You can eliminate beams and columns in construction by using the load-bearing

wall technique. Hema Vijay talks to Prof A. R. Santhakumar to find out more
In 1997, with his design for the Bicentennial Building of the College of Engineering at Anna
University, structural engineering wizard Prof. A.R. Santhakumar introduced the city to the load-
bearing wall system. This technique eliminates the need for columns and beams through the use of
a reinforced masonry concept that involves structural concrete blocks. Santhakumar went on to
design many such structures, including the Koyambedu bus shelters shell structure, one of the
largest built spaces in the country without columns. A former dean and chairman of the Faculty of
Civil Engineering, Anna University, a former emeritus professor of IIT Madras and a former
Adviser to Shelter Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, United Nations Team for Recovery Support,
UNDP-India, Santhakumar was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at Construction Industry
Awards 2013. He now provides consultancy services to several organisations in concrete
construction engineering.
How is it possible to do away with supporting columns and beams? Please
explain the load-bearing wall concept.
With framed buildings, frames are built with RCC and the walls are made with brickwork, and the
walls dont contribute to load resistance. Using reinforced masonry with structural concrete blocks
(which have two hollows within a single block) is an alternative method of construction by which
walls acquire load-bearing strength. In this type of construction, walls are built by aligning
structural concrete blocks in a way that one block is placed over two half-portions of the two
blocks beneath it, such that the hollows are still continuous and form a spatial channel, through
which reinforcement is introduced by steel rods and concrete grout.
What kind of buildings can use this concept?
Load-bearing walls have the strength to support floors and roofs, resist wind, seismic effects, noise,
heat or cold and fire. The building so constructed can be rectangular, square or circular, but
symmetry should be maintained. The bicentennial building (in the university) happens to be a
three-storey structure, but actually even a ten-storey building is easily possible with this technique,
with proper design of the reinforcement in the blocks.
How did you start using this system?
Structural masonry hollow blocks are used all over the world for building walls. I came across
reinforced structural hollow blocks when I was doing my Ph.D in earthquake-resistant engineering
at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. This technology is quite common there and load
bearing walls are used precisely because they offer resistance to earthquakes, because in a
reinforced wall system, the reinforcement runs in all directions, while in column supported
buildings, the reinforcement happens only along the columns.
Is it possible to produce these structural hollow blocks in India?
These hollow blocks are produced by hydro-floatation technique, and are made by a few companies
in India like Besser and Aeons. Companies that produce architectural blocks can easily acquire the
technology to produce these blocks. Hollow blocks are made with concrete, with a strength clause
as per Bureau of Indian Standard specifications.
Is the system cost effective?
It is cost effective, especially when the quantity of usage of these blocks increases. In fact, in the
case of the bicentennial building, by going in for load bearing walls we were able to reduce the cost
by about 25 per cent.
What can be done to revive this technique?
Load-bearing wall construction needs skilled workers and precise execution. But ordinary unskilled
masons can be taught this technology and construction method with a days training. Workshops to
sensitize builders and architects are also needed. In the long-term sense and to develop a pool of
skilled workers in various areas such as concreting, fabrication of shell, finishing, and so on, we
need to establish Industrial Training Institutes and Polytechnics, rather than relying on contractors
and masons learning skills from their seniors.
Prof A.R. Santhakumar can be contacted at 9840142384.
Advantages of load-bearing walls
- Without columns, spaces can be made more adaptable. You can also get flexible spaces by using
temporary partitions.
- The absence of beams reduces the floor-to-floor height by at least 30 cm.
- Buildings supported by columns require deeper foundation work, because the load-bearing is
concentrated at the columns. Eliminating columns reduces elaborate foundation work, allowing
savings in money, time and labour.
- Steel consumption is less because thinner bars are used.
- The earthquake resistance of buildings with load-bearing walls is nearly twice that of buildings
with load-bearing columns.
- Construction time is reduced, as floors can be added over walls without waiting for curing of
concrete beams and columns.
- No plastering required.
- No temporary shuttering or form work is needed with this method.
- Simplicity of design, excellent environmental characteristics, and minimum water use for
construction are other advantages.