Shear Wall Design in Wood Framed with Brick Veneer Structures

[PT999]

Wood Frame Construction Manual - Shear Capacities for Brick Veneer

I am seeing shear capacities of wood frame walls, with standard sheathing and siding, but I am not seeing anything for wood frame construction with brick veneer.

Anybody know how to handle this, naturally I can use the tables in the WFCM for this, but it would be interesting to find out if capacities are increased for brick veneer

 

[JAE]

I've never used brick veneer as a shear wall system. There typically is no tie in between the veneer and the building's frame to transfer lateral forces into veneer.

 

[concretemasonry]

++ on JAE's comment. A brick veneer it not a structural component unless the connections between the wythes is properly designed and detailed (which is difficult). Even though brick seems substantial, it is difficult to transfer the loads.

Dick

Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.

 

[msquared48]

If anything, the brick veneer detracts from the capacity of the wood shear wall, not increase it.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Yes - just use the wood shear wall by itself