EN 1996-1-1 REINFORCED MASONRY DESIGN EXAMPLE 1

(NOTE: THIS USES THE UK NATIONAL ANNEX NDP VALUES)

Reinforced Masonry - Reinforced Brickwork Stem Cantilever Pocket-Type

Retaining Wall
A reinforced brickwork earth retaining wall 3,65m high has to support a graded sand
and gravel backfilling with drainage. The brick format masonry units are Group 1 and
have a compressive strength (non-normalised) of 50N/mm2 being laid in a class M12
General Purpose mortar. Bricks are Category I with Class 1 Execution Control of the
works. The reinforcement is grade 500 high yield deformed steel bars placed in
formed vertical voids (pockets) with a C35/45 structural concrete infilling. The
foundation will be a reinforced concrete spread type. The retained soil lies horizontal
at the wall head with no applied surcharge other than that expected from nominal
incidental loads and for which allowance has been made in the design loadings.

112.5
3.00

4.0m
900 c/c
42.50

20.00

440
10.00

Figure: Design of brickwork wall stem

Note to figure: substitute height of stem as 3,65m; wall trial thickness as 328mm

Characteristic earth loading, Gk = 41,27kN/m from earth loading

Characteristic imposed loading, Qk,1 = 10,76kN/m from nominal surcharge loading

And γG,sup = 1,35 and γQ = 1,50

Therefore uls design lateral load = γG,sup Gk + γQ Qk,1

= (1,35 x 41,27) + (1,50 x 10,76)

= 71,85kN/m run of wall

Therefore uls design moment = (1,35 x 41,27 x 3,65 / 3) + (1,50 x 10,76 x 3,65 / 2)

= 97,24kN.m/m run of wall

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The design total lateral force at the ultimate limit state has been derived from the soil
pressure, nominal surcharge loading and partial safety factors for loading as
71,85kN/m and the design bending moment is to be taken as 97,24kN.m/m.

Serviceability limiting span

From BS EN 1996-1-1 Table 5.2 the limiting ratio of the span to effective depth is 18.
Hence the effective depth, d, must exceed lef/18 which is 3650/18 = 203mm.

Using a 328mm thick brickwork reinforced pocket-type wall (1½-bricks thick) d

provided is (328 - 57) = 271 mm, say d = 270mm with 113mm depth reinforcement
pockets formed in rear of brickwork wall face.

Section bending capacity

The design bending moment, MEd, is 97,24kN.m/m run of wall

Design wall as flanged beam, assume pocket width along wall length of 235mm (1-
brick)
Flange depth, tf = d/2 = 270/2 = 135mm
From Clause 5.5.3 (3) width of flange, beft is lesser of:
a) 235 + (12 x 135) = 1855mm
b) 900 mm (actual pocket spacing to be used)
c) 3650/3 = 1217mm
Therefore flange width to be used, beft = 900mm

The declared compressive strength of the brick masonry units is 50N/mm2, Group 1.
Thus normalised compressive strength of the bricks, fb, is given by:
fb = 1,0 x 0,85 x 50N/mm2
fb = 42,50N/mm2
where test moisture conditioning factor is 1,0 and 0,85 is the shape factor δ, both
taken from BS EN 772 Part 1

The characteristic compressive strength of the brickwork is given by:

fk = K fb0,70 fm0,30 for General Purpose mortar use
where K is taken as 0,5 x 0,8 for Group 1 clay masonry units in accordance with
Table NA.4 and text of the UK National Annex, hence:
fk = 0,5 x 0.8 × 42,50,7 × 12,00,3
fk = 11,63N/mm2

Using Category I bricks with Class 1 Execution Control the partial factor for materials
properties γM is 2,0 from Table NA.1 of the UK National Annex
Hence fd = fk/γM = 11,63/2,0 = 5,82N/mm2

Using the Q factor approach from BS5628 Part 2 which is compatible with the
Eurocode 6 methodology then:
The moment of resistance factor Q is given by:
Q = MEd/bd2 = 97,24 x 106 x 0,9 / 900 x 2702 = 1,334
And Q = 2c(1-c)fd
Therefore 1,334 = 11,63c – 11,63c2

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c = 0,868 which is the lever arm factor which does not exceed 0,95 limiting
Hence the lever arm z is 0,868 x 270 = 234mm
As required = MRd/fyd z from Eqn (6.22)
Using Grade 500 deformed steel bars with a yield strength, fyk, of 500 N/mm2 and
with γM as 1,15 from the UK National Annex
fyd = 500/1,15 = 435N/mm2
As required = 97,24 x 0,9 x 106 / 435 x 234
As required 860mm2
Therefore use 2no. deformed 25mm diameter bars, Grade 500, which provide 982
mm2. If the bars are placed centrally in the pocket the cover is (113/2 - 25/2) = 44mm
which is adequate for durability protection when a C35/45 concrete infilling to BS
EN 206 Part 1 and BS 8500 is used for exposure situation MX3. (Table NA.9 of the
UK National Annex requires a minimum thicness of concrete cover of 30mm using a
20mm aggregate size).
Main tensile steel provides 3,7% of area of infill pocket which is less than 4% limiting
given in Clause 8.2.7(4).
Check that the limiting compressive moment of the brickwork section is not exceeded
MRd ≤ fd bef tf (d – 0,5tf) Eqn (6.28)

MRd ≤ 5,82 x 900 x 135 x 10-6 (270 – 0,5 x 135)

MRd ≤ 143,19kN.m for a 900mm flange length (159,10kN.m/m run of wall)

This exceeds the design moment applied, MEd, of 97,24 kN.m/m run of wall and
therefore the brickwork compressive section is satisfactory.

Section shear capacity

The design shear force, VEd, is 71,85kN/m run of wall

From Annex J for enhanced shear capacity of section incorporating vertical

reinforcement is:
Characteristic shear strength of section, fvd = (0,35 + 17,5 x ρ)/γM from Eqn. J.1
Where ρ = As/bd = (982/900 x 270) = 0,0040
fvd = (0,35 + 17,5 x 0,0040)/2,0 = 0,21N/mm2
And fvd ≤ 0,7/γM = 0,7/2,0 = 0,35N/mm2 limiting
fvd may be increased by the factor χ = (2,5 - 0,25av/d)
where av = 97,24kN.m/m /71,85kN/m = 1,353m
and av /d = 1353/270 = 5,01 < 6 limiting
χ = (2,5 – 0,25 x 5,01) = 1,248
fvd enhanced = 1,248 x 0,21N/mm2 = 0,26N/mm2
And fvd ≤ 1,75/γM = 1,75/2,0 = 0,88N/mm2 limiting
Therefore shear capacity of section without shear reinforcement, VRd1 is:
VRd1 = fvd b d = (0,26 x 900 x 270 x 10-3) = 63,18kN for a 900 mm flange length
(70,20kN/m run of wall)

This very slightly falls short of the design shear applied, VEd, of 71,85kN/m run of
wall (by 2,3%) and hence 6mm diameter Grade 200 austenitic stainless steel formed
closed shear links will be provided at pocket positions only at 225mm vertical centres
and placed in brickwork bed joints. Localised protection of 25mm diameter bars

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against stainless steel bars will be required at link to main vertical steel spot contact
points to avoid potential galvanic action between dissimiliar steel types.

Therefore using nominal shear reinforcement localised in pocket positions, VRd2 is:
VRd2 = 0,9d (Asw /s) fyd (1 + cot α)sin α from Eqn. 6.42 considering reinforced
pocket alone as vertical beam element with 235mm width pocket dimension
where fyd = 200/1,15 = 174N/mm2 for Grade 200 steel
VRd2 = 0,9 x 270 x 56mm2 x 174 x 10-3 /225 = 10,52kN (11,69kN/m run of wall)
where Asw is 56mm2 for 2no. 6mm diameter bars as formed closed shear link
and (1 + cotα)sinα = 1,0 for horizontally placed shear links (α = 90°)
VRd1 + VRd2 = 70,20 + 11,69 = 81,89kN/m run of wall
This exceeds the design shear applied, VEd, of 71,85kN/m run of wall
(VRd1 + VRd2)/ t l = (81,89 x 0,9 x103) / (328 x 900) = 0,25N/mm2
And (VRd1 + VRd2)/ t l ≤ 2,0N/mm2 limiting from Eqn. 6.37
And VRd1 + VRd2 ≤ 0,25fd bd limiting from Eqn. 6.43 as an additional verification for
beam element
0,25fd bd = 0,25 x 5,82 x 235 x 270 x 10-3 = 92,32kN (102,58kN/m run of wall)
And 102,58kN/m is greater than 81,89kN/m run of wall.

Note that spacing of shear links at 225mm vertical centres slightly exceeds 0,75d
(203mm) or 300mm, whichever is lesser, as given by Clause 8.2.7(6), but as any shear
steel requirement is very marginal here this is considered practically acceptable in
this particular design case.

Reinforced brickwork wall shear capacity is adequate.

Reinforcement lapping
Consider now whether the main tensile reinforcement can be curtailed

Use 20mm diameter reinforcement to lap on. In order to curtail the 25mm diameter
bars in the tension zone, Clause 8.2.5.4 must be satisfied. The moment condition is
appropriate and therefore the design moment capacity of the 20mm diameter bars
must be at least twice the design moment due to applied lateral loads for curtailment.
Design moment capacity of 2 no. 20mm diameter bars per pocket, As = 628mm2,
assume c = 0,905
MRd = (628 x 0,905 x 270 x 435 x 10-6) = 66,75kN.m per 900mm pocket spacing
Q = M/bd2 = (66,75 x 106) / (900 x 2702) = 1,017 and fd = 5,82N/mm2 as before.
c = 0,905 is the correct assumption substituting into and solving the interaction
equation for c from above
Thus 25mm diameter bars may be stopped where the design moment due to applied
lateral loads, MEd = (66,75 x 0,5/0,9) = 37,08kN.m/m run of wall.
From a consideration of the design lateral loads upon the wall stem the applied design
moment of 37,08kN.m/m run of wall is achieved at 2,56m from the top of the wall
(from retained earth level).
Check that 25mm diameter bars will extend at least an effective depth or 12 bar
diameters, whichever is greater, beyond the point where they are no longer needed.
The 20mm diameter bars will resist a design a moment of:

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66,75/0,9 = 74,17kN.m/m run of wall
From a consideration of the design lateral loads this will occur at 3,32m from the top
of the wall. Therefore curtailment of 25mm diameter bars at 2,56m below top of wall
is satisfactory because:
a) An effective depth above this level is (3,32 – 0,270) = 3,05m, therefore curtailment
of 25mm diameter bars at 2,56m from top of wall is satisfactory,
b) And 12 diameters above this level (3,32 - 12 x 0,025) = 3,02m, therefore
curtailment of 25mm diameter bars at 2,56m from top of wall is also satisfactory

Check lap length for 20mm diameter Grade 500 bars

Characteristic bond strength, fbok = 3,4N/mm2 from Table 3.6
And design bond strength, fbod = fbok/γM = 3,4/1,5 = 2,26N/mm2 where γM is 1,5
from the UK National Annex.

T20

T25
1400
12.63

13.81

T20
150
1.17

T25

Figure: Steel arrangement in retaining wall

Note to figure: for 1400 dimension substitute 2074

Therefore lap length required to achieve full anchorage bond, lb is:

lb = φ fyd / 4 fbod from Eqn. 8.1

lb = (20 x 435) / (4 x 2,26) = 962mm

And (2 lb) = 1924mm and therefore governs the lap from Clause 8.2.5.2(3)
Therefore curtail 25mm diameter bars 2074mm above foundation base and continue
20mm diameter bars down to within 150mm of foundation base. This provides a lap
length for 20mm diameter bars of 1924mm which is satisfactory.

It may be noted that at 2074mm above the spread foundation base the applied design
shear load is 17,36kN/m run of wall from a consideration of the lateral loads acting
on the wall stem and the corresponding design shear resistance is 54,00kN/m run of
wall taking fvd as 0,20N/mm2 minimum for 20mm diameter continuing bars with no
shear span enhancement and without shear link contribution.

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Consider the necessary extent up the wall stem for the 6mm diameter shear links

If shear links are provided from the base of the wall stem (from the top of the spread
foundation level) to 1000mm above this position only then from a consideration of the
design lateral loads upon the wall stem the design shear force applied at this level,
VEd, is 41,09kN/m run of wall
And minimum design shear resistance of section at this level ignoring any shear span
enhancement and without shear link contribution is:
VRd1 = fvd bd = (0,21 x 900 x 270 x 10-3) = 51,03kN for a 900 mm flange length
(56,70kN/m run of wall)
And 56,70kN/m exceeds 41,09kN/m run of wall

Therefore 6mm diameter formed closed shear links at 225mm vertical centres should
be provided for a distance of 1,0m up from the base of the wall stem (top of spread
foundation) only to each reinforced pocket position along the wall length.

P Watt / April 2009