Masonry Magazine December 1994 Page. 28
Any damage to masonry that does occur is highly visible and can be repaired. When a crack appears in masonry, it does not mean that the masonry has failed, but it does mean that the reinforcement had a chance to do its job, namely, hold the masonry together. When a structural engineer verifies the structural integrity of the system, the crack can be filled and the masonry system continues to function as a safe and economic building element.
Mirabella, a 23 story undamaged brick veneer tower near heavily damaged Santa Monica.
The Northridge Earthquake changed forever the way we think of structural steel as the ideal building material for withstanding seismic activity. In this event, several hundred buildings are suspect of joint failure in the structural steel. The University of Texas, Arlington, has been involved in testing to recommend methods of repair. Several months later, they are still searching for an answer to this problem.
Masonry veneer constructed in accordance with current code and recommended design practices performed very well. Building movement may have caused damage to veneer systems with a solid mortar fill of the cavity between the veneer and the backup system and solid fill directly under the shelf angle. Corrosion resistant ties and horizontal joint reinforcement restrained the collapse of veneer systems subjected to heavy damage.
Veneer corners were subjected to bilateral or torsional building movement, so the need to isolate corners becomes more evident. On buildings that did include isolated corner design, no failures were seen.
There are countless examples of masonry successes. They are not spectacular, they just work. Buildings such as Pledgerville Senior Housing, in Pacoima, a 5-story masonry bearing wall system with full interior shear walls; Northridge Department of Water and Power Pump Station only 2 miles from the epicenter with no structural damage to the masonry; the Northridge Post Office which suffered only non-structural damage and was operational just after the earthquake and the Automobile Club, Van Nuys which had considerable interior damage, with no damage noted to the reinforced concrete masonry and veneer are examples of the success of masonry.
The list is not endless, but it is extensive. With the progress of masonry and the proven reliability of reinforced masonry in particular, there is justification to expand the use of masonry in all markets of construction.
Armenian Church in San Fernando recently built reinforced block with no damage.
MASONRY-NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, 1994