Angled Masonry walls

[scottiesei]

Has anyone ever designed an angled masonry wall? Like a pyramid, but not sloping to a point just a slight angle. The architect is calling to stack the blocks in slightly each course, about an inch or so, and then to provide a continuous tie at the top with RC. Initially, I don't se a problem with this as long as it is braced until after the down cells and tie cap are cured. Any comments or additional ideas?

 

[COEngineeer]

They want to express the angle in the interior also? Or can the interior be straight? What type of exterior finish do they want?

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[csd72]

I would be concerned about the masonry ability to span nbetween supports with 1" less contact area.

Could make the bocks wide enough so that they can be reinforced.

csd

 

[civilperson]

Lay the base at the same angle of the face, (back with plywood temporarily), and keep the plane of the face flat with reference to the units, (rather than flat base and stepped). I have seen 1" in 12" slope built this way for 12 foot heights.

 

[scottiesei]

The blocks are placed with the outside faceshell partially exposed. So each course would be set in about 1/2" to 1" in from the preceeding course. I do not think that the inside matters, there is nothing contained in the tower, it's just for decoration.
I like that idea cp. This is for a height of 13'-6" with a slope of about 1:12. I think I would like to see a solid RC curb for the base using that methodlogy. I would want to rely on the angled base mortar.

 

[UcfSE]

Can you build a plumb wall to the inside with a sloped veneer of stepped block?

 

[concretemasonry]

Corbeled walls are nothing new and there are provision for it in the codes. Without referring to a code, I recall 1" of corbelling being allowable. Since there must be some steel and grout for a 13'-6" wall.

civilperson had a great idea by forming the inside and just laying a wall "out of plumb". The question is whether it works visually for the architect.

Since the variation from vertical is not great and the block are laid on a form in one plane, it is just another non-bearing partially reinforced masonry element. Steel placement and grout would not be very much different because of the lack of plumbness. Normal grouting procedures could be followed.

At least it does not have to be moved as some "S" shaped panels have been to the job site.

Dick

 

[csd72]

Have you thought about alternatives such as just using a brick facade and using angled steel studs on the interior for support?

This would be much cheaper and would achieve the same effect.

csd