| kevinfishburne@gmail.com 2007-03-29, 8:25 pm |
| I'm putting together a design draft of a home for later submission to
an architect, and I'd like it to be as spot-on as possible without
having to become an architect myself in the process. The home is
primarily concrete block and heavy timber frame and I'm having some
issues with laying the CMU courses such that they're structurally
sound. I'm using 3dsmax to model it. The CMU pictured are standard
8x8x16 split-face blocks using stretcher bond. Here's a link to the
latest draft:
http://image57.webshots.com/657/4/9...ctions/FullSize
My problem is how to deal with T intersections and in general places
that will require a half block to be used repetitively through the
courses. I understand there are steel ties that can bind a wall butted
to another wall in a T intersection if the blocks between them can't
overlap. I don't know where the half blocks should be placed as to not
affect the structural integrity of the wall though. I've heard corners
are bad places.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can better design the
courses, or know or any reference material (online or in print) that
has good information about the structural engineering principles of
concrete masonry? Thanks all.
Kevin
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