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Bond_Beams_MAC_rev072020_WithIntro_v1_2024

This document discusses bond beams in masonry wall construction, defining them as horizontal, fully grouted elements that provide continuity and support for loads. It highlights their role in structural integrity, crack control, and connections between intersecting walls, along with detailing requirements and reinforcement specifications. Additionally, it addresses the use of bond beams in shear walls, particularly in areas with high seismic activity.

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Anathema
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45 views3 pages

Bond_Beams_MAC_rev072020_WithIntro_v1_2024

This document discusses bond beams in masonry wall construction, defining them as horizontal, fully grouted elements that provide continuity and support for loads. It highlights their role in structural integrity, crack control, and connections between intersecting walls, along with detailing requirements and reinforcement specifications. Additionally, it addresses the use of bond beams in shear walls, particularly in areas with high seismic activity.

Uploaded by

Anathema
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INSIGHTS

FOR MASONRY DESIGN

Bond Beams
Masonry wall construction consists of an assembly of concrete masonry units (CMU) and reinforcement
(as needed by design). Continuity of the masonry wall is recommended to tie the structure together. Bond
beams in masonry walls are a very common method to achieve continuity to allow all of the wall segments
to work together as a single unit. This Insight will discuss the use and detailing of bond beams.

What is a Bond Beam?


Despite having the word “beam” as part of the term, a bond beam is not necessarily an element that spans
across part of a building. The masonry code TMS 402-13 defines a bond beam as “a horizontal, sloped, or
stepped element that is fully grouted, has
longitudinal bar reinforcement, and is
constructed within a masonr y wall.”
Essentially, a bond beam is a fully grouted
horizontal element with one or two
reinforcement bars that provides
continuity of the masonry wall. Bond Figure 1: Bond Beam Plan Section
beams can provide a location of solid mass NCMA TEK 10-2c
w i t h i n a m a s o n r y w a l l to s u p p o r t
distributed and point loads as part of either the gravity or lateral resisting systems. With correct detailing,
they can also be used for crack control within a masonry wall. Figure 1 shows a plan section view of a bond
beam and Figure 2 illustrates elevation views of stepped and sloped bond beams.

Standard CMU blocks do not readily incorporate horizontal rebar, thus special masonry units are
typically used at the bond beam locations. Bond beam units are prefabricated blocks, as shown at the top
of Figure 3, with either
Figure 2:
part of the webs
Bond Beams
removed during
TMS 402-13
fabrication or saw-cut
Section 2.2
slots creating “knock-
Commentary
out” panels which are
removed with a hammer
by the mason in the (2a) Stepped (2b) Sloped
field. Both unit types
have vertical cores

web: masonrystructure.com 1 © 2024 FORSE Consulting, LLC


aligning with standard stretcher blocks that allow for installation of vertical
reinforcement as well. Lintel units, as shown at the bottom of Figure 3, can also be
used for constructing bond beams. However, since lintel units do not
accommodate vertical reinforcement without field cutting, they are better suited
for walls that are considered to be unreinforced. Requirements for bond beam
horizontal reinforcement bar size, spacing, and cover dimensions are the same as
for vertical rebar which are found in TMS 402-13 section 6.1.

Typically, a bond beam is located at the top course of each masonry wall or
parapet as well as at each roof and floor diaphragm. Bond beams at each of these
locations generally have the horizontal rebar extend through control joints (see
Figure 1). This helps provide continuity for structural integrity of the building.
Additionally, the bond beams can serve as collector elements and/or diaphragm
chords for the building lateral system. Bond beams in other locations, depending
on the project requirements, usually will be detailed to terminate the
Figure 3: Bond
reinforcement on each side of control joints and may or may not have a smooth
Beam Units
dowel with one end debonded crossing the joint.
NCMA TEK 3-2A
Bond beams are also one option to connect intersecting masonry walls if the
transfer of loads between them is necessary per the structural design (see Figure 4). In this case, bond
beams must be located within the wall at a maximum spacing of 48” on center, have the reinforcement be
fully developed each side of the intersection, and have at least half of the masonry units interlock at the
interface. One example of a situation where this connection may be required is when a shear wall does not
have adequate capacity, thus the intersecting wall is tied to the end of the shear wall to serve as a flange
for additional capacity. For gravity loading, masonry walls have capacity to support large concentrated
loads from steel bar joists, beams, or other structural elements. Depending on the masonry wall detailing,
the calculated wall capacity will vary.
The masonr y bond pattern and
bearing plate size determine the
effective bearing length of the wall
and thus how much wall area can be
included in the capacity calculation
(see Figure 5). For stack bond, the
load dispersement cannot go further
than the first CMU head joint that
the sloped line meets. Thus if a point
load is bearing directl y on the
masonry, the effective length will
likely only be the length of one block
unless the bearing plate straddles a
joint. As demonstrated in figure 5,
Figure 4: Bond Beam at Wall Intersection inserting a bond beam into the wall at
TMS 402-13 Section 5.1.1 Commentary

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Check bearing on
Bearing Plate Load Load Bearing Plate
the location of the point load can hollow wall

significantly increase the effective bearing Bond Beam Bond Beam


Load is
length for stack bond construction. dispersed
at a 2:1
slope
Horizontal Reinforcement
Running bond Stack bond
Load dispersion
Bond beams offer an alternative means of terminates at head
joint in stack bond
crack control in masonry walls where
control joints are not desired. In design Figure 5: Concentrated Load Dispersion
cases where a masonry wall may have TMS 402-13 Section 5.1.3 Commentary
large openings or multiple openings close
together, control joints may lead to inadequate structural capacity. Other times there may be architectural
design elements which require control joints to be spaced
further apart than the standard joint spacing
recommendations. A rational engineering approach can be
implemented for the use of horizontal reinforcement to
control cracks, in lieu of utilizing control joints in specific
areas of a structure. Standard horizontal reinforcement bars
at a maximum of 48” on center have shown effective crack
control. Since a typical masonry stretcher block does not
easily accommodate horizontal rebar, installing bond beams
in the masonry wall is a good solution. To determine the
spacing of the bond beams, calculations are required based
on the thermal expansion coefficient of masonry as well as
the yield strain of the rebar to limit the crack widths, while
keeping the steel in the elastic range. Fortunately, the
National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) has
Figure 6: Reinforcement Only Crack already performed the calculations for standard conditions
Control Maximum Rebar Spacing and have summarized the information in Figure 6 as a table
NCMA TEK 10-3 showing the maximum horizontal reinforcement spacing for
several common rebar sizes.

One more condition where bond beams are effective is in the shear walls of buildings located in areas of
high seismicity. Horizontal reinforcement increases the in-plane ductility of the masonry assembly.
Section 7.3.2 of TMS 402-13 provides minimum horizontal reinforcement requirements based on the
seismic classification of the building site, the magnitude of the lateral loads, and the detailing designation
of the shear wall. For shear walls with lower seismic detailing, the horizontal reinforcement minimum can
be satisfied with either joint reinforcement or bond beam reinforcement. Higher seismic detailing is more
stringent with bond beam reinforcement as the only option.

web: masonrystructure.com 3 © 2024 FORSE Consulting, LLC

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