Pressure on Opposite faces of a masonry wall.

[Duchas]

Has anyone considered the magnitude of the pressure that arises on the opposite external faces of a masonry wall when the core filling has disintegrated? I am referring to a wall which is built with an ashlar face on each side with a cavity in between which is filled with rubble or mortar and bits of stone. After weathering and ageing, the mortar and fill becomes loose and exerts outward pressure on the ashlar faces of the wall. The question is, how much pressure is reasonable to assume? 'At rest' or 'active' pressures would be very high. Any other ideas?

 

[SteveBausch]

The design value I recall seeing (while researching bowed block walls) was 42 pounds per cubic foot.

Journal of Light Engineering (New England edition) March 1995.

Of course, this isn't your situation, but you may it valuable.