Steel Column Embedded in Masonry Wall

[CURVEB]

We have a detail where a masonry wall will be built around a 4x4 steel column, so the column is essentially "embedded" in the wall. The masonry will be fully grouted. The structure is an exterior trash enclosure, in an environment where the temperature ranges from below 0 F in the winter to above 100 in the summer. If the column has the horizontal masonry bars welded to it, when it expands and contracts is it likely to cause the masonry to crack? The masonry wall also has lots of vertical reinforcement which seems like it would help restrain any cracking that would be caused by the change in column length.

The length of the column is about 12'. I did a quick calc based on the thermal expansion of the member, and it's very small (about 1/16"), but maybe not enough to say no problem?

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Looking at the thermal expansion of the steel column is only half of the analysis. The masonry will be subjected to thermal expansion, too. Find the thermal expansion coefficient for the masonry and compare it to the value for steel. Since the steel is embedded in the masonry wall, the temperature of the embedded steel and the surrounding masonry should be similar at any given time.

Assuming the masonry's coefficient is equivalent to concrete, and concrete's approximates steel's coefficient, I doubt if you will have a problem.

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[CURVEB]

Thanks - that's a great point.

 

[thaidavid40]

Will movement of the column relative to the stiffer masonry cause any problems? I assume the column support an (open) roof? I'd recommend putting a masonry isolation joint immediately to one side of the column, and keying across it to tie the two sides of the CMU together transversely.

Thaidavid

 

[Budding_SE]

I would not tie the masonry to the steel column. I would provide an EJ all around the column.
Design the masonry to be completely unbraced