building Codes

  • IBC 2012

    Standard Service Load Combinations – Section 1605.3.1

    Alternate Service Load Combinations – Section 1605.3.2

    It is assumed that wind loads used in the alternate service load combinations are calculated by section 1609 or the ASCE 7.

    Standard Design Load Combinations – Section 1605.2.1

    It is assumed that the seismic loads are calculated per the code and are strength level forces.

  • IBC 2009

    Standard Service Load Combinations – Section 1605.3.1

    Alternate Service Load Combinations – Section 1605.3.2

    It is assumed that wind loads used in the alternate service load combinations are calculated by section 1609 or the ASCE 7.

    Standard Design Load Combinations – Section 1605.2.1

    It is assumed that the seismic loads are calculated per the code and are strength level forces.

  • IBC 2006

    Standard Service Load Combinations – Section 1605.3.1

    Alternate Service Load Combinations – Section 1605.3.2

    It is assumed that wind loads used in the alternate service load combinations are calculated by section 1609 or the ASCE 7.

    Standard Design Load Combinations – Section 1605.2.1

    It is assumed that the seismic loads are calculated per the code and are strength level forces.

  • IBC 2003

    Standard Service Load Combinations – ASCE 7, Section 2.4.1

    Alternate Service Load Combinations – Section 1605.3.2

    It is assumed that wind loads used in the alternate service load combinations are calculated by section 1609 or the ASCE 7.

    Standard Design Load Combinations – ASCE 7, Section 2.3.3

    It is assumed that the seismic loads are calculated per the code and are strength level forces.

  • IBC 2000

    Standard Service Load Combinations – ASCE 7, Section 2.4.1

    Alternate Service Load Combinations – Section 1605.3.2

    It is assumed that wind loads used in the alternate service load combinations are calculated by section 1609 or the ASCE 7.

    Standard Design Load Combinations – ASCE 7, Section 2.3.3

    It is assumed that the seismic loads are calculated per the code and are strength level forces.

  • UBC 1997

    Standard Service Load Combinations – Section 1612.3.1

    Alternate Service Load Combinations – Section 1612.3.2

    Standard Design Load Combinations – Section 1612.2.1

    It is assumed that the seismic loads are calculated per the code and are strength level forces.

    Masonry Fa, Fb, and Fv are reduced by 1/2 if there is no special inspection and ASD is used.

Menus

File Menu

Revert to Saved Version…
Reload your last saved version from the server. This will remove any changes that you have made since your last save.

Save
Save your calculation to the server overwriting any previously saved version on the server.

Save As
Save a copy of your current calculation to the server and make the copy your current calculation.

Return to Projects
Return to the Projects page.

Geometry Menu

Edit Wall…

Edit the wall height, thickness, rebar size and spacing.

If the wall support type is Fixed-Free then the Parapet Height will be disable.

If your wall restraint is pinned-pinned the wall rebar centerline is measured from the right side of the wall. Otherwise it is measured from the left side.

Your rebar centerline can be set to Edge, Center or you may input your own dimension by choosing Other and entering the dimension. Please see the Rebar Depth table on the Properties page for the Edge and Center dimensions.

Loads Menu

Vertical Point Loads…
Moment Loads…
Story Point Loads…
Horizontal Distributed Loads…
Set the loads for your wall. Use the arrow buttons to indicate the load direction.

The Ecc From CL distance in the Vertical Point Loads dialog is measured from the centerline of the wall.

The Top Location and Base Location in the Horizontal Distributed Loads dialog are measured from the base of the wall.

Design Menu

Calculate Now…
Analyze and design the wall and view the report.

The Show Controlling Load Combinations Calculations Only check box in the Report Options dialog controls whether only the controlling load combination calculations are shown or whether all load combination calculations are shown. Unchecking the check box will show all load combinations but will make for a long report.

Heading…
Enter heading information that will be shown at the beginning of the report.

Material Properties…
Set the masonry and steel properties. Please see the Definitions page for the definitions for this dialog box.

Design Criteria…
Set the service and design load combinations, masonry design and steel ratios.

Service Load Combinations are used for ASD and Strength deflection calculations. Design Load Combinations are used for Strength design. Only the Standard Load Combinations are allowed for Strength Design.

Select Service Load Combinations…
Select Design Load Combinations…
Select the service and design load combinations that you wish to apply to the wall. Only the checked combinations will be used. If you change the building code or load combination types in the Design Criteria dialog, these combinations will change.

Help Menu
View the documentation and/or send an email to our support staff.

Projects Menu
Go to the Projects page.

Account Menu
Go to the Account Settings page.

Logout Menu
Logout of Daystar iStructural.com.

Toolbar
You can use the buttons on the toolbar to speed up access to some commonly used commands. Hold your mouse over an icon for about 1/2 second to see a pop-up of what the icon does.

Buttons from left to right:
Save
Edit Wall…
Vertical Point Loads…
Story Point Loads…
Horizontal Distributed Loads…