Why does my unreinforced masonry retaining wall design use a characteristic flexural strength of zero?

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unreinforced masonry
flexural strength
zero
retaining wall
Environment
Eurocode

Question

Why does my unreinforced masonry retaining wall design use a characteristic flexural strength fxk of zero?

  

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2017_04_24_09_48_002.png

Answer

When using the retaining wall analysis and design (EN1992/EN1997/EN1997) calculation for an unreinforced masonry wall panel calculation to EC 1992, the flexural strength of the wall is always zero (0) therefore relying on the axial load on the wall for bending resistance.

The source information for the flexural strength (fxk) being zero is BS EN 1996-1-1:2005 Note 1 of clause 6.3.4 in the code which states:

  • The flexural strength of masonry fxk1 [i.e. that parallel to the bed joints] should not be used in the design of walls subjected to lateral earth pressure, i.e. retaining walls.

     


fxk1 is therefore set to zero and the moment resistance is provided only by the compressive stress induced by the vertical axial load.


  

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