To understand engineering masonry walls dallas tx, you will first need to better understand what masonry is. Masonry is the construction of walls using an agent that binds materials like brick, stone, concrete blocks, and so on. Walls serve different purposes and should be constructed based upon that purpose. For instance, some walls are used for barriers while other walls are constructed for separating a floor.
There are five typical masonry walls when engineering masonry walls dallas tx including: loading bearing, reinforced, hollow, composite, and post tensioned masonry walls. However, the walls can be made from basic materials like stone, brick, block, veneer, gabion, and bagged concrete.
The material is decided based upon preference, construction, and other deciding factors when building a structure. Some walls may even be determined based upon their bonding material. Some bonds can include lime,cement, and even mud.
If you’re still confused on masonry walls, have no fear. This article delves into what exactly each of these walls is. Further, you will find the purpose of certain walls based upon their type.
Load Bearing Masonry Walls
A load bearing masonry wall is composed of brick, concrete block, or stone. It is given it’s name because it carries a load which imposes on the foundation. This load determines the thickness of said wall. An example would be a wall with only a ground foundation. A wall like this would measure 230 mm while one with more foundation would be thicker. This type of wall is used for both exterior and interior walls. It is also more economical to walls similar to it.
Reinforced Masonry Walls
Reinforced masonry walls utilize reinforcement to keep them standing with heavier compression and strained forces. These type of walls can be both load bearing and non-load bearing. These types of walls are ideal for areas suffering from earthquakes. This is because other wall structures typically crack during this high pressure instances. The same can be true for areas that deal with earth settlement. In contrast, these walls don’t do so well with heavy rain and wind because they do not withstand lateral forces as well.
Hollow Masonry Walls
Hollow, sometimes called cavity, masonry walls are known for keeping moisture out of the structure. This type of material does not allow heat to pass through as well. For this reason it is often used to control the temperature of rooms. The cavity will fill with water when moisture passes through from the outside. Thereby protecting the interior of the building from water damage. For added protection, masonry workers may spray a protective spray along the hollow walls.
Composite Masonry Walls
Composite masonry is the combination of two or more walls when constructing a building. This could be used from hollow walls, stones, or bricks and are thought to have a more appealing appearance. These walls are created using two wythes. The wythe may be different material but still capable of bonding together. For instance, a hollow wall could be combined with a reinforced wall, and so on. A wythe is defined as one unit in thickness of the same material. They are connected by either reinforcement or using steel ties.
Post-tensioned Masonry Walls
Post tension is performed as a protectant against earth quakes and harsh winds. This is done by running post tension rods through wythes then attaching them to the foundation as an anchor. Next, after the initial anchoring, the rod is tensioned then attached to the top where a steel plate is used to secure the rod.
