EFFECTIVE THICKNESS OF WALLS

Effective thickness of a wall is an idealised thickness which reflects the behaviour of the wall. Effective thickness is determined as detailed below.

1. Solid Walls and Faced Walls: Effective thickness is the same as actual thickness.
2. Cavity Walls with Uniform Leaves: Effective thickness is two-thirds of the sum of actual thickness of both the walls.
3. Solid or Faced Walls Stiffened by Piers or Cross Walls: Effective thickness is obtained by multiplying the actual thickness by a stiffening coefficient as given in Table 17.4.

Table 17.4 Stiffness coefficient

where S_p = Centre to centre spacing of pier or cross wall

w_p = Width of pier in the direction of the wall or the actual thickness of cross wall

t_p = Thickness of pier

t_w = Thickness of wall proper