horiz cracks near top of load-bearing CMU wall

[PSUengineer1]

Hello.

I have a warehouse wall about 18 feet high built in the 1960s. Don't know reinforcing, cell grouting, block width. I have horizontal cracks with lateral displacement between windows. I have a CMU cracked vertically with inward horizontal displacement. There is no unbalanced soil pressure. Looking for opinions on what caused these cracks so I can compare to my opinion (see pics)? I still have to get up in a lift to investigate closer. thanks.

 

[hokie66]

Probably unreinforced. Looks like double angle steel lintels, so corrosion could be lifting at the windows. Wind and snow loading could also be factors.

 

[SinStrucEng]

^ I agree with hokie66 - I think corrosion is the leading factor here.

 

[JLNJ]

It's also the weak spot in flexure as the wall spans bottom to top.

 

[RPGs]

The horizontal cracks between windows are very consistent with delamination and swelling of the lintels. It is probably best to remove/replace the lintels in areas where the coursing has displaced out-of-plane. For the less serious areas, some sealing work can be done to slow the continued deterioration (e.g. repointing, masonry sealer, epoxy steel sealer, etc.), though replacement is usually a better long term solution.

 

[HTURKAK]

The pictures at page 3 and page 9 implies that these cracks are old and repaired. IMO, the roof beams directly supported on masonry wall ( without padstone or continuous perimeter tie beam ) and the double angle lintels are separate for each window openings ( not continuous)..

I will suggest to check if the cracks are live or not ( stick small glass ribbons over the cracks and see if the cracks are live , the glass pieces will be broken )







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