Masonry Wall Sliding

[Naggud]

Hi guys,

I'm looking at providing a retrofit strategy for a building. In it we have old masonry walls without reinforcing of any type in them.

The walls are failing in shear and in sliding. To retrofit for shear I am proposing that horizontal FRP be added, with it an equivalent percentage of vertical reinforcing will be required in line with current code.

My issue is, the wall is failing in sliding too - if I specify vertical steel reinforcement to be added to the existing wall is it practice to dowel into footing thus providing sliding resistance also?

I plan to send a retrofit strategy to the estimators on Monday, I am wondering if I need to specify that the wall needs to be properly connected as well or is that assumed for when vertical reinforcement is specified.

Thank you for your help.

 

[SLTA]

Can I answer even though I'm not a guy?

Have you looked at the foundation? Masonry walls usually slide or crack because the foundation is moving. That has to be stopped before any other repair work will be helpful. Have you determined the cause of the wall movement?

You didn't say for sure, so I assume you mean CMU walls. Retrofitting rebar inside existing CMU cavities is really difficult, because of the mortar and debris that falls into them during construction or over time. On one project, we cut the faces off of blocks where a column should have been and poured a reinforced concrete column instead. Depending on the cause of movement, something similar to this may be more cost-effective for your project.

Good luck!

 

[hokie66]

These masonry walls...are they sliding on the footing or is the footing sliding? From your OP, we don't even know how the walls are loaded. Are they retaining walls? What do you mean by "failing in shear"? A photo or two would help.