deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
(OP)
I've read on the Brick Industry Association website that L/600 or 0.3" should be used to avoid cracking mortar.
My question is, what loading would you apply this limit to? Of course it depends on construction sequence...
But I've heard from one person that it should be for superimposed dead + live, but then from another person that it should be for live only, with the rationale that the brick mortar is still wet when the brick "sees" its self-weight and therefore won't crack from its self-weight...
My question is, what loading would you apply this limit to? Of course it depends on construction sequence...
But I've heard from one person that it should be for superimposed dead + live, but then from another person that it should be for live only, with the rationale that the brick mortar is still wet when the brick "sees" its self-weight and therefore won't crack from its self-weight...






RE: deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
I generally use full dead and live load for designing lintels. Use L/600 criteria.
May be a little conservative, but if you have more than a few courses of brick on the beam, and the masons but up a few course, then get stopped for a few days (3 day holiday then a couple of rain days following) the mortar in these courses will be reasonably set before the rest of the masonry load is appiled. I would rather be a little conservative in my thinking and design, than getting a phone call from the owner wanting to know why his brick wall is cracked and leaking water.
RE: deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
RE: deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
RE: deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
RE: deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
When things are steep, remember to stay level-headed.
RE: deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
RE: deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
When things are steep, remember to stay level-headed.
RE: deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
When things are steep, remember to stay level-headed.
RE: deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
RE: deflection limit for spandrel beams supporting brick?
The funny thing was that right after I did the study of the building with all the problems, we had a similar project in house that involved banded brick spandrels. I took greater care in checking the superimposed DL + LL against the L/600 and 0.3" deflections - even asking and getting some additional control joints in the brick on some longer spans.