Eccentric loads on masonry

Abstract

It is widely accepted that frame action develops to some extent in structures comprising masonry walls and concrete floor slabs. The moments at the floor/wall joins arising out of this frame action are usually considered as equivalent eccentricities of the vertical load applied to the wall. Hendry, A. W. et al. (21), have reported the results of tests which confirm that frame action does occur and that the resulting moments are dependent on the flexural stiffness properties of the floor slabs and walls and also on the amount of pre-compression applied to the joints.