CMU wall: Wind loads and Cracking

[Delchi]

I am designing an 8" CMU wall, 11'-0 high, for wind loading. It's braced at the bottom by the foundation and at the top by the roof diaphragm.

Is it standard practice to design the wall as a reinforced masonry wall, which considers the tension-side masonry as being cracked, or does the whole wall need to be designed not to crack by keeping the tensile strain in the masonry less than the strain corresponding to the modulus of rupture?

Thanks!

 

[DaveAtkins]

It can be done either way. I have never been concerned with cracking of a reinforced CMU wall, because the reinforcing should hold the cracks tight.

DaveAtkins

 

[Delchi]

Thanks Dave!

That reasoning makes sense.