Why Brick, Concrete Block and Masonry work Joints are Not Straight ? 

How to get the Perfect load distribution in the Wall ?

Today’s article is about to know, why the bricks are staggeringly placed in courses one above another. This is very basic, important & necessary question and the answer must be known by every Civil Engineer. 

In the first case (in the picture), the bricks are placed straight in all courses with continuous vertical joints. So in this case, whenever load is coming onto the wall, the load distribution will be up to the line of bricks only. 

The picture indicates the load distribution profile.

 Due to continuous joints and straight line of bricks, the wall will fail because the load distribution is only on the line of bricks which is very less portion of wall. So it will fail as shown in the picture (below).

 

But in the second case, the bricks are staggeringly arranged in courses as can be seen in the picture (below).

 

 and the joints are not continuous in vertical direction. So whenever load comes, the load distribution will be triangular profile as see in the picture (below).

Due to this, the load will be dispersed over large portion of wall, and the wall finally can bear the load without failure finally