Differential movements and stresses in high-rise masonry veneers: Case study
This paper deals with a case study of brick masonry veneer distress on a reinforced concrete high-rise structure. The key cause of distress was the absence of a movement joint at the underside of the shelf angle at each floor level. A computer model introduced by the authors in a previous analysis paper is used to investigate the effects of various parameters on differential movements and veneer stresses. The results indicate that the provision of movement joints of at least 3–4 mm/storey would have prevented a buildup of significant veneer stress. In the absence of a movement joint, veneer stresses were found to be high enough to result in distress as observed on the case study structure. The paper concludes with a discussion of repair considerations.