This program supports University of Louisville research to evaluate the early age strength of lap splices at the base of concrete masonry walls during construction. The goal of this program is to update the Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls, developed by the Mason Contractors Association of America. The MCAA Standard Practice requires walls to be braced during construction in compliance with OSHA requirements, and it allows for walls to be braced either internally or externally. Internal wall bracing is prevalent and is a simple and effective way to improve site safety. The lap splice lengths required by the MCAA Standard Practice were based on testing conducted in the 1990s using direct tension, and this new research will test lap splices under flexural tension which is expected to improve the internal wall bracing provisions, reduce conservatism in design and decrease compliance costs and increase worker safety.
