Buttressed Foundation Walls 1

[Engrman]

How do you guys distribute forces in a buttressed foundation wall. I have a 10'-0" high foundation with buttresses at approximately 15'-0" o.c. (spacing varies but doesn't exceed 15'-0&quot. There is a concrete basement slab at the bottom and a wood framed floor at top with a bolted ledger supporting the floor joists. Typically I over simplify by saying the wall spans between buttresses but I feel this really pumps up the rebar. The wall is restrained at the bottom by the slab and partially restrained at the top so it seems to me the wall panels act as plates supported at all four sides. If true then the forces in the wall are different and probably less. Am I wrong?

 

[dlew]

Engrman,

I would not rely on a wood floor to support a concrete foundation wall. Wood deforms with time.

Generally, buttressed walls are cantilever walls. If there is continuous support at the top of the wall, why to put buttresses?

As you said, the wall spans horizontally between the buttresses and the butresses are designed for the vertical moment. You could assume the wall as a plate supported on three sides, in which case, vertical reinforcing would be required at the bottom of the wall.

AEF