Masonry Buildings 1

[Calif]

What software is typically used to design low to medium rise masonry buildings? Is there any software like RAM or RISA that does Masonry building analysis of a whole buildings?

Calif

The resisant virtues of the structure that we seek depend on their form; it is through their form that they are stable, not because of an awkward accumulation of material. There is nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint than this: to resist through form. Eladio Dieste

 

[JAE]

I'm just aware of this software from NCMA:

NCMA Masonry Design Software

 

[Calif]

I am aware of these packages but it only seems from the disciption that it models a shear wall, a lintel, a wall with forces acting horizontal to plain of wall etc. I am looking for a complete package that can modeled in 3-dimension a whole structure that is constructed out of masonry.

Calif

The resisant virtues of the structure that we seek depend on their form; it is through their form that they are stable, not because of an awkward accumulation of material. There is nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint than this: to resist through form. Eladio Dieste

 

[whyun]

http://www.cmacn.org/bookstore-computer.htm#CP001

This is another software for designing masonry "elements". I am not aware that there is a masonry building design software out there. We'll wait for other responses.

 

[JAE]

You know, most masonry buildings are not usually designed as redundant systems requiring a complete model of everything.

That may explain why there isn't an all-encompassing software product out there for it.

 

[Calif]

When you say redundant, do you mean having alot of stability elements for a building structure?

The resisant virtues of the structure that we seek depend on their form; it is through their form that they are stable, not because of an awkward accumulation of material. There is nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint than this: to resist through form. Eladio Dieste

 

[JAE]

No, redundancy in that the building elements are all interconnected so as to depend upon one another for stability.

For most masonry wall buildings, most of the design is based upon simple elements taken by themselves... such as:

walls (taken as a simple span from foundation to roof)
Lintels (simple span across one opening)
Reinforced jambs next to openings (simple span elements taking a point load from a lintel)

etc.

So software used to analyze an entire model of a building isn't necessary as the elements are taken individually instead of interconnected like a moment frame system.

 

[Calif]

Now that I have put some thought into it, I think you are correct. There are some interdependency within shear walls, (depending on how much loading is acting a shear wall, it can act as a flange which can make it act with other walls) but that is an extreme case.

Thanks JAE



The resisant virtues of the structure that we seek depend on their form; it is through their form that they are stable, not because of an awkward accumulation of material. There is nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint than this: to resist through form. Eladio Dieste