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Review of Design Provisions for Masonry Structures

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www.cafetinnova.org ISSN 0974-5904, Volume 09, No. 04 August 2016, P.P.885-887

Review of Design Provisions for Masonry Structures

S B SINGH AND NIKESH THAMMISHETTI
Civil Engineering Department, BITS Pilani-333031, Rajasthan, India
Email: sbsinghbits@gmail.com

Abstract: Although masonry has been used even in most complex system of constructions with the
development of design methods as well as analytical tools to address the needs of designers and professionals,
the knowledge about the behavior of masonry and design guidelines to most of the designers is very limited.
Different design guidelines developed are based on significant experimental initiatives or instinctive and
empirical causes in most cases. This paper presents the current trends with regard to masonry design guidelines
provided by various country codes to exercise improvement in the design of masonry structures. It even
compares various provisions related to properties of materials to be used and serviceability limits in design of
masonry structures.
Keywords: Masonry design, Codal Provisions

1. Introduction e. Indian Standard – Code of Practice for Structural

Through civilizations, masonry has been chosen as the
construction material due to its versatility and
durability. Though artistic and durable, the most
effective use of masonry construction is seen in load
bearing structures wherein it performs a variety of
functions, namely, supporting loads, subdividing
space, providing thermal and acoustic insulation, as
well as fire and weather protection. In the second half
of 20th century, extensive research on masonry design
was performed which laid foundation for the present
research and led to the development of design
guidelines for safe and economical design of masonry
structures.
In this era of engineered constructions, there exists a
need for the designers of structural masonry to have
knowledge of different masonry codal provisions to
decide the design method either load factor design
(strength design) methods or allowable stress design
(ASD or working stress design) methods depending
on the need. This paper examines and compares
different codal provisions on design of masonry for
structural usage. The summary of comparisons of
different provisions might prove useful to the general
design community.
2. Masonry Codes Reviewed in this Study
The different country codes involved in the study are
listed below:
a. Building Code Requirements for Masonry
Structures (ACI 530-XX/ASCE 5-XX/TMS 402-
XX).
b. International Building Code 2000.
c. New Zealand Standard – Code of Practice for the
Design of Concrete Masonry Structures (NZS
4230: Part 1:2004).
d. Eurocode 6: Design of Masonry Structures (DD
ENV 1996-1-1: 2005).
Use of Unreinforced Masonry (IS: 1905-1987).
f. Guidelines for Structural Use of Reinforced
Masonry (IITK-GSDMA-EQ12-2005).
g. Australian Standard Masonry structures AS
3700—2011.
A summary of key provisions of these codes related to
design approach are provided in the following
sections.
3. Brief Description of Reviewed Codes and
Standards
Most of the design codes addressed in this paper focus
more on criteria of reinforced, rather than
unreinforced masonry design. Brief summary on the
philosophies used and the areas for which the codes
are intended are presented below.
ACI 530-XX/ASCE 5-XX/TMS 402-XX(2012) code
covers the design and construction of masonry
structures both reinforced and unreinforced by
Allowable Stress Design(ASD) and Limit State
Design(LSD) methods. Empirical design of buildings
is also presented for specific cases of location and
construction methods. Many of the design provisions
in IBC (2000) [3] were borrowed from ACI code.
New Zealand Standard, NZS 4230: Part 1(2004),
specifies minimum requirements for the specific
design of reinforced concrete masonry structures. It is
also applicable to the design of parts of other
buildings, which are constructed of reinforced
concrete masonry and also for the use of prestressed
concrete masonry in accordance with the limit state
design method considering the seismic effect.
Eurocode DD ENV 1996-1-1(2005) deals with
unreinforced masonry and reinforced masonry where
the reinforcement is added to provide ductility,
strength or improve serviceability using Limit State
Design Method. The princip1es of the design of

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 886 S B S INGH AND N IKESH T HAMMISHETTI
prestressed masonry and confined masonry are given,
but application ru1es are not provided.
Indian Standard (IS: 1905-1987) provides
recommendations for structural design aspect of load
bearing and non-load bearing walls using
unreinforced masonry only using allowable stress
design method and Empirical method of design.
IITK-GSDMA Guidelines for Structural Use of
Reinforced Masonry (2005) addresses the
requirements related to the reinforcement in masonry
and its detailing as well as those for the seismic
design and detailing of masonry shear walls for
various level of performance while referring to Indian
Standards for material properties.
Australian Standard AS 3700 (2011) provides
minimum requirements for the design and
construction of unreinforced, reinforced and
prestressed masonry, including built-in components
using strength design method.
The discussion that follows provides some opinions,
findings, and recommendations based on review of
codes and experimental findings. One’s interest in
choosing a method for design of masonry structure
depends on his knowledge and perspective of the
method. Both the ASD and LSD being rational
approaches, designers considering accuracy and
economy of design opt to use Limit State Design
(LSD), where designers considering safety as primary
concern opt conservative Allowable Stress Design
(ASD).
The information presented here may help in choosing
a method to design a particular structural element
which may lead to decide the appropriate design
method for the whole structure. Though one has
choice of deciding design method, one shouldn’t mix
both the methods in design of single structure.
The following summaries are based on unreinforced
and reinforced masonry unit designs.
4. Comparison of Guidelines for Unreinforced
Masonry
In this section, review of design provisions of both
allowable stress design and strength design of
unreinforced masonry, recommended by various
standards have been presented.
A building is basically subjected to two types of
loads, namely: a) vertical loads on account of dead
loads of materials used in construction, plus live loads
due to occupancy; and b) horizontal loads due to wind
and seismic forces. In case of walls, when designed as
load bearing, they form to be the most important
structural element and hence are to be designed to
resist both in-plane and out-of plane forces developed
by above mentioned loads. A minimum accidental
eccentricity shall be considered even if the section is
to be designed only for axial loads.
International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering
ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 09, No. 03, June, 2016, pp. 885-887
4.1 Allowable Stress Design (ASD) or Working
Stress Design (WSD)
4.1.1 Axial Compression
In this section, axial load acting on a section is
considered. The axial load causing axial compression
may be either dead load or live load or combination of
both. Walls and Columns are the structural elements
in which axial compressive forces act.
IS code which uses the traditional ASD method of
design, gives the permissible compressive stresses
in a wall to be value of basic compressive stress
( ) as given in Table 8 of IS 1905 or basic
compressive strength of masonry obtained from prism
tests and reduced by stress reduction factor ( ) , area
reduction factor ( ) and shape modification factor
( ). The stress reduction factors takes into
consideration the slenderness ratio of the element,
eccentricity of loading, sectional area of the element,
and shape of masonry units used. For the case of axial
compression, eccentricity is considered to be zero.
(1)
ACI code, in ASD method gives the calculated
stresses in a section to be less than the allowable
compressive stresses as is given by Eq.(2).
(2)
Where, is specified compressive strength of
masonry, and is the reduction factor.
The parameter is the compressive strength of
masonry obtained from tests, which is reduced to
working stress level by multiplying with material
uncertainty factor 0.25. The reduction factor
considers the slenderness of the section as given by
Eq.(3-4).
(3)
(4)
Where, is effective height of column or wall, and
is thickness of column or wall.
Taking into consideration the effect of slenderness
ratio, it is recommended that the axial load applied
should be less than 25% of the Euler buckling load .
(5)
Where, is modulus of elasticity of masonry in
compression, is moment of inertia of net cross-
sectional area of a member, is eccentricity, and is
thickness of column or wall.
4.1.2 Axial Compression with Flexure
In this section, axial load in addition to the flexural
load acting on a section is considered. The axial load
 Review of Design Provisions for Masonry Structures
causing axial compression may be either dead load or
live load or combination of both. Horizontal loads due
to wind and seismic forces or axial loads with certain
eccentricity acting on a structure develop flexural
stresses. Walls and Columns are the structural
elements in which presently considered stresses
develop.
As per IS: 1905 recommendations, increase in
permissible compressive stresses is allowed for
eccentric vertical loads and lateral loads under certain
conditions. In members subjected to eccentric and/or
lateral loads, increase in permissible compressive
stress is allowed as follows:
 When resultant eccentricity ratio (ratio of
eccentricity to thickness of member, ) exceeds
l/24 but does not exceed l/6, 25 percent increase
in permissible compressive stress is allowed in
design.
 When resultant eccentricity ratio( ) exceeds
l/6, 25 percent increase in permissible stress is
allowed but the area of the section under tension
shall be disregarded for computing the load
carrying capacity of the member.
IS: 1905 checks bending compression and tensile
stresses independently against permissible values.
ACI code specifies the usage of very conservative
formula for combined axial and flexural loads
according to which. In combined axial and flexural
loading conditions, a member is considered to be safe
only if the sum of quotients of the resulting
compression stresses to the allowable stresses does
not exceed 1.
4.1.3 Shear
The following three failure modes are observed in
unreinforced masonry under shear loading.
a. Diagonal tension cracks form through the mortar
and masonry units.
b. Sliding occurs along a straight crack at horizontal
bed joints.
c. Stepped cracks form, alternating from head joint
to bed joint.
According to IS: 1905 which considers sliding failure,
walls resisting horizontal forces in the plane of the
wall, permissible shear stress , calculated on the
area of bed joint, shall not exceed the value obtained
by Eq.(6).
(6)
Where, is compressive stress due to dead loads.
In the absence of suitable research data, ACI
recommends that the in-plane shear stresses shall not
exceed any of the followings:
a. psi ( MPa)
b. 120 psi (0.827 MPa)
International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering
ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 09, No. 03, June, 2016, pp. 885-887
887
c. For running bond masonry not grouted solid;
.
d. For masonry not laid in running bond,
constructed of open end units, and grouted solid;
.
e. For running bond masonry grouted solid;
.
f. For stack bond masonry not laid in running bond,
constructed of other than open end units, and
grouted solid; 15 psi (103 kPa).
Where, is compressive force acting normal to
shear surface, and is the net cross-sectional area of
masonry.
4.2 Strength Design or Limit State Design
4.2.1 Axial Compression
ACI code in Limit State Design method, gives the
nominal axial strength of masonry to be nominal
compressive strength times the strength reduction
factor specified in ASD method.
(7)
Where, is the net cross-sectional area of masonry,
is specified compressive strength of masonry, and
is reduction factor.
IBC recommends a similar formulae as of ACI with
slight modifications in the reduction factors. IBC
gives the nominal axial strength of masonry as
(8)
Where, is the net cross-sectional area of masonry,
is specified compressive strength of masonry, and
is reduction factor.
In Eurocode 6, resistance of masonry walls to vertical
loading is given based on the geometry of the wall,
the effect of the applied eccentricities and the material
properties of the masonry. The design value of the
vertical resistance of a single leaf wall per unit length
is given as design compressive strength of the
masonry multiplied by thickness of wall, capacity
reduction factor and area reduction factor. The
capacity reduction factor takes into consideration the
effect of eccentricity and slenderness.
Australian Standard specifies the basic compressive
capacity of the cross-section to be taken as the
characteristic compressive strength of the masonry
multiplied with bedded area of a masonry member
cross-section and the capacity reduction factor.
Capacity reduction factor specified by Australian
Standards is same as strength reduction factor used in
other codes to calculate the design compressive
strength of masonry and it does not take into
consideration the effect of eccentricity and
slenderness.
 888 S B S INGH AND N IKESH T HAMMISHETTI
4.2.2 Axial Compression with Flexure
According to ACI and IBC code, for masonry
elements subjected to a factored bending moment,
, and a factored compressive axial force, , the
resulting flexural bending stress, , is determined
using Eq.(9).
(9)
Where, is moment of inertia of net cross-sectional
area of a member, is net cross-sectional area of
masonry, and is thickness of wall or column.
The flexural bending stress, , shall satisfy the
followings:
 The compressive stress does not exceed , (11)
according to ACI and IBC, respectively.
 The tensile stress does not exceed the modulus of
rupture determined.
As per Australian code, in uniform symmetrical
members, subjected to uniaxial bending and
compression, the design compressive force, , that
acts on the cross-section of a member simultaneously
with a bending moment, shear force or other load
action should be less than the basic compressive
strength capacity, reduced to consider the effect of
slenderness and eccentricity.
4.2.3 Shear
Both in-plane and out-of plane shear stresses, , on
unreinforced masonry elements can be calculated
using the net cross-sectional properties of the masonry
in the direction of the applied shear force using
Eq.(10).
(10)
Where, is the shear force acting on section, is
static moment of area of section above plane under
consideration, is the moment of inertia of net cross-
sectional area of a member, and is the width of
section at plane under consideration.
In ACI code, the applied shear forces are compared to
the nominal shear strength, , of an unreinforced
masonry section, which is the least of the followings:
a.
b.
c. For running bond not solidly grouted and for
stack bond masonry with open end units and
grouted solid,
d. For solidly grouted running bond masonry,
e. For stack bond masonry with other than open end
units grouted solid,
is compressive force
International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering
ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 09, No. 03, June, 2016, pp. 885-887
acting normal to shear surface and is the net
cross-sectional area of masonry
Similarly, IBC 2000 also considers those factors for
determining nominal shear strength of masonry and
differs only in magnitude from the ACI code.
Eurocode 6 recommends design of unreinforced
masonry walls subjected to shear loading such that
design value of the shear load applied to the masonry
wall, is less than design value of the shear
resistance of the wall, , which is calculated as
design value of the shear strength of masonry times
thickness of the wall resisting the shear times the
length of the compressed part of the wall and given
as:
Where, is the design value of the shear strength of
masonry, is the length of compressed part of wall,
and is the thickness of wall.
In Australian code, the shear resistance on a
horizontal plane is considered to result from both
shear bond (and resistance to rupture) and shear
friction. According to Australian code, under each
combination of simultaneously acting design shear
force ( ) and design compressive stress acting at the
cross-section under consideration ( ), the
unreinforced masonry member subjected to are
designed to satisfy following relationship.
(12)
Where, is the shear bond strength of the section,
and the shear friction strength of the section.
The unreinforced masonry member subjected to
vertical shear forces are designed to satisfy the
following relationship (Eq. 13).
(13)
Where, is the design value of applied shear load,
is the strength reduction factors, is the
characteristic shear strength, and is the design
cross-sectional area of member.
5. Comparison of Guidelines for Reinforced
Masonry
Reinforced masonry is a type of construction in
which, masonry is strengthened or fortified by
reinforcing the binder with other building materials to
increase resistance against any form of stresses. The
design of reinforced masonry structures varies
according to usage of different materials as
reinforcements. Restricting our scope to steel as
reinforcement material, review of design provisions
for both the Allowable Stress Design (ASD) and
Limit State Design (LSD) of reinforced masonry, as
per various standards is presented in the following
sections.
 Review of Design Provisions for Masonry Structures
5.1 Allowable Stress Design or Working Stress
Design
5.1.1 Axial Compression
ACI code, based on significant amount of research
data, gives the allowable axial compressive load ( )
expressed by Eq.(14), which is obtained by adding the
contribution of masonry and reinforcement. Capacity
reduction factor is used to take into consideration
the effect of slenderness ratio. For design purposes,
ACI recommends assumption of design axial loads to
act at an eccentricity at least equal to 0.1 multiplied
by each side dimension. Each axis shall be considered
independently.
(14)
Where, is the specified compressive strength of
masonry, is the net cross-sectional area of
masonry, is the total area of longitudinal
reinforcing steel, and is the capacity reduction
factor.
IITK-GSDMA GUIDELINES for STRUCTURAL
USE of REINFORCED MASONRY recommends the
provision given by ACI with change in stress
reduction factor, which is to be taken from IS: 1905.
5.1.2 Axial Compression with Flexure
In the case of combined axial compression and flexure
in reinforced masonry, ACI gives the compressive
stress in masonry due to flexure or due to flexure in
combination with axial load not to exceed
provided the calculated compressive stress due to the
axial load component, , does not exceed the
allowable stress, . The interaction equation (unity
formula) used for unreinforced masonry is not
applicable for reinforced masonry. For reinforced
masonry, an interaction diagram between the
allowable moment (independent of member size and
material strength) versus the ratio of steel
reinforcement (Grade 60) multiplied by the steel yield
stress and divided by the specified compressive
strength of masonry (modified steel reinforcement
ratio) for both clay and concrete masonry members
subjected to pure flexure is provided and can be used
to obtain rapid graphical solution.
IITK-GSDMA guidelines for structural use of
reinforced masonry for reinforced members subjected
to combined axial load and flexure, specifies that the
compressive stress in masonry due to combined action
of axial load and bending shall not exceed 1.25 and
compressive stress in masonry due to axial load only
shall not exceed . An iterative method for walls
subjected to flexure and axial load adapted from
Masonry Designer’s Guide [8] is also provided.
5.1.3 Shear
Although reinforcement added in masonry increases
the shear resistance of masonry, shear reinforcement
International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering
ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 09, No. 03, June, 2016, pp. 885-887
889
is found to be effective in providing resistance only if
it is designed to carry the full shear load. Thus, most
codes do not add the shear resistance provided by the
masonry to that provided by the shear reinforcement.
The shear reinforcement is required to resist one
hundred percent of the applied shear. Allowable shear
stress equations provided by ACI in allowable stress
design are based on strength design provisions, but
reduced by a factor of safety of 2 to obtain allowable
stress values.
According to ACI code, shear stress in the masonry,
, is determined by the relationship
(15)
Where, is the shear force, and is the net cross-
sectional area of masonry.
The calculated shear stress in masonry shall not
exceed allowable shear stress, which is calculated
using following relationships.
(16)
(17)
(18)
Where, is the allowable shear stress resisted by
the masonry, is the allowable shear stress resisted
by the steel reinforcement, is the maximum
moment at the section under consideration, is the
shear force, is the actual depth of a member in
direction of shear considered, is the specified
compressive strength of masonry, is the axial load,
is the net cross-sectional area of masonry, is
the cross section area of shear reinforcement, is the
allowable tensile or compressive stress in
reinforcement, and is the spacing of reinforcement.
computed from above equations shall not exceed
the limits
Where
(19)
Where
(20)
The maximum value of for between
0.25 and 1.0 shall be permitted to be linearly
interpolated.
IITK-GSDMA GUIDELINES for STRUCTURAL
USE of REINFORCED MASONRY (2005) gives
permissible shear stress values for flexural members,
walls with and without web reinforcement. According
to IITK-GSDMA guidelines, the minimum shear
reinforcement, , is given by Eq.(21).
 890 S B S INGH AND N IKESH T HAMMISHETTI

is the specified yield strength of steel for

(21) reinforcement.
Where, is the shear force, is the allowable Reduction factor, used in calculating the maximum
tensile or compressive stress in reinforcement, is the value of nominal axial compressive strength is same
spacing of reinforcement, and is the effective depth as the one used in allowable stress method which
of masonry. takes into consideration the effect of slenderness of
member. Though IBC 2000 gives the same method
For Reinforced masonry members, permissible shear for evaluating nominal axial strength of member, it
stresses, , can be calculated as given below: does not take into consideration the slenderness effect.
a. For Flexural members In the New Zealand Standards, an empirical
formula is used for calculating the nominal axial
i. Without Web Reinforcement strength of a load bearing wall and is given by
, where is always equal to .
ii. With Web Reinforcement According to NZS 4230:1990 (2004), nominal axial
compressive strength, , may be calculated using
b. For Walls Eq.(23).
Based on the extensive experimental research, it
is concluded that the shear resistance of (23)
reinforced shear walls is function of the aspect Where, is the specified compressive strength of
ratio of the wall (i.e., ratio of height to length), masonry, is the net cross-sectional area of
besides distribution of reinforcement and masonry, is the total area of longitudinal
masonry strength. Permissible limits are provided reinforcing steel, and is the specified yield strength
for sections with different and with or of steel for reinforcement.
without web reinforcement.
Factor of 0.7 and strength reduction factor for
Without Web Reinforcement eccentricity shall be multiplied to nominal axial
Maximum compressive strength to get the maximum design axial
, MPa Allowable Shear load in compression.
Stress (MPa)
According to Australian code, members subjected to
<1 compressive forces shall be designed so as to satisfy
Eq.(24).
>1 0.2
With Web Reinforcement
Maximum (24)
, MPa Allowable Shear
Stress (MPa) Where, is the strength reduction factor, is the
reduction factor, is the bedded area of the masonry
<1 cross-section, is the strength factor for grout in
compression, is the design characteristic
>1 0.4
compressive strength of the grout, is the gross
5.2 Strength Design Method cross-sectional area of masonry , is the specified
compressive strength of masonry, is the total area
5.2.1 Axial Compression of longitudinal reinforcing steel and is the specified
According to ACI code, the nominal axial strength yield strength of steel for reinforcement.
of a member may be calculated using the 5.2.2 Axial Compression with Flexure
assumption of an equivalent rectangular stress block
as outlined in the design assumptions. ACI gives the For combined axial compression and flexure, the
maximum value of nominal axial compressive nominal axial strength, , and the nominal flexural
strength, , given by Eq.(22). strength, , of a cross section are computed similar
to RC members in accordance with the design
(22) assumptions provided by different codes. In all the
codes considered, in most of the cases, tensile strength
Where, is the specified compressive strength of
of the masonry is not considered effective in
masonry, is the net cross-sectional area of calculating axial and flexural strength.
masonry, is the effective cross-sectional area of
reinforcement , is the capacity reduction factor, and According to the ACI code and IBC 2000, the
maximum usable strain, , at the extreme masonry

International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 09, No. 03, June, 2016, pp. 885-887
 Review of Design Provisions for Masonry Structures
compression fiber shall be taken as 0.0035 for clay
masonry and 0.002 for concrete masonry. In Eurocode
6, the limiting compressive strain is taken as 0.0035
for Group 1 units, 0.002 for Group 3 and 4 units and it
is mentioned that the maximum tensile strain in
reinforcement should be limited to 0.01. The New
Zealand Standards, which deals with only concrete
masonry, specifies that shall be 0.003 for
unconfined masonry and 0.008 for confined masonry.
As per Australian Code, the strain in the outermost
compressive fibre is taken not to exceed 0.0035 for
both clay and concrete masonry.
5.2.3 Shear
Shear force is assumed to be resisted by both,
masonry and reinforcement. The formulas given in
ACI code and IBC 2000 to derive the nominal shear
strength of masonry and reinforcement are empirically
derived from research. The provisions of shear design
are similar to as discussed in the previous section for
allowable stress design and limits for allowable shear
stress, , as per strength design are to be taken as
expressed by Eq.(25-26).
When : (31)
(25)
When : strength,
(26)
In Eurocode 6, separate clauses are provided for
calculation of the design value of shear load in
reinforced masonry walls and reinforced masonry
beams. Contribution of masonry as well as shear
reinforcement is considered in the provisions.
According to Eurocode 6, design value of the shear
resistance of unreinforced masonry , design value
of the contribution of the reinforcement are
calculated as:
For reinforced masonry walls
(27)
(28)
For reinforced masonry beams
(29)
(30)
Where, thickness of masonry, length of masonry,
is the width of section, is the design value of the
shear strength of masonry, is the total area of the
horizontal shear reinforcement, is the design
strength of the reinforcing steel, is the effective
depth of masonry, is the spacing of reinforcement,
and is the angle of shear reinforcement to the axis of
the member.
International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering
ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 09, No. 03, June, 2016, pp. 885-887
891
There is a maximum limit to the shear strength
provided by masonry and shear reinforcement
together, which is given by for walls and
for masonry beams.
The New Zealand Standard for Design of Reinforced
Concrete Masonry Structures (NZS, 2004) in its
provisions for shear design gives that the design shear
force from ultimate limit state loads, , shall not
exceed the nominal shear strength, , times the
strength-reduction factor, . The allowable shear
stress which takes into consideration of
contribution from the masonry, , contribution from
any axial load, , and contribution from the shear
reinforcement, is used in calculation of nominal
shear strength . The nominal shear strength is
given as the specified shear stress, , times the
effective area of the section.
According to Australian Code, for a reinforced wall
with subjected to in-plane shear shall be
designed such that the following relationship is
satisfied:
Where, is the design value of a shear load, is the
strength reduction factor, is the effective shear
is the design cross-sectional area of
member, is the design yield strength of
reinforcement, and is the effective cross-sectional
area of reinforcement.
Provisions for reinforced wall with
subjected to in-plane shear and reinforced
wall subjected to out-of-plane shear recommends that
the member shall be designed to satisfy Eq.(32),
bound to an upper limit of . Provisions
related to spacing of shear reinforcements are also
provided in Australian Code.
(32)
Where, is the characteristic shear strength of
reinforced masonry, is the effective web width,
is the effective depth of masonry, is the design
shear strength of the main reinforcement, is total
area of longitudinal reinforcing steel in reinforced
masonry, is the design yield strength of
reinforcement, is the cross section area of shear
reinforcement, is the spacing of shear reinforcement,
and is the strength reduction factor.
6. Conclusion
This article presents provisions related to the design
of masonry structures subjected to axial compression,
axial compression with flexure and shear loading.
Even codes which give recommendations for Limit
State Design approach rely upon empirical formulae
for some provisions. This reason necessitates an open
door for research in masonry. Out of all the codes
 892 S B S INGH AND N IKESH T HAMMISHETTI
considered, Indian standards are the only codes which
completely provide empirical or semi-empirical
approach of design and hence there is a need for them
to be amended. It is recommended that the
permissible stresses shall be calculated based on the
test performed on prisms made of materials to be used
in construction. The prior information provided is
based on the author’s review experience and objective
of the article is to capture latest state of art. The article
will be revised as new codes and amendments are
issued.
Acknowledgement
The financial support by DST, New Dehi, CSIR, New
Delhi and Aditya Birla Group sanctioned to the first
author to carry out this study is highly appreciated.
Appendix: List of symbols
Depth of equivalent compression zone at
nominal strength
The bedded area of the masonry cross-section
The design cross-sectional area of member
Gross cross-sectional area of masonry
Net cross-sectional area of masonry
Effective cross-sectional area of
reinforcement
Total area of longitudinal reinforcing steel in
a reinforced masonry wall, column or
pilaster
Total area of the horizontal shear
reinforcement
Cross section area of shear reinforcement
Minimum shear reinforcement area
Width of section
Effective web width
Effective depth of masonry
Actual depth of a member in direction of
shear considered
Eccentricity
Modulus of elasticity of masonry in
compression
Calculated compressive stresses due to axial
load only
Basic compressive stresses
Calculated compressive stresses due to
flexure only
Design characteristic compressive strength of
the grout
Compressive stress due to dead loads
Specified compressive strength of masonry
Characteristic shear strength
Design yield strength of reinforcement
Calculated shear stress in masonry
Design value of the shear strength of
masonry
Effective shear strength
Design shear strength of the main
reinforcement
Characteristic shear strength of reinforced
International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering
ISSN 0974-5904, Vol. 09, No. 03, June, 2016, pp. 885-887
masonry
Specified yield strength of steel for
reinforcement
Design strength of the reinforcing steel
Allowable compressive stress due to axial
load only
Allowable compressive stress due to bending
only
Permissible compressive stresses
Allowable tensile or compressive stress in
reinforcement
Allowable shear stress in masonry
Allowable shear stress resisted by the
masonry
Allowable shear stress resisted by the steel
reinforcement
Flexural bending stress due to loading
Effective height of columns, walls or
pilasters
Moment of inertia of net cross-sectional area
of a member
Strength factor for grout in compression
Stress reduction factor
Area reduction factor
Shape modification factor
Length of compressed part of wall, ignoring
any part of wall that is in tension
Length of a panel between supports
Maximum moment at the section under
consideration
Factored moment
Compressive force acting normal to shear
surface
Axial load
Factored Compressive axial load
Allowable compressive force in reinforced
masonry due to axial load
Euler buckling load
Nominal axial strength
First moment of area of section
Capacity reduction factor
Spacing of shear reinforcement
Thickness of masonry
Shear force
Design value of applied shear load
Nominal shear strength
Design value of a shear load
Design value of the shear resistance
is the shear bond strength of the section
the shear friction strength of the section
Strength reduction factors
Maximum compressive strain in masonry
Angle of shear reinforcement to the axis of
the member
References
[1] ACI 530-XX/ASCE 5-XX/TMS 402-XX,
Building Code Requirements for Masonry
Structures (Review Version of Proposed Changes
 Review of Design Provisions for Masonry Structures 893

to MSJC), Masonry Standards Joint Committee,
USA, 2012.
[2] AS 3700, Australian Standard Masonry
structures, Standards Australia Limited, Sydney,
Australia, 2011.
[3] Eurocode 6, Design of Masonry Structures – Part
1-1: General rules for buildings – Rules for
Reinforced and Unreinforced Masonry, European
Committee for Standardization, Brussels, 2005.
[4] Guidelines for Structural Use of Reinforced
Masonry. Report IITK-GSDMA-EQ12–
Earthquake Codes. Indian Institute of Technology
(Kanpur): Department of Civil Engineering,
2005.
[5] International Building Code, International Code
Council, Virginia, USA, 2000.
[6] IS: 1905, Indian Standard Code of Practice for
Structural Use of Unreinforced Masonry, Bureau
of Indian Standards, New Delhi, 1987.
[7] NZS 4230, Code of Practice for the Design of
Concrete Masonry Structures and Commentary,
Standards Association of New Zealand,
Wellington, New Zealand, 2004.
[8] Masonry Designer's Guide. Matthys, John H.,
ed. The Masonry Society and the American
Concrete Institute, 1999.

International Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering

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