Historical Clay/Terracotta Foundation Block 2

[engineerdustin]

Has anyone run into this particular unit before and have any information on block sizes, compressive strength, etc.?

Denver, CO house built in 1920's

Thanks!

 

[stevenspm]

It was a common building material back then. Below is a link to a free online only pdf of "Principles of Tile Engineering; Handbook of Design" by Plummer, Harry C. dated from 1947. It should give you the information that you need.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89080445166;view=1up;seq=42;size=125

 

[CANPRO]

I have a few engineering handbooks from the early 1900's at home that I will check to see if there is any info. Probably won't be anything that isn't available in the link provided by stevenspm, but I will check anyway. The below link may also have some useful information for you.

http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/jres/18/jresv18n2p215_A1b.pdf

It looks like the wall in question is retaining soil. It also looks like you're putting in new openings. The dead load on the wall is likely the only thing keeping the wall stable. Are you concerned at all about changing the nature of the loading on this wall?

 

[JAE]

Similar thread here: thread507-357400


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[JAE]

And a link or two:

http://historicbldgs.com/terra_cotta.htm

https://docs.rwu.edu/saahp_fp/23/

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[engineerdustin]

Thanks for the links.

Not adding any new openings, had to cut down the top of wall for a mudroom addition. New foundation walls will go down to bottom of existing footing so no new pressures will be added to wall.

 

[dik]

I've encountered numerous historic walls using clay tile construction, but, have never seen it used below grade where it could be a damp or wet environment.

Dik

 

[bridgebuster]

Here's another link. This is a great site, 1000's of old catalogs.

Link

They have a book that may also be useful; "Handbook of Hollow Building Tile Construction" from 1922. I tried to upload it but apparently it's too large a file.

 

[dik]

BB... excellent link... I'll send SRE a copy of the link. Downloaded the book, but, too large to upload to this site.

Dik

 

[bridgebuster]

thanks Dik. I've found a lot of great reference material on that site.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[dik]

SRE: thanks, Dik