DASLab / 04
Bearing Walls
Minimum thickness, slenderness and stress for masonry and earth bearing walls — brick, block, stone, rammed earth, CSEB and adobe.
Experimental tool — evolving and open to suggestions: info@derzawi.com
Minimum wall thickness
200 mm
h / t ≤ 27 → 111 mm from slenderness; practical minimum 200 mm
EN 1996-1-1 §5.5.1.4: hef/tef ≤ 27
Section
Check at 200 mm — ground storey
Utilisation49% · OK
Axial load at base (working)78.8 kN/m
Stress on piers (net of openings)0.49 MPa
Typical allowable stress1 MPa
Slenderness h / t15 ≤ 27
Max storeys at this thickness4
Compare materials — same building
| Material | Min t | h / t limit | Utilisation | Max storeys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 mm | 27 | 49% | 4 | |
| 190 mm | 27 | 59% | 3 | |
| 300 mm | 27 | 33% | 6 | |
| 300 mm | 16 | 94% | 2 | |
| 240 mm | 18 | 85% | 2 | |
| 300 mm | 10 | 236% | 0 |
Allowable stresses are typical working values for good-quality units and mortar; use tested values for the actual material.
Preliminary sizing only — for early design and feasibility. Not a substitute for calculations by a qualified structural engineer. Wind, snow, seismic, fire, vibration and detailing are not checked.