questions

huangyhg

questions
i have two questions, which are related:
first, i am looking at a gymnasium conctructed in the 1930's. this structure is being renovated, which involves removing existing doors and enlarging the openings. i have  a copy of the original architect's drawings, and there is no note or details showing lintels or bond beam headers. my question is: is it safe for me to assume that there were not lintels/bond beams installed? or assume a simple bond beam with 2-#3's. i am not familiar with common construction practises of the 1930's.
second, the same structure under-went an addition in the 1950's and the common interior walls are some type of clay block (my copy of the plans are hard to read).  q: is there such a thing as structural clay block? and what engineering properites do i use for analysis?
any assitance would be greatly appreciated. thanks.  
with respect to your first question, i am doing something very similar at the moment.
you cannot assume anything. if you want to take advantage of bond beams or lintels, you better make sure to go out and make some measurements. even then, it'll be nearly impossible to determine the size of reinforcing. i believe there are some instruments that can estimate this, but it'll probably blow your budget out of the water just to rent them. i would simply not count on them.
no clue on the second question.
try to design it in such a way that you are not exerting additional loads on the lintels or any other unknown structural components.
i think many older buildings did not use "u" shaped lintel blocks as we do today.  i usually see some type of steel wt or double angle type lintel used with masonry.  or even wood beams.
yes there is structural clay tile.  used for both structural members and partition-only walls.