DESIGNING WITH S TEPOC

STRENGTH
Tests undertaken by Ceram Research yielded high values for characteristic compresive strength (fk) for Stepoc walls. The 256mm Stepoc achieved an fk of 18N/mm2 and 190mm Stepoc achieved 14N/mm2 . For axially loaded stocky walls not subject to the effects of buckling, the 256mm Stepoc wall provides a higher vertical load resistance than a 328mm wall constructed from standard format bricks, with a compressive strength of 70 N/mm2 , laid in a class III mortar in accordance with BS 5628: Part 1: 1992. Similarly, 190mm Stepoc provides a higher vertical load resistance than a 215mm wall constructed from standard format brickwork, with a compressive strength of 50 N/mm2 laid in class III mortar.

DESIGN CHARTS
These charts are intended to display the range of strengths attainable under vertical load and bending when Stepoc walls are designed in accordance with BS 5628 Code of Practice for Use of Masonry The design loads referred to are at ultimate limit state, i.e. factored. For unreinforced Stepoc, a partial factor of safety of 3.1 for material strength should be used, to account for the special category of manufacturing control operated by Forticrete. For reinforced Stepoc, the partial factor of safety should be taken as 2 and 1.15 for steel in accordance with part 2 of the masonry code and Forticretes quality control procedures.
E XAMPLE - STEPOC STRENGTH IN BENDING FROM L ATERAL LOAD

70 Max Moment 68.5 KNM 65 60 Design Moment KNM per metre (factored) 55 50 45

256 STEPOC WALL

40 35 Max Moment 30.5 KNM 30 25 20

190 STEPOC WALL

15 10 5

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Area of high yield reinforcement (mm2/m)

By reference to the laterally loaded design chart, to sustain a bending moment of 55KNM, 1250mm2 /m of high yield vertical reinforcement is required within the voids of 256mm Stepoc. From the reinforcement table, it can be seen that this is easily provided by T16 bars at 133mm c/c.
AREA OF REINFORCEMENT (MM2/M) FOR VARIOUS BAR DIAMETERS TO COINCIDE WITH VOID PATTERN

Laterally LOaded Wall (reinforced)

NB The use of this chart is intended for guidance only at a preliminary stage. A full design check should be undertaken by the designer in accordance with BS 5628: part 2: 1995 Structural use of Reinforced and Pre-stressed Masonry, accounting for ultimate and serviceability limit states as required.

1600

1600

Design Vertical Load Resistance (KN/m)

1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300

Design Vertical Load Resistance (KN/m)

1500

1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500

e 0.05t e 0.10t

e 0.20t

BAR DIAMETER 10 12 16 20

BAR CENTRES 133mm 266mm 399mm 590 850 1511 2362 295 425 755 1181 196 283 503 787

e 0.05t e 0.10t e 0.20t e 0.30t

e 0.30t

400 300 200

E XAMPLE - STEPOC STRENGTH UNDER VERTIC AL LOAD

200

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 By reference to the design chart for Effective Height of Wall (metres) Effective Height of Wall (metres) vertically-loaded 256mm Stepoc, a wall VERTICally LOaded 190mm VERTICally LOaded 256mm with an eccentricity of 0.10t (25.6mm), UNREINFORCED STEPOC Wall UNREINFORCED STEPOC Wall with an effective height of 5000mm can NB The use of this chart is for guidance only at a preliminary stage. A full design check should be sustain a vertical design load (factored) of undertaken by the designer in accordance with BS 5628:Part 1: 1992 Structural Use of Unreinforced Masonry. The effective height is not neccessarily the overall height of the wall. 950 KN/m.