Reinforced Concrete Wall Design outlines the structural requirements for walls constructed with reinforced concrete, as detailed in the 1935-miami-dade-building-code. These provisions govern general construction, working stresses, thickness requirements for bearing and non-bearing walls, and integration with skeleton construction.
General Provisions and Lateral Support
Reinforced concrete bearing walls must have a thickness of not less than one-twenty-fifth (1/25) of the unsupported height 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p225_244 (p. 228). Approved buttresses, built-in columns, or piers may be used instead of greater thicknesses. Walls must be supported at right angles to the face at intervals not exceeding 22 times the wall thickness in the top story and 25 times elsewhere 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p225_244 (p. 229). Lateral support can be provided by cross walls, piers, buttresses, or floors/roofs. Bonding and anchoring must resist wind forces in any direction 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p225_244 (p. 229).
Working Stresses
The maximum allowable compressive stress in reinforced concrete walls depends on the unsupported height relative to thickness:
- When the unsupported height is 25 times the thickness, the stress shall not exceed .
- When the unsupported height is 15 times the thickness or less, the stress shall not exceed .
- Allowable stresses are proportional between these limits 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p225_244 (p. 229).
Thickness Requirements
The code specifies minimum thicknesses for reinforced concrete walls based on the number of stories:
- Bearing and Party Walls: Minimum thicknesses are specified in Table No. 5, ranging from 8 inches for the 8th story to 16 inches for the basement 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p225_244 (p. 229). These walls must have not less than 0.1% reinforcement in each direction (horizontal and vertical), distributed equally to each face, with a maximum bar spacing of 24 inches 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p225_244 (p. 229).
- Non-Bearing Walls: Minimum thicknesses are specified in Table No. 6, ranging from 6 inches for the 8th story to 14 inches for the basement 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p225_244 (p. 230). Non-bearing walls supported from one side only must be laterally supported by a reinforced concrete or fireproofed structural steel floor system 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p225_244 (p. 230).
Piers and Chases
The unsupported height of piers in reinforced concrete walls shall not exceed 10 times their least dimensions unless designed as reinforced concrete columns 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p225_244 (p. 230). Chases and recesses are permitted as allowed for solid masonry walls, and openings must have reinforced concrete lintels designed per Chapter 26 or fireproofed steel lintels 1935-Miami-Dade-Building-Code_p225_244 (p. 230).
This concept relates to broader topics such as reinforced-concrete-design, structural-load-calculations, and fire-resistive-construction-requirements.