Lintels are beams that support masonry above openings in walls Typically lintels for concrete masonry walls are constructed of either masonry bond beams or precast concrete beams. Masonry bond beams are constructed of unit masonry blocks in the field. These types of lintels require that shoring first be erected to support the bond beam elements during construction until the masonry and grout achieves the necessary strength. Precast concrete lintels are typically fabricated offsite and shipped to the job site for erection. In either case bond beam and precast lintels have the advantage over steel lintels in that they do not have to be fireproofed for load bearing walls and can typically be installed by the same contractor responsible for the construction of the wall
Course Content
The focus of this course is the design of reinforced concrete masonry lintels (commonly referred to as bond beams) and precast reinforced concrete lintels. The information and examples presented in this course do not include provisions for shear reinforcement. This is because it is not common practice to use shear reinforcement, or stirrups, in masonry lintels, particularly bond beam lintels
The methods of analysis presented are allowable stress design and strength design in which service loads are increased by load factors. Allowable stress design (ASD) criterion is based on the 1995 Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures (ACI 530). Strength design criteria will be provided separately for reinforced concrete (precast) masonry lintels. The design of precast concrete lintels is based on the 1995 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318)
Materials used in the construction of masonry lintels include bond beam sections mortar grout and steel. Examples of different types of lintels are shown below
Mortar is the cementious material used to adhere the individual masonry together. Mortar is required to comply with ASTM C270. Mortar types M, S and N are permitted for construction of reinforced masonry lintels; however, Type N mortar is prohibited in seismically active areas. Grout is a cementious material that includes coarse aggregates and is used to fill and surround the reinforcing contained in both the horizontal cells of a bond beam and the vertical cells of the block wall as required by the design. ASTM C476 contains the requirements for the proportioning of each of the ingredients of grout. Typically however, it is common practice to simply specify the compressive strength of the grout based on the design requirements rather than specifying the proportions of each ingredient. Compressive strengths of grout typically range from 2000 psi to 3000 psi. Deformed steel bars used in reinforced concrete masonry must comply with the applicable ASTM standard. Grade 60 reinforcement is the typical yield strength of reinforcing bars used in masonry lintels.
Vertical loads carried by lintels typically include; (1) distributed loads from the dead weight of the lintel and the masonry wall above the lintel, any floor and or roof dead and live loads supported by the masonry and (2) concentrated loads from floor beams, roof joists and other members which frame directly into the wall. Depending on the construction of the wall and nature of the framing that is supported, distributed loads acting on a lintel can be further separated into four load types
uniform
triangular
concentrated
partial uniform
In some instances, the masonry wall will distribute loads so that they do not act on the lintel. This is called arching action of masonry and is based on the amount of masonry that is above the opening over which the lintel spans. The impact of distributed and concentrated loads on lintels is affected by arching action. Arching action can be assumed if the following criteria are met; (1) the masonry is laid in running not stacked bond (2) sufficient wall height above the lintel exists to form a 45 degree triangle with at least 8 inches of wall height occulting above the top of the arch and (3) minimum end bearing is maintained. For this last criterion it is important to recognize that arching action results horizontal thrust forces at the base of the arch. This thrust must be accounted for in order for arching action to occur. Therefore it is not recommended that arching action be assumed above openings that occur next to corners of a building or at locations where the adjacent block at the bottom of the arch is discontinuous
As already indicated, the design loads applied to a lintel depend on whether arching action is present or not. In the case of the weight of wall supported by a lintel, arching will cause only the weight of wall within the triangular area below the top or apex of the arch to impact the lintel. The triangular load has ase equal to the effective span length of the lintel and a height as shown below
Concentrated loads are assumed to be distributed downwards at an angle of 30 degrees from the vertical on each side of the point of bearing as shown below
Where
L = 4 x Wall Thickness + Width of Beam
w = P / L
The load is then resolved onto the lintel as a uniform load with a maximum length equal to four times the wall thickness plus the width of bearing. The magnitude of the load per unit length is computed by dividing the concentrated load by this same length: w=P/L. An example of the impact of a concentrated load offset from a lintel opening is shown below
In some cases a series of concentrated loads may be considered as uniform on a lintel. The criteria as to whether a series of concentrated loads can be assumed as an equivalent uniform load on the lintel is a function of the spacing of the loads. If this criterion is met the equivalent uniform loading can be neglected if the bearing elevation of the beams occurs above any arching action that is present. Otherwise, each concentrated load must be resolved into an equivalent uniform load independently.
As indicated above, in some cases a series of concentrated roof or floor loads on a wall laid in running bond may be considered as an equivalent uniform load. This condition applies to relatively light loads spaced closely together such as floor joists or roof rafters in residential or other similar construction. Concentrated loads of these types may be considered as uniform as shown below
In general these types of concentrated loads can be considered as uniformly distributed if the total height of masonry between the top of the lintel and the bearing elevation of the joists is at least 1/3 the center-to-center spacing of the loads
Heavier concentrated loads, such as that which may be encountered in industrial and commercial buildings can also be considered to act as equivalent distributed loads as shown below
It is also common for an engineer to be faced with the prospect of designing and detailing a lintel for a new opening to be cut in an existing wall. Examples of steel lintels that can be installed before the demolition of a new opening occurs are shown below
Small Masonry Opening in Existing Wall
Large Masonry Opening in Existing Wall
In some cases, however, it is necessary to use either a masonry or precast lintel for a new opening in an existing wall. For this situation it is necessary to take advantage of the arching action of the masonry wall above the opening. The arching action allows for the complete removal of the masonry, as shown below, in order to erect the lintel. The masonry above the lintel is simply in-filled above the lintel after the new opening is complete
New Masonry or Concrete Lintel in Existing Wall
Lintels are typically designed and analyzed as simple span beams. The maximum shear and moment is determined by the superposition of all of the different loads imposed on the lintel. For example the maximum shear and moment for a simply supported lintel supporting a uniform and triangular load would be wL/2 + wL/4 and wL2/8 + wL2/4, respectively
The following ASD methods and parameters apply to unit masonry lintels. The ASD method compares the design stress produced in a member by applied loads to allowable stresses permitted by the Code. In ASD, the masonry is assumed to resist the compressive forces. The tensile strength of masonry units, mortar and grout is neglected. All tensile stresses therefore are assumed to be resisted by the reinforcing steel The equations governing ASD are listed below
It should be noted that the member is to be designed such that the maximum applied load is limited to the allowable stress based on the lowest value of Vr and Mr for both shear and flexure as controlled by either the steel or masonry materials. Es, or the modulus for steel is 29,000 ksi, Em, or the modulus of masonry varies depending on the type of mortar used. For a net compressive masonry unit strength of 1500 psi and Type M or S mortar, Em = 2000 ksi. n, or the modular ratio for this same modulus of masonry would therefore be 29,000/2,000, or 14.5
Strength design is a method of analysis that compares factored loads to the design strength of the member. Precast concrete lintels are typically designed using this method. This method allows for the load, which produces failure, to be predicted. This method also allows for the failure mode to be controlled so that ductile rather than compressive failure occurs first. Strength design flexural compression, tension and shear are determined in accordance with principles established by the Code. The tensile strength of masonry is neglected and the resulting nominal strengths are computed using the governing equations listed below
The requirements for the compressive strength of concrete, f’c, are designated in ACI 318. The compressive strength of masonry, f’m, are found in ACI 530. Either of two methods is used to verify compliance with f’m; the unit strength method or the prism test method. Of these two tests, the unit strength method is more conservative and less expensive
The allowable flexural stress for masonry lintels, Fb, is equal to 1/3 of f’m. The allowable shear stress for masonry lintels is equal to the square root of f’m. For steel, in ASD, the allowable stress is 24,000 psi for grade 60 reinforcing bars To summarize
Other important design parameters include the following
Reinforced concrete masonry strength design reduction factors for flexure and shear are based on ACI 530 and are 0.8 and 0.6, respectively. Precast concrete strength reduction factors are based on ACI 318 and are 0.9 for flexure and 0.85 for shear
The effective span length of a lintel is defined as the clear span plus the depth of the member but not greater than the distance measured between the support centers. ACI 530 states that end bearing should not be less than 4 inches. As an integral part of a wall, lintels are typically considered as laterally supported. Lintel deflection is limited to the effective span divided by 600 or .3” when used to support unreinforced masonry per ACI 530. The commentary of this same Code waives the L/600 criterion if the supported wall is considered reinforced masonry
The effective compressive width, b, of a lintel should be taken as the nominal width less 3/8”. For example, you should use 7-5/8” as the actual width of an 8” CMU block. The effective depth, d, is also taken as the nominal depth less 3/8”. The depth of cover and half the diameter of the reinforcing bar should also be subtracted from this depth. Limitations on reinforcing bars as placed in masonry bond beams is shown in the detail below
With a 1 1/4” face shell and a minimum concrete cover of 3/4”, typically 2” of cover should be assumed for all reinforcement
Course Summary
The design of masonry and concrete lintels requires an understanding of the load path mechanisms of unit masonry walls. The natural arching action of running bond masonry walls often provides an alternate load path for both uniform and concentrated loads located above a lintel. Concrete masonry lintels are most often designed using the allowable stress design or service stress method of analysis. The design precast concrete lintels must comply with the ultimate strength design provision of ACI 318