Bearing Plate Question

[Einsteim]

See attached pictures - I am NOT the EOR for this project, but noticed a potential disaster waiting to happen. I rough calculated the point load from beam reaction to be in the 25-30 kip range from roof load, CMU wall DL, PC Plank DL-LL, no bearing plate installed on the CMU and I believe not grouted below and of course no column below either. The CMU has slight diagonal crack (maybe not clear on the picture). I feel this needs to be reported to Owner as a serious concern...thoughts?

 

[msquared48]

I was thinking more about this (I know that's dangerous), and it occurred to me that this could also be a problem with shrinkage in the CMU, or temperature in the steel beam, creating a tension force into the wall that was not tied back into the wall with "U" bars or hooked bars. If this was not a drag strut, then slotted holes in the beam flange should have been provided to alleviate this condition.

As for the grouting, the pitch of the sound a hammer struck against the CMU cells will tell if they are grouted or not.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[AVak]

It looks like a bad detail to me. I typically weld the plate to the bottom of the lintel beam and extend the plate over the full bearing length on the masonry. This eliminates the need for a separate bearing plate. I also call for the cells below the bearing to filled with grout continuously to the footing. By calling for vertical reinforcing below the bearing point, it is more likely that the grout gets put in.

Adam Vakiener, P.E.