DESIGN OF MASONRY

STRUCTURES

CE 318
 STRUCTURAL MASONRY
• Masonry can be regarded as an assemblage of structural units, which
are bonded together in a particular pattern by mortar or grout.
• Structural masonry was traditionally widely used in civil and structural
works including construction of tunnels, bridges and retaining walls.

• However the introduction of steel and concrete with their superior

strengths and costs characteristics led to a sharp decline in the usage
of masonry.
 MASONRY CONSTRUCTION
• Everybody now knows that brick is beautiful, however its relatively less
appreciated when compared to other construction materials.
 MASONRY CONSTRUCTION
• The advantages of masonry construction are:-
• Masonry has excellent combined structural, thermal and acoustic
properties.
• Extremely long usable life. You don't see any 2 or 3 thousand year
old wood buildings but there are plenty of masonry structures that
old still pretty much intact.
• Masonry construction displays good resistance to fire. It wont burn,
which makes it great for building fireplaces.
• Masonry construction displays good resistance to harsh weather
conditions such as during tornados and tsunamis.
• Can withstand large amounts of compressive weight loads
 STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF MASONRY
• The design of structural masonry/brickwork in the Tanzania is
governed by the requirements of BS 5628 - Code of Practice for the
Use of Masonry Parts 1, 2 and 3.
• The three parts are:–
• Part 1: Structural use of unreinforced masonry.
• Part 2: Structural use of reinforced and pre-stressed masonry.
• Part 3: Materials and components, design and workmanship.
 MASONRY MATERIALS
• The main constituents materials and components used in
construction of masonry structures are:-
a) Structural units e.g. Bricks, Stones, Blocks
b) Mortar
c) Wall ties
d) Damp Proof Courses (DPC) or Damp Proof Membranes
• To successfully use masonry, a designer must select Bricks or blocks of
appropriate quality and size, choose a suitable mortar and specify
their use correctly while devising appropriate details for construction.
 STRUCTURAL UNITS
• These are produced from range of different materials such as: clay,
concrete, natural stones and sometimes a mixture of lime and sand
or crushed stone.
• The selection of a particular type of unit for any given structure is
dependent on a number of criteria, e.g. strength, durability,
adhesion, fire resistance, thermal properties, acoustic properties
and aesthetics.
• The structural units may come in different shapes and configuration:
STRUCTURAL UNITS
 STRUCTURAL UNITS
• Bricks are primarily specified in terms of density, compressive
strength, durability, active soluble salt content and water
absorption.
• Bricks with a gross density of less than or equal to 1000 kg/m3 are
classified as LD (low density) units and those with a gross density
exceeding 1000 kg/m3 as HD (high density) units.
• The water absorption categories for which flexural strength data is
available are: less than 7%, 7–12 % and > 12%.
• The compressive strength of bricks is a function of the raw materials
and the actual processes used to manufacture the units. Bricks are
generally available with compressive strengths ranging from 5 N/mm2
to more than 150 N/mm2.
 STRUCTURAL UNITS
• Also the bricks can be divided into the following four general categories:
a) Facing bricks: Manufactured to satisfy aesthetic requirements. They
are available in a wide range of strengths, colours and textures.
b) Common bricks: Produced for general building works and not to
provide an attractive appearance.
c) Engineering bricks: Produced with defined compressive strength
qualities and high densities.
d) Specials: Non standard size or shape increasingly used by architects.
 STRUCTURAL UNITS
• Also the bricks can be divided into the following four general categories:
 STRUCTURAL UNITS
CLAY AND CALCIUM SILICATE BRICKS
• The clay units are fired in Kilns to a temperature ranging from 900-
1500 °C in order to produce a brick suitable for structural use. The
firing process significantly increases the strengths and durability of
the clay units.
• The calcium silicate (sand, lime and flint lime) bricks have the same
standard format as those of the clay bricks.
 DIMENSIONS AND SIZES
• The specifications for the sizes of clay bricks, calcium silicate bricks
and precast concrete masonry units are given in BS 3921 : 1985, BS
187 : 1978 and BS 6073 : Part 1 : 1981 respectively.
 DIMENSIONS AND SIZES
• The sizes of bricks are normally referred to in terms of work sizes and
coordinating sizes. As shown below. The difference results due to the
recommended mortar joint of 10 mm.
 STRUCTURAL UNITS
BLOCKS
• Blocks are walling units but, unlike bricks they are available in two
basic types: autoclaved aerated concrete (now referred to as
aircrete) and aggregate concrete.
• The aircrete blocks are made from a mixture of sand, pulverised fuel
ash, cement and aluminium powder. The latter is used to generate
hydrogen bubbles in the mix; none of the powder remains after the
reaction.
• The aggregate blocks have a composition similar to that of normal
concrete, consisting chiefly of sand, coarse and fine aggregate and
cement plus extenders.
 STRUCTURAL UNITS
• Compressive strength 3.6 N/mm2; and 2.9 N/mm2 is a popular
strength for aircrete blocks, and 7.3 N/mm2 for aggregate concrete
blocks as it can be used below ground.
• Aircrete blocks tend to have lower densities (typically 400–900
kg/m3) than aggregate blocks (typically 1200–2400 kg/m3).
• Which accounts for the former’s superior thermal properties, lower
unit weight and lower strengths.
• The most frequently used block has a work face of 440 × 215 mm,
width 100 mm
 MORTAR
• Mortar is the medium which binds together the individual structural
units to create a continuous structural form e.g. brickwork, stonework
etc.
• The mortar serves several purposes in the construction, and must
satisfy a number of requirements in both the newly mixed and the
hardened state.
• Ideally, however, it should not be stronger than the masonry units
themselves. This weakness of the mortar ensures that the mortar will
deteriorate first before the masonry units.
 MORTAR
• Mortar to which the cement has been added should generally be
used within two hours of mixing.
• The mortar should be easy to spread and remain plastic for a
sufficient length of time in order that the units can be accurately
positioned before setting occurs.
• The setting time should not be too excessive otherwise the mortar
may be squeezed out as successive courses of units are laid.
• The mortar should be able to resist water uptake by the absorbent
bricks/blocks.
 MORTAR
• The appearance of mortar is also important and that it should be in
harmony with the masonry unit.
• The mortar must also be durable
• Mortar serves a number of functions in masonry construction, i.e. to:
a) Bind together the individual units.
b) Distribute the stresses (compressive, tensile and shear stresses) evenly
throughout the individual units,
c) Infill the joints between the units and hence increase the resistance to
moisture penetration,
d) Maintain the sound characteristics of a wall,
e) Maintain the thermal characteristics of a wall.
 MORTAR CLASSIFICATION
• Mortars are classified by: a) kind of binding material, b) their bulk
density, c) application and, d) physical and mechanical properties.
• Kind of binding material
The selection of binding material for the mortar is based on;
a) Its intended application,
b) Requirements imposed upon it,
c) Hardening temperature,
d) Moisture conditions and
e) Expected working conditions of the building or installation.
 MORTAR CLASSIFICATION
By the kind of binding material, mortars are subdivided into the
following varieties:
• Hydraulic mortar: composed of hydraulic lime and sand
• Lime mortar: composed of lime and sand
• Cement mortar: composed of cement and sand
• Cement-lime mortar: composed of cement, lime and sand
• Air-entraining mortar: cement mortar gauged with plasticiser
• Mortars containing special cements: high alumina cement may be
used where high early strength or resistance to chemical attack is
required.
 MORTAR CLASSIFICATION
• By their bulk density in hardened state, mortars fall into the following
kinds:
• Heavy mortars of a bulk density of 1500 kg/m3
• Light-weight mortars of a bulk density less than 1500 kg/m3
• By their physical and mechanical properties, classification is based on
strength and durability
 MORTAR CLASSIFICATION
By application, mortars are subdivided into;
• Bricklaying mortars, intended for brickwork
• Finishing mortars for architectural or ornamental parts, plaster
and other finishing decorative layers
• Special mortars with particular properties that are intended for
specific applications
 MUD MORTAR
• Mud mortar as bonding material is normally not used in the present
day construction
• Because of its poor bonding quality failure of attaining the strength
required on drying and loss of its strength when wet.
• For temporary and low cost single storeyed houses, it is sometimes
used particularly in rural areas, when economy in cost is the main
consideration.
 MORTAR INGREDIENTS- CEMENT
• The types of cement that are commonly used for mortar are:
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and Rapid-Hardening Cement.
• Rapid-hardening cement may be used instead of ordinary Portland
cement only when earlier strength is required.
• Sulphate-Resistant Cement should be used in situations where it is
susceptible to sulphate attack, e.g. in brickwork in contact with
sulphate-bearing soil.
 MORTAR INGREDIENTS- SAND
• The sand for mortar must be clean, sharp, and free from salt and
organic contamination.
• Marine sand should not be used unless washed completely to
remove magnesium and sodium chloride salts which are
deliquescent attract moisture.
• Mixing water for mortar should be clean and free from contaminants
either dissolved or in suspension. Ordinary drinking water will be
suitable.
 PROPORTIONING OF THE INGREDIENTS
• The constituents of mortar are mixed by volume.
• The water/cement ratio is the most important factor which affects
the compressive strength of mortars.
• In practice, the water/cement ratio for a given mix will be determined
by workability
 MORTAR RATIO AND BOND
• For general purpose masonry construction: 1 : 1 : 6 cement : lime :
sand mortar will be sufficient.
• For high strength load bearing masonry a 1 : 1 – 4 : 3 cement : lime :
sand mortar is more appropriate.
• For reinforced masonry a mix not weaker than 1 : 1 – 2 : 4 cement :
lime : sand should normally be specified.
 MORTAR RATIO AND BOND
• By varying the proportions of the constituents referred to above,
mortars of differing compressive and bond strength and plasticity
properties can be produced
• The bond of the mortar with the masonry units is equally as
important as its compressive strength. Adequate bond depends on:
• Sand quality,
• Type and absorption rate of the masonry units at the time of laying, and
• Attention to curing
MIX RATION IN RELATION TO STRENGTH
 MASONRY REINFORCEMENT
• Reinforced masonry has been widely used in countries which
experience seismic problems.
• But, it can be used for large laterally loaded wall panels and retaining
walls up to 3 m high.
• The steel used for masonry reinforcement is the same as the one for
reinforced concrete
 PILASTER & BUTTRESS
• A thickened section forming integral part of a wall placed at intervals
along the wall, to increase the stiffness of the wall or to carry a
vertical concentrated load.
 BUTTRESS
• A Buttress is a masonry built as an integral part of wall and projecting
from either or both surfaces, decreasing in cross-sectional area from
base to top.
• Like pilaster, buttresses are used to provide lateral support to the
masonry wall in the horizontal direction.
 PIERS AND COLUMNS
• It is an isolated vertical member whose horizontal dimension
measured at right angles to its thickness is not less than 4 times its
thickness and whose height is less than 5 times its length. Column is
an isolated vertical load bearing member, width of which does not
exceed four times the thickness.