Lintel supporting wide masonary wall

[woodman1967]

In this particular opening the existing masonry wall is 16" thick. I've never designed a lintel for such a wide wall.

The opening is only 7' wide, but the opening is located at the corner of the wall so there will be no arching effect. Anyway, what would you use typically in this situation? I've looked at two W shapes side by side but that made connections tricky. I am looking for a solution using steel.

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[Lion06]

Use a heavy HSS. Limit the deflection to a very small value to eliminate the wall trying to arch where it can't.

 

[msquared48]

I agree with the heavy HSS = like a 12X12 with a 16" wide plate welded to the top. I would place the top of the plate just under a brick tie level (two 8" bricks per layer placed normal to the wall) to provide a more even bearing.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[kslee1000]

Reinforced concrete lintel?

 

[sandman21]

Lintel bars in the CMU.

 

[msquared48]

The original post mentioned masonry, as in brick, not CMU. Hence, no reinforced lintel beam is possible.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[concretemasonry]

The original poster never did say it was a brick (clay or concrete) or if it was a concrete block (CMU) wall.

A CMU wall is a masonry wall and is under the provisions of ACI 530.

In many areas 16" wide units are made including an 8" high bond beam unit. If it were new construction a deep lintels could be constructed by laying 16" thick stretcher units on a 16" bond beam course and then filling the 16" high (or more) portion of the wall with grout in one pour.

Dick

 

[hokie66]

Not a reinforced CMU lintel, but certainly a precast concrete lintel is possible and practical.

 

[msquared48]

I'm having a bad night here.

I realize that CMU stands for a Concrete Masonry Unit, however a 16" width is not a very common width unless it is an old brick building where 8" over 16" over 24" is very common older construction that I have personally seen. CMU construction can go to much greater heights with thinner walls than brick.

If this is CMU, I guess I stand corrected.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[hokie66]

It doesn't matter whether it is brick or CMU. It is an existing wall, and the OP needs a lintel to span 7'. A 16" wide concrete beam can be precast to serve as a lintel. I think that is a better solution than a big HSS as suggested above.

 

[csd72]

5/16" plate needles at close centers.

Prop the needles.

Place a channel either side and weld the top of the channel to the needles

Remove props and cut off excess needle length.

 

[miecz]

If this is an existing wall, this type of retrofit has been discussed before and should work for a 16" wall. See thread507-4081.

 

[woodman1967]

Thanks everyone for your input.