Quick and simple structural engineering lesson by @brickgineer. Thoughts? “Ancient engineers discovered the need for lintel beams above openings in block walls. Blocks are great for their compressive strength but are weak when loaded in tension - which happens when there is an opening in a wall and the blocks need to span across the opening! Lintel beams are used to carry the weight of the wall and any other gravity loads across an opening. Masonry lintel beams could have continuous reinforcing