Load bearing masonry construction is one of the oldest and most widespread construction techniques in the world. Every wall element in a load bearing masonry framework carries the load to the foundation which is then transferred to the soil. Load bearing masonry construction is mainly used to construct smaller residential buildings.
Load bearing masonry building technique involves the placing of the masonry unit as a layer one at a time. The masonry units are held together by means of mortar which imparts strength and stability to the whole unit.
The key feature of a load bearing framework is that every wall acts as a load carrying element. To meet this purpose, the walls are constructed strong with a thickness of 9 inches or more.
Read More: Thickness of Different Masonry Walls
The masonry walls transfer load from the roof to the foundation. The load path of a load-bearing masonry structure is:
The mortars used for the building of these frameworks can be either:
The classification of load-bearing masonry construction is done on the basis of the type of masonry unit used. They are:
These are load bearing structures constructed by using stones, bricks or concrete blocks. This type of masonry can be used for both exterior and interior wall construction.
The interior and the exterior walls reflects brick’s beauty and texture. The cavity masonry structure involves two walls constructed with a hollow space or a cavity. Cavity masonry building demands lower maintenance.
A load-bearing masonry wall can also be constructed without steel reinforcement. This type is less used as it results in noticeable cracks and serviceability issues. Construction of reinforced masonry walls as load bearing elements helps to withstand heavy tension and compressive forces.
The load-bearing framework can be either built by a single material or as a composite framework. This framework brings better appearance and attains economy. Composite load bearing masonry construction incorporates two or more units like stones, hollow bricks or bricks.