Skip to main content
Instantly create a new Masonry Gravity Wall (ASD) calculation by clicking here:Create Masonry Gravity Wall (ASD) Calculator(This link automatically opens a new project and sheet in Calcs.com.)

​
Video overview

A reinforced CMU gravity wall carries vertical loads while resisting out-of-plane forces from wind or seismic pressure. This calculator checks moment, axial, and shear capacity using allowable stress design per TMS 402/602-22 Chapter 8. It supports partially and fully grouted single-wythe walls and plots a moment-axial interaction diagram for each design.
This calculator follows TMS 402/602-22 Chapter 8 (ASD) and MDG 2022 Chapter 11.4.4 for interaction tables. Load combinations follow ASCE 7 ASD provisions.

​
Choosing the right calculator

Calcs.com has three TMS 402/602-22 masonry wall calculators. They are not interchangeable.

Gravity Wall (LRFD)

Out-of-plane loading on a load-bearing wall span, checked per linear foot using LRFD.

Gravity Wall (ASD)

This page. Same out-of-plane problem using allowable stress design (TMS Chapter 8).

Shear Wall (LRFD)

In-plane lateral force-resisting walls with multi-story geometry and optional openings.
Pick Gravity Wall (LRFD) or Gravity Wall (ASD) to match your project’s design method. For in-plane shear and overturning, use Shear Wall (LRFD) instead of either gravity calculator.

​
When to use this calculator

Use this calculator when you have a load-bearing CMU wall that must resist out-of-plane lateral loading in addition to gravity, and your project uses allowable stress design.
Not a shear wall calculator. In-plane shear, in-plane overturning, and in-plane seismic resistance are not considered. For lateral force-resisting masonry walls, use Masonry Shear Wall (LRFD).Anchorage and uplift are not checked. A small amount of tension can be resisted by steel reinforcement, but connection design is outside this sheet.
If your project uses LRFD rather than ASD for masonry walls, use Masonry Gravity Wall (LRFD) for the same out-of-plane problem.

​
Assumptions and limitations

  • Wall is load-bearing, single-wythe, and CMU is in running bond.
  • Wall is partially or fully grouted with one row of reinforcement centered in the block width.
  • Bottom support is continuous (not spanning between point supports).
  • Calculations are per linear foot of wall length. Walls shorter than 1 ft are not supported.
  • Deflection criteria are not evaluated. TMS 402-22 Chapter 8 does not include deflection provisions for ASD masonry wall design.
  • Fully grouted walls do not apply the slenderness limit, consistent with examples in MDG 2022.
  • Stability checks for wall foundations are not conducted.
Full assumptions and limitations are listed in the Sheet Details tab within the calculator.
How to read the sheet: enter inputs first, review calculations in Detailed view, then read pass/fail in the Summary on the right.

​
Inputs

Work through the input sections in order. Geometry, reinforcement, and loads drive all downstream checks.
1

Masonry Properties

These inputs feed wall geometry, material strength, and support conditions in Key Properties, self-weight, slenderness, and the interaction diagram.
  • Concrete Masonry Unit Size: nominal block width (6”, 8”, 10”, or 12”). Section properties follow CMU-TEC-002-23.
  • Height of Wall: clear span between supports. Sloped walls are not supported.
  • Specified Compressive Strength: design compressive strength of the masonry assembly, typically 1500 to 2500 psi.
  • Density of Concrete Masonry Block and Grout Density: feed the Self-Weight output in Key Properties.
  • Fully or Partially Grouted?: switches between partially and fully grouted section properties, interaction tables, and whether the slenderness limit appears in Summary.
  • Position of Supports & Braces from Bottom: support types and heights from the bottom of the wall. Used by the beam analysis model in Load Combinations (ASCE 7). Masonry Properties inputs showing CMU size, wall height, compressive strength, grout type, and support positions
2

Reinforcement Properties

Reinforcement is assumed in a single centered row.
  • Reinforcement Grade, Bar Size, and Bar Spacing (c/c): feed steel area and moment capacity in Out of Plane Bending + Axial Interaction Table. Default spacing is six times the nominal block width. The calculator may flag spacings that do not align with the block module.
  • Consider Compression Reinforcement?: toggles whether tied compression steel is included in Maximum Allowable Axial Considering Slenderness Effects per TMS 402/602-22 Section 8.3.4.2.1. Reinforcement Properties inputs showing bar grade, size, spacing, and compression reinforcement option
3

Loads

Enter unfactored (service) loads. The calculator applies ASD load combination factors in Load Combinations (ASCE 7).
  • Default Load Eccentricity: default axial eccentricity for bending, taken as one sixth of the block depth. Override per load in the Axial, Shear, & Moment Loads table.
  • Axial, Shear, & Moment Loads: line loads per foot of wall. Each row can set its own eccentricity and load types (D, L, W, E, and others).
  • Lateral Distributed Loads: area loads converted to line loads using tributary width. Default wind entries populate from project defaults when available. Specify different tributary widths at the start and end of a load to enter triangular distributions.
Default Load Eccentricity applies to new rows in Axial, Shear, & Moment Loads. Each row has its own Eccentricity column that overrides the default for that load.
Loads inputs showing default eccentricity, axial/shear/moment load table, lateral distributed loads, and self-weight toggle

​
Calculations

After inputs are set, the calculator builds section properties, applies ASD load combinations, and checks shear and moment-axial interaction. Open Detailed view to see intermediate steps and TMS 402/602-22 clause references for each section below.

​
Design Conditions

Design Conditions pulls the load combination code from project defaults (IBC 2024 / TMS 402/602-22) and confirms the design standard edition in use.

​
Key Properties

Key Properties computes derived section values used in the checks below: net area, moment of inertia, section modulus, radius of gyration, steel area, and Slenderness Ratio. Summary rows Maximum Axial and Maximum Allowable Axial Considering Slenderness Effects compare compression demand to slenderness-reduced allowable capacity. The slenderness limit applies when Fully or Partially Grouted? is set to partially grouted. Fully grouted walls skip this check per the template assumptions.

​
Load Combinations (ASCE 7)

Load Combinations (ASCE 7) expands all ASD strength combinations and reports combined demands for moment, axial, and shear at the governing location. The finite-element beam model in the background uses Position of Supports & Braces from Bottom to build the analysis case.

​
Out-of-Plane Shear (TMS 402-22, Section 8.3.5.)

Out-of-plane shear is checked in Out of Plane Shear. Summary rows Maximum Out of Plane Shear and Maximum Allowable Shear report the governing result. Bar Spacing (c/c) does not feed the shear strength calculation.

​
Moment-Axial Interaction (TMS 402-22, Section 8.3.4.)

Combined axial and bending capacity is evaluated through Out of Plane Bending + Axial Interaction Table. The calculator builds separate tables for partially grouted and fully grouted walls per MDG 2022 Chapter 11.4.4. The Interaction Utilization Check table reports the utilization ratio for every load combination. Summary row Interaction Governing Utilization reports the highest value across combinations.
  • Key Properties
  • Load Combinations (ASCE 7)
  • Out of Plane Shear (TMS 402-22, Section 8.3.5.)
  • Out of Plane Bending + Axial Interaction Table (TMS 402-22, Section 8.3.4. and MDG 2022 Ch.11.4.4)

​
Results

The Summary panel on the right collects governing pass/fail outcomes. The Out of Plane Bending + Axial Interaction Diagram at the top of the sheet plots the moment-axial capacity envelope alongside each load combination. Summary panel showing maximum moment, axial, shear, load combination, and interaction utilization

Out-of-plane moment

Maximum Out of Plane Moment vs Maximum Allowable Moment

Axial compression

Maximum Axial vs Maximum Allowable Axial Considering Slenderness Effects

Out-of-plane shear

Maximum Out of Plane Shear vs Maximum Allowable Shear

Interaction

Interaction Governing Utilization and Governing Load Combination
Green badges indicate passing utilization; red badges flag a governing failure. Values above 1.0 on Interaction Governing Utilization indicate failure.
Switch to Detailed using the toggle at the top of the calculator to see every intermediate step and the relevant TMS 402-22 clause for each check.

​
Reading the interaction diagram

The Out of Plane Bending + Axial Interaction Diagram plots the moment-axial capacity envelope for your wall section. Each ASD load combination appears as a point. Points inside the envelope correspond to passing combinations in Interaction Utilization Check. Out of plane bending and axial interaction diagram showing load combination points inside the partially grouted capacity envelope Partially grouted and fully grouted walls use separate interaction tables and diagrams. The diagram updates when you change Fully or Partially Grouted?.

​
Troubleshooting

Check the validation message next to the field. Common causes include bar spacings that are not practical multiples of the block module and compressive strength values outside the supported range.
Open Out of Plane Bending + Axial Interaction Table in Detailed view to see utilization per load combination. Check whether Eccentricity on individual load rows or Fully or Partially Grouted? is driving the result. Summary row Governing Load Combination identifies which combination controls.
Open that check in Detailed view to see which inputs feed the calculation. Summary rows link to the governing section. Use the input list above to find the corresponding fields in the sheet.

Gravity Wall (LRFD)

Same out-of-plane problem using LRFD (TMS Chapter 9).

Shear Wall (LRFD)

In-plane lateral force-resisting masonry walls with openings.

CMU Retaining Wall Example

Worked example for reinforced masonry wall design context.