reinforced concrete buttress design

[smulmi]

Hi all,

I am looking at designing a RC buttresses to reinforce an existing rubble masonry wall. I sized the buttress walls (8' on centers) to resist the overturning and sliding forces. I had to anchor the buttresses to the soil (rock) below. My question is how do I design the rebars for the buttresses?

Any suggestions and/or references are welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[TXStructural]

Most folks would design them like a conventional shear wall. One design for all, and do not vary it unnecessarily - this is a matter of economy. You can use strut and tie, but the design needs to be uniform and/or uncomplicated to minimize construction problems and cost. Steel reinforcement is not expensive compared to the labor required to construct a complicated design.

That said, relatively short buttresses may provide sufficiently for shear using Vc alone. The reinforcement would then be needed to meet minimums (in both directions - use the ACI 350 minimum to reduce crack width) and to provide tension tie to the foundation.

 

[Teguci]

look up counterforts. I would think the reinforcing would be near the concrete face touching the rubble wall (assuming an exterior buttress on an arched building or a retaining wall - not sure what the rubble wall is for).