Reinforced Core-filled Blockwork Design: Practical Worked Examples and Spreadsheet

These notes provide four practical worked examples on the design and analysis of reinforced core-filled masonry blockwork. The four examples included are Bending, Out-of-Plane Shear, Compression, and In-Plane Shear. These notes also include a collection of Design Summary Tables giving Bending and Compression capacities for typical blockwork arrangements. The accompanying Excel spreadsheet is a powerful tool that enables quick analysis and design of various blockwork wall geometry and reinforcement configurations. 

These notes refer to AS 3700 – Masonry Structures, the Australian Standard which outlines the requirements for design of masonry structures in Australia. While these notes are tailored to AS 3700, the general principles and design methodology are applicable anywhere. Also, please note that this 21-page set of notes utilises the metric system where units are required.

Worked Examples:

• Simplified core theory applied to real design procedures
• Step-by-step design calculations with labelled diagrams
• Bending capacity calculation to AS 3700 Clause 8.6
• Out-of-plane shear capacity calculation to AS 3700 Clause 8.8
• Compression capacity calculation to AS 3700 Clause 8.5.1
• In-Plane shear capacity calculation to AS 3700 Clause 8.7.2

Design Summary Tables:

• Tabulated bending capacities for typical reinforcement arrangements in both 190 and 290 thick block walls (20.01 and 30.01 blocks)
• Tabulated compression capacities for typical reinforcement arrangements in both 190 and 290 thick block walls (20.01 and 30.01 blocks) core-filled with 20, 25, 32 and 40 MPa grout at wall heights of 2.4, 2.7, 3.0 and 3.3m.

Excel Spreadsheet:

• Analysis of reinforced core-filled 190 and 290 thick block walls (20.01 and 30.01 blocks)
• Automated Bending capacity calculation to AS 3700 Clause 8.6
• Automated Out-of-plane shear capacity calculation to AS 3700 Clause 8.8
• Automated Compression capacity calculation to AS 3700 Clause 8.5.1
• Automated In-Plane shear capacity calculation to AS 3700 Clause 8.7.2
• Easy to follow calculations with diagrams
• Summarised input and results section