Load Bearing masonry walls

[nisha1980]

Hi

I have a 3 storey concrete building to design. This building is use for podiatrist consulting.
the columns from ground floor can not continue to other floors because floor plans is different in first floor and columns comes in the middle of the rooms if continue.. I am thinking to start new set of transfer columns from the first floor slab and continue to second floor slab , it is also impossible to introduce new columns in first floor as it will clashes with windows.

So the only option i have is use masonry load bearing walls have flat slab in second floor level . the connection between masonry and the concrete slab has the slip joint . This type of construction was used in ( use of masonry walls to support ) olden days . this does not have a concrete frame . so i think this is not strong enough to take the Earthquake loads .

Any ideas highly appreciated.

can i proceed without concrete frame and with load bearing masonry walls

Thank you

 

[dik]

Do the upper two floors have the same layout? The lower floor must have locatios where the support for the upper two floors can be provided. Are you in a seismic or high wind area? I don't know why you would want a 'slip' connection between the walls and the slab.

Dik

 

[nisha1980]

hi Dik , thank you for your respond.

Upper two floors also have slightly different lay outs. we are not in high wind or high seismic zone. but still we need to design structures for wind and Earthquakes. No i do not need to use slip joint in between . i could use steel starter bars set in grout in wall and cast in concrete slab and the wall as an additional detailing for Earthquakes.

my question is if i choose reinforced masonry load bearing walls to supports the slab above ( in second floor flat slab slab) and first floor slab has beams in it . columns supports the fist floor slab. from second floor t third floor masonry walls can support roof . so is this design concept is sufficient to withstand for Earthquake loads? (if i make the additional detailing for connections to suit the earthquake requirement)

 

[dik]

The bearing walls can be picked up by beams and columns. Just a caution that the wall stiffness is greater than the concrete beam and column stiffness and the slab can deflect more than the supported wall, leaving a gap.

Dik