Max L. Porter, Ph.D., P.E., Dist. M. ASCE, F. SEI, F. TMS, F. ACI, F. ACFE, D. ASFE, CFC, is University Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at Iowa State University (ISU), Ames, Iowa. He has served as president of seven organizations, including The Masonry Society and the Structural Engineering Institute, and chaired the Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC). He has also chaired several national code committees in the areas of masonry, reinforced concrete, and FRP.
I have been told that horizontal joint reinforcement is not allowed by the 2011 Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures (TMS 402-11/ACI 530-11/ASCE 5-11) for shear reinforcement in high seismic zones. Where is this stated and why? Are there plans to change this to allow joint reinforcement? …