cmu wall beam design
 

cmu wall / beam design
hopefully this is a simple question since i'm sort of a newbie structural engineer. i'm looking for the correct way to determine the capacity of a reinforced cmu wall..
my analysis procedure:
determine*
fb = .33 * f`m if less than 2000 psi
fs = .5 fy if less than 24,000 psi
em = 750 f`m if less than 3,000,000 psi (for concrete masonry)
n = es / em
calculate row(p)=as/bd
calculate nuertral axis using k
solve for j.
the solve for
ms=fs*row(p)*b*d^2 and
mm=0.5*fb*k*j*b*d^2
the u take the lower of ms & mm as the design moment capacity??
if mm>ms then the steel yields first in tension thus governing the capacity...i'm assuming this is the ideal situation since it will be a ductile gradual failure??
if ms>mm then the masonry will crush in compression leading to a sudden failure??
please let me know if i am approaching this correctly..
thanks
chris

yes, that is the correct way to do allowable stress design of cmu. the codes also allow ultimate strength design, which gives a better answer in many cases.
daveatkins
hello chris;
you've got an excellent resource for structural engineering help here at the website... keep asking questions; there are lots of people who can help you a great deal.
cheers,
ys
b.eng (carleton)
working in new zealand, thinking of my snow covered home...