New Steel Beam Bearing on Existing Brick Wall

[LowLax]

Wondering what sort of detail others use for this type of connection.

For existing CMU I'd usually have a pocket knocked out and set a bearing plate with anchors and grout. But since I don't have any hollow space for grout or anchors to go, I'm not quite sure of the best way to handle it.

This is an old "12 brick (3 wythes) wall. The beams have pretty small end reactions.

 

[lkjh345]

LowLax:

Is there something (a diapragm perhaps) to provide stability to the beam? So that you are not trying to pass horizontal loads (either parrellel to the axis of the beam, or perpendicular)through the end bearing connection?

If so, and the beam vertical reactions are small enough to stay under the brick's allowable bearing pressure, I would just pocket out the brick wall, set the beam on a pad of non-shrink grout, and have the remainder of the wall pocket grouted in to resupport the brick above.

 

[LowLax]

Thanks. Yes, the beam is a gravity beam only and it will be connected to a diaphragm. That sounds like a good and simple way to do it.

 

[apsix]

Just make sure that the brick bearing capacity is adequate, if not use your bearing plate or cast a concrete padstone.
With a small reaction you may not need anything.

 

[wchiang]

Depending on the site condition, sometimes making a pocket would be very difficult for the contractor to drill holes for the anchors (assuming the anchors are perpendicular to the bearing surface, through the beam bottom flange and bearing plate into the brick).

The drill itself plus a long enough bit would probably need 18" or more of space.

If reactions aren't that great, have you considered using adhesive anchors specifically for brick? Secure a vertical plate to the face of wall with adhesive anchors, with a shear tab attached to that vertical plate, the beam can then attach to the shear tab.

With multiwythe wall, those adhesive anchors can provide decent capacities.

HTH.

 

[SperlingPE]

Possible a "beam box" pocket. It is difficult to knock a hole in 3 wythe (brick, clay tile, brick) construction and get a level bearing area and get an embed plate in. The beam box can be installed and then leveled with grout.