9: SHEAR

DESIGN OF WALLS SUBJECT TO IN-PLANE SHEAR

Background
In most cases, shear walls are subject to a combination of shear and vertical forces. The
compressive force in load bearing walls increases shear resistance. In external non-loadbearing
walls, tensile stresses may be present in all or part of the walls. This will have an adverse effect
on shear resistance and may lead to tensile cracking at wall heels.
Shear cracks may occur as diagonal steps through bed and header joints in the centre of a
wall. The slope of the crack depends on the magnitude and the type of the applied axial
forces.
Shear capacity is usually critical for walls subject to seismic loading. Special attention should be
given to walls with large openings, to parapets walls and free standing walls. Refer to AS1170.4
for design requirements of structural and non structural masonry.
Legend and symbols used in shear design
Adw = the combined bedded area and the grout area where applicable

= the capacity reduction factor for shear (0.6 for unreinforced, 0.75 when reinforced)
ms = the characteristic shear strength (refer to Section 3, Table 3.3 of this manual)
d
= minimum design compressive stress on the bed joint under consideration (< 2MPa)
kv
= Shear factor (refer to Section 3, Table 3.4 of this manual)
Vd = design shear force
Design for Shear using AS3700
AS3700: Clause 7.5.1 expresses wall shear capacity as the addition of two distinct components;
shear bond strength and shear friction strength, as follows:
Vd ms Adw + kv d Adw
At bedding planes containing damp-proof membranes and at junctions with other material,
the shear bond term decreases. Shear resistance relies on applied compressive stresses. This is
of concern for non-load bearing walls under seismic loading, especially where built on dampproof membranes, as they theoretically have no shear resistance.
The friction term relies on interface material types. Friction factor kv = 0.3 for bed mortar and
decreases to 0.15 for polyethylene and bitumen coated aluminium type membrane. Refer to
Section 3: Table 3.4.
Openings and control joints often require shear connectors and should be carefully accounted
for in shear design of walls
Design of Shear Connectors
Shear connectors may be used to transfer shear across mortar joints or to other structural
elements. Refer to AS3700: Clause 7.5.3 for connector design requirements.

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Design Example:
A shear wall, 5m long and 3m high, constructed on a concrete slab using Alphalite 15-01 hollow
masonry units is subject to a 20 kN/m dead load and has a racking force of 40kN applied at its
top. Check the capacity of the wall.
Procedure using AS3700:2001
ms = 1.25 x mt
= 1.25 x 0.2
= 0.25MPa
Bedded area (Adw) = 2 x 25 x 1000
= 50000mm/m length of wall
kv = 0.3 for bed mortar and for interface with concrete
d = 20 x 1000/50000
= 0.4MPa
Vd = ms Adw + kv d Adw
= 0.6 x 0.25 x 50000/1000 + 0.3 x 0.4 x 50000/1000
= 7.5 + 6.0
= 13.5kN/m
Wall shear resistance = 5m x 13.5kN/m
= 67.5kN
67.5kN > 40kN racking force, so shear design is OK.
Procedure using charts
From chart 9.1, for vertical compressive force = 20kN/m on a wall 5m long, the load capacity
equals 67kN, which is more than the racking load of 40kN, so the design is OK.

Shear Capacity Charts

Charts are based on the following assumptions:

Masonry unit dimensions as discussed in Section 2 of this manual.

Material properties as discussed in Section 3 of this manual.

Vertical stresses on walls (if applied) are uniform along walls.

Characteristic shear bond strength = 0.3MPa, assuming wall does not sit on water proof
membrane, and the shear factor kv = 0.3 Refer to Table 3.4 of this manual.

Further checks should be carried out for local crushing and or tensile stresses on wall.

Refer to AS1170.4 for unreinforced masonry requirements for walls subject to seismic loads.

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Chart List
Chart 9-1

Shear Capacity of 10-01, 12-01 or 15-01 Masonry

Page 4

Chart 9-2

Shear Capacity of 10-31 Solid Masonry

Page 4

Chart 9-3

Shear Capacity of Twinbrick Masonry

Page 5

Chart 9-4

Shear Capacity of 15-401 or 20-401 Masonry

Page 5

Chart 9-5

Shear Capacity of 15-42 Core filled Masonry

Page 6

Chart 9-6

Shear Capacity of 15-48 Core filled Masonry

Page 6

Chart 9-7

Shear Capacity of 20-01 Hollow Masonry

Page 7

Chart 9-8

Shear Capacity of 20-42 or 20-48 Core filled Masonry

Page 7

Chart 9-9

Shear Capacity of 30-48 Hollow Masonry

Page 8

Chart 9-10

Shear Capacity of 30-48 Core filled Masonry

Page 8

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