Name: how masonry walls support buildings
Uploaded: 2024-09-12T16:16:28.000Z
Duration: 1 min 16 s
Channel: JoVE

Los muros de carga de mampostería se construyen utilizando unidades de mampostería de ladrillo, piedra u hormigón para soportar las estructuras del piso y el techo.
Estos muros soportan su propio peso y las cargas muertas de los sistemas de cubierta, transfiriéndolas a la cimentación de la estructura.
Los muros de carga de mampostería son fuertes a la compresión y se pueden construir con o sin refuerzo.
Las tensiones de trabajo en estos muros se mantienen significativamente más bajas que la resistencia final de las unidades de construcción porque el mortero entre las unidades tiene menos resistencia.
Para edificios de baja y media altura con grandes áreas abiertas, como escuelas, se considera ideal proporcionar muros de carga de mampostería en combinación con columnas de mampostería interiores.
En tales condiciones, los muros de carga proporcionan un marco estructural eficiente que también sirve como cerramiento del edificio.
Mientras tanto, en las estructuras enmarcadas, se deben proporcionar sistemas separados para llenar el espacio entre las partes portantes y encerrar los espacios interiores.
Sin embargo, para edificios altos, se prefiere una estructura enmarcada porque los muros de carga de mampostería pesada requieren cimientos profundos y complejos.

muros de carga de mampostería

Masonry Loadbearing Walls

Los muros de carga de mampostería, construidos con materiales como ladrillo, piedra o unidades de mampostería de hormigón, sirven como un componente crucial en las estructuras de los edificios al soportar las cargas de los pisos y los techos y transferirlas a los cimientos. Estos muros, conocidos por su resistencia a la compresión, pueden reforzarse o no para adaptarse a las diferentes necesidades de construcción, acomodando tanto las cargas muertas como las vivas y manteniendo la seguridad a través de tensiones de trabajo más bajas en comparación con la resistencia máxima de los materiales.

En los edificios de baja a media altura, como escuelas o edificios de oficinas, los muros de carga de mampostería se utilizan junto con columnas interiores para proporcionar un marco estructural duradero que también sirve como cerramiento del edificio. Son adecuados para diseños que presentan disposiciones repetitivas y compartimentadas como hoteles y viviendas multifamiliares, que se benefician de la configuración lineal de la mampostería y la resistencia al fuego. Sin embargo, para los edificios de mayor altura, a menudo se prefieren estructuras enmarcadas debido a la necesidad de cimientos más profundos para soportar muros de mampostería pesados.

Cuando el revestimiento exterior de un edificio se elige entre materiales con capacidades estructurales, como ladrillo, bloque de hormigón o piedra, las paredes exteriores de mampostería portantes se convierten en una opción atractiva, que ofrece potencialmente un proceso de construcción simplificado y un atractivo estético. Sin embargo, este enfoque suele ser adecuado para edificios de baja a mediana altura, ya que los de gran altura suelen requerir sistemas estructurales más resistentes, como acero u hormigón armado, para soportar mayores cargas.

Muros de carga de mampostería

Los muros de carga de mampostería se construyen utilizando unidades de mampostería de ladrillo, piedra u hormigón para soportar las estructuras del piso y el techo.
Estas paredes tienen su propio ...

Education

Educación

JoVE Core

Civil Engineering

Ingeniería Civil

Unit 1

Unidad 1

Masonry

Albañilería

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

TÉRMINOS Y CONCEPTOS CLAVE

how masonry walls support buildings

Masonry load-bearing walls support floors and roofs and carry those loads down to the foundation. They are built from brick, stone, or concrete masonry units. These walls rely on compressive strength, which means they can resist pushes from above very well.

Masonry walls may be reinforced or unreinforced, depending on the building needs. They carry dead loads and live loads while using working stresses that stay below the materials' ultimate strength. That safety margin helps the structure remain stable under everyday use.

These walls are often used in low- to medium-height buildings, such as schools and office buildings. In many cases, they work with interior columns to form a strong structural frame. The same walls also serve as the building enclosure, so they provide both support and separation from the outside.

Masonry load-bearing walls also fit buildings with repetitive, compartmentalized layouts, such as hotels and multi-family housing. Their linear shape works well in these designs. Masonry also offers fire resistance, which is another advantage for these building types.

For taller buildings, framed structures are often preferred. Heavy masonry walls need deeper foundations, and that can make tall construction less practical. When the exterior veneer is made from structurally capable materials like brick, concrete block, or stone, masonry load-bearing exterior walls can still be a useful choice for low- to mid-rise buildings. This approach can simplify construction and add visual appeal, while high-rises usually rely on steel or reinforced concrete frames to handle the larger loads.

How Masonry Walls Support Buildings

composite masonry walls

Bonding and Materials in Composite Masonry

Composite masonry walls use two or more wythes, or vertical layers, of masonry to form one unified wall. The wythes may use the same material or different masonry materials. They are joined to work together as a single structure. These wythes can be bonded in several ways. Builders may use mortar-filled collar joints, grouted spaces, or rigid metal ties with reinforcement. Masonry header units can also connect the layers, but this method is rare. Metal ties are often preferred because they...

masonry cavity walls

Masonry Cavity Walls and Moisture Control

Masonry cavity walls use two wythes, or layers, with a hollow space between them. The outer and inner wythes are linked only by corrosion-resistant metal ties. This design helps manage water and improve wall performance. When rainwater passes through the outer wythe, it moves down through the cavity. Flashing catches the water and directs it toward weep holes, where it can leave the wall. The inner wythe often has damp-proofing on the cavity side. This layer also works as an air barrier. The...

masonry loadbearing walls

Masonry load-bearing walls support floors and roofs and carry those loads down to the foundation. They are built from brick, stone, or concrete masonry units. These walls rely on compressive strength, which means they can resist pushes from above very well. Masonry walls may be reinforced or unreinforced, depending on the building needs. They carry dead loads and live loads while using working stresses that stay below the materials' ultimate strength. That safety margin helps the structure...

masonry curtain walls

Masonry Curtain Walls and Support Systems

Masonry curtain walls use brick or stone veneer as an exterior cladding system. The veneer is supported by the building structure, so the wall can be both attractive and functional. Two main construction methods are used for these walls. One method builds the masonry units in place through traditional layering. The other uses prefabricated panels that are assembled on the ground and then lifted into position. In traditional construction, steel shelf angles attached to the spandrel beam carry...

posttensioned masonry walls

How Masonry Walls Gain Extra Strength

Post-tensioned masonry walls gain extra strength from high-strength steel rods or flexible tendons. These tensioning elements are anchored to the foundation and run vertically through the wall. In some walls, they sit inside the cores of the masonry units. In others, they are placed between the masonry wythes, or layers. The wall is built first with the tensioning elements already in place. After the mortar cures fully, the wall is tightened. Steel rods are tensioned by turning nuts against...

cavity drainage and flashings in masonry walls

cavity-drainage-and-flashings-in-masonry-walls

Moisture Control in Masonry Cavity Walls

Masonry cavity walls use a gap between two wythes, or wall layers, to help control moisture. The cavity is usually at least 2 inches wide, and it may contain insulation. Even with insulation, a clear space of at least 1 inch is kept so water can drain away. Some walls also use a continuous drainage mat to reduce the needed space while still moving moisture out. Weep holes are another key part of cavity drainage. These openings sit at the base of the cavity and let collected water escape. They...

thermal insulation in masonry walls

Masonry Wall Insulation Options

Masonry wall insulation can be placed on the outside, inside the wall, or on the interior surface. The best choice depends on the climate, the building design, and whether the wall is being built new or retrofitted. In hot, dry climates, masonry can help smooth indoor temperatures by absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night. In many other climates, extra insulation is needed to improve thermal resistance. One common exterior method is an Exterior Insulation and Finish System, or...

expansion and contraction in masonry walls

expansion-and-contraction-in-masonry-walls

Masonry Wall Joints for Temperature and Moisture

Masonry walls change size slightly as temperature and moisture change. Builders account for this movement so the wall does not crack or shift out of place. Thermal movement is usually easy to measure and plan for. Moisture movement is harder to predict. New clay masonry units often absorb water and expand over time in normal outdoor conditions. New concrete masonry units behave differently. They usually shrink as they lose extra moisture gained during production. These opposite changes make...

movement joints in buildings

How Buildings Handle Structural Movement

Buildings are designed to handle movement from temperature changes, moisture changes, and structural deflection. If these changes are ignored, they can cause visible damage or even unsafe conditions. Movement joints give building materials room to move without creating distress. Working joints are the simplest type. They are placed during construction and help materials cope with change as the building goes up. Shingled roofs and wood bevel siding are common examples because they can move with...

types of building separation joints

Building Joints for Movement and Stability

Building separation joints help large or complex buildings move in a controlled way. They split a structure into smaller, separate units. This reduces stress when the building shifts under different forces. The joints are grouped into three main types: volume-change joints, settlement joints, and seismic separation joints. Volume-change joints handle expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes and moisture changes. They are placed where the building mass has discontinuities,...

efflorescence in masonry

Stopping White Salt Crystals on Masonry

Efflorescence is the white, fluffy crystal layer that can form on masonry walls. It happens when water-soluble salts in brick, stone, concrete, or mortar are dissolved by water and carried to the surface. When the water evaporates, the salts are left behind as a powdery deposit. New efflorescence is often seen soon after construction. In many cases, it can be cleaned with water and a brush. It may also fade over time as rain leaches salts out of the masonry surface. If efflorescence appears...

mortar joint deterioration in masonry

Repairing Damaged Mortar Joints in Masonry

Mortar joints in masonry can break down when water collects in them and freezes. The repeated freezing and thawing makes the water expand and shrink. That process creates cracks in the joints and can spread damage over time. As the mortar worsens, pieces may spall, or break off from the joint surface. Loose masonry units can follow, and the wall becomes weaker. Damaged joints also let moisture move into the wall, which adds to the problem. Good construction helps protect mortar joints. Using...

masonry in cold and hot weather conditions

masonry-in-cold-and-hot-weather-conditions

Protecting Mortar During Weather Changes

Masonry work changes in cold and hot weather because mortar must stay at the right temperature and moisture level. If mortar freezes before it cures, its strength and watertightness can drop. For proper hydration and curing, mortar should stay between 60°F and 80°F. When the weather is below 40°F, the water used for mortar must be heated. The water should not exceed 120°F, because very hot water can reduce compressive strength and bond strength. Masonry units and sand should also stay dry and...

masonry paving

Masonry Paving Materials and Base Layers

Masonry paving uses bricks, stones, and concrete masonry units to create durable walking and driving surfaces. These materials are selected for their shape, color, strength, and resistance to abrasion and weathering. Masonry units can be used in different paving setups depending on the site and the load they must carry. Some paving systems are installed dry on a thin sand layer over a gravel base. Others are set in mortar or asphalt on a concrete slab. For areas with heavy vehicular loads, a...

key terms and concepts

Learn how masonry load-bearing walls support floors and roofs, transfer loads to the foundation, and fit low- to mid-rise buildings like schools and hotels.

How Masonry Walls Support Buildings | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Civil Engineering provides a foundational exploration of essential construction materials in civil engineering, focusing on bricks, stones, steel, wood, and concrete through easy-to-understand animated videos. This collection covers the properties, manufacturing processes, and practical applications of these materials. Additionally, the accompanied science-in-action videos demonstrate the research experiments performed in laboratories.

civil engineering

How Masonry Walls Support Buildings

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