Running head: Concrete Masonry Units

University of Sharjah
College of Engineering
Building Construction I
Spring 2022-2023
Concrete Masonry Units
Dr. Farah Muwafaq Al-Ani

Shaikha Humaidi Alketbi

U21102298

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Concrete Masonry Units

Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................3

Types of concrete........................................................................................................................4
Solid concrete blocks .......................................................................................................................... 4
Hollow concrete blocks....................................................................................................................... 4

Weight of Masonry Walls ...........................................................................................................5

Uses of Concrete Blocks ..............................................................................................................6

Insulated Concrete Masonry Units (ICMUs) ................................................................................6

CMU Benefits ..............................................................................................................................7

Affordable Prices ................................................................................................................................ 7
Easily Maintained ............................................................................................................................... 7
Efficiency in energy ............................................................................................................................. 7
Long-lasting ........................................................................................................................................ 7
efficiency of resources ........................................................................................................................ 7
Minimal Waste ................................................................................................................................... 7

The benefits of recycled concrete ...............................................................................................8

Woodbury University School of Architecture ..............................................................................8

Lianyuan Retreat ........................................................................................................................9

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................9

References ................................................................................................................................11

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Concrete Masonry Units

Introduction
Concrete is a living material that responds to our hands and then goes on
to become a permanent expression of the artist's intent. A rectangular block of
concrete called a "concrete masonry unit," or CMU, is used to construct
buildings. Given the many different looks that can be created using CMUs, they
are among the most versatile building materials now on the market. Concrete
blocks can be solid or hollow and are produced in the necessary shapes and
sizes. Concrete blocks often come in combinations of 2-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch, 8-
inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch, or 39 cm x 19 cm x 30 cm, or 20 cm or 10 cm.
Concrete blocks are made with the aid of cement, aggregate, and
water. Additionally, a 1:6 proportion of cement aggregate mix is present in the
mortar. The minimum strength requirement for blocks used for structural
applications is 3 N/mm2 (450 lb/in2). To create concrete masonry units (CMU),
Portland cement, aggregates, and water are used. Concrete as a building material
has several appealing qualities for architects and builders. Concrete mixtures that
are extremely dry and rigid are used to create concrete masonry units. The "no-
slump" or "low-slump" substance is put into molds, vibrated, and compacted, then
swiftly molded. As they enter the curing chamber, the units are firm enough to
maintain their shape. The ability of a CMU to absorb and retain heat, or its thermal
mass, is one of its most crucial characteristics. In the northeast, the best way to
utilize thermal mass is to help hold the temperature of the conditioned spaces.
CMU contains less cement than poured-in-place concrete because, in addition to its
cement content, it also derives strength via vibration and compaction.

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Types of concrete

Solid concrete blocks

The most popular type of block is solid concrete, which
is made of dense aggregate and heavy. They are incredibly
sturdy and give the construction good stability. These solid Figure 1)Solid Concrete Blocks.

blocks are therefore preferred for large masonry projects, such https://www.raknor.com/product-
category/masonry-blocks
as load-bearing walls. Compared to bricks, they are available in
larger sizes. Therefore, concrete masonry construction is
quicker than brick masonry.

Hollow concrete blocks

Hollow concrete blocks contain a void area larger than 25% of the gross area.
More than 50% of hollow bricks should be solid. Depending on our needs, the
hollow part may be separated into several parts. Lightweight aggregates are used to
create them. They are lightweight and simple to install.
(i) Concrete stretcher (3 core): It is most common for reinforced concrete
structures.
(ii) Concrete Double Corner: Typically utilized for reinforced construction,
Concrete Double Corner has an internal reinforced concrete column
created by the final course's vertical steel bar and grout.
(iii) Low-web bold beam block: It offers room for grout and horizontal
reinforcement bars. Create a bond beam; it is used to connect the wall at
key spots.
(iv) Channel bond beam or lintel blocks: it has space for a horizontal
reinforcing bar. Openings were covered by lintels.
(v) Control joint: In construction, it is used to expand vertical saddle-type
control joints. In between interlocking units, a sealant is utilized.
(vi) End block: When the unit’s end
is revealed, it is used.
(vii) Corner block: The corner block
is a half-block that is used to
form a running bond pattern at
the corners and ends of walls.

Figure 2)Types of Hollow Concrete blocks.

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Concrete Masonry Units

Weight of Masonry Walls

Concrete Masonry Units

Lightweight Medium Weight Normal Weight

Solid Grouted Wall 103 pcf 115 pcf 135 pcf

6” 8” 10” 12” 6” 8” 10” 12” 6” 8” 10” 12”

52 75 93 118 58 78 98 124 63 84 104 133

16” o.c. 41 60 69 88 47 63 80 94 52 66 86 103

Vertical
Cores 24” o.c. 37 55 61 79 43 58 72 85 46 61 78 94
Groutedat
32” o.c. 36 52 57 74 42 55 68 80 47 58 74 89

40” o.c. 35 50 55 71 41 53 66 77 46 56 72 86

48” o.c. 34 49 53 69 40 45 64 75 45 55 70 83
Table 1)Weight of Masonry Walls

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Depending on the density of the concrete mix that is used, concrete masonry units
might weigh different amounts. CMU is divided into three categories: light (105
lb/ft3 or less), medium (105 lb/ft3 to 125 lb/ft), and normal (125 lb/ft3 or above).
The aggregates used to build the blocks are what distinguish lightweight CMU
from normal-weight CMU. Lightweight coarse aggregates are used to create
lightweight CMU, and normal-weight coarse aggregates are used to create heavy-
weight units. Lightweight CMU isn't as resilient to stresses and compression as
heavier units. Lighter-weight CMUs are more fire-resistant, less expensive, and
require less installation effort. Although normal units tend to be more expensive
and more expensive to install, they also tend to have lower sound transmission,
substantially higher compressive strengths, and larger thermal storage capacities. If
a certain weight is necessary, architects must define the CMU weight.

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Uses of Concrete Blocks

Because of their adaptability, concrete blocks are a common building material. It
has a variety of uses, including:

 Foundation walls
 basement walls
 partition walls
 Exterior walls

Insulated Concrete Masonry Units (ICMUs) are pre-assembled masonry

structures that are kept together as a whole by a structural CMU and non-structural
thin veneer components that are separated by an insulation thermal break.

The four main forms of insulation available today are rigid insulation, spray foam
insulation, loose insulation, and batt insulation. When deciding which product to
install, it's vital to take into account the performance, cost, toxicity, environmental
impact, durability, and installation method.

Figure 3)Insulated Concrete Masonry Units

https://www.raknor.com/product-category/masonry-
blocks/thermal-blocks

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CMU Benefits
Masonry and precast costs are competitively priced and often cheaper than other
building materials. Benefits include energy efficiency, low maintenance,
sustainability, and green building properties. Concrete masonry pays for itself over
the course of its lifetime, offering savings that other materials cannot match.

Affordable Prices

Precast and masonry prices are comparable to and frequently less expensive than
those of other common building materials.

Easily Maintained

Concrete block masonry has a long lifespan and doesn't need to be upgraded,
stained, or replaced. You save a lot of time and money as a result of the lack of
maintenance.

Efficiency in energy

When compared to a frame structure of the same size, a block structure of 100,000
square feet keeps you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer while saving
you up to $1,200 a month on utility bills.

Long-lasting

Concrete masonry structures are easily capable of lasting up to 100 years because
they do not corrode, decay, or burn. Over time, wooden buildings are more prone
to damage, making your building fragile and exposed.

efficiency of resources

The environment should use concrete masonry. The most prevalent raw material
used to make cement for concrete is limestone, which is also the most common
mineral on earth. Various waste byproducts from steel mills, power plants, and
other production facilities can also be used to make concrete.

Minimal Waste

Unlike other building materials, concrete does not squander resources. Each
project requires a specific amount of concrete block, which is created and recycled .

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The benefits of recycled concrete

Concrete that has already been placed somewhere must be broken, removed, and
crushed to be turned into another, reusable material. The greatest alternative for
removing concrete is frequently recycled concrete because it has so many uses and
advantages. The material that follows gives a summary of the uses and advantages
of recycled concrete. There are numerous advantages to recycling concrete for the
environment and your wallet. A sizable fraction of landfills are occupied by
concrete trash, and many of them are too small to handle it. The energy that would
otherwise be utilized to mine, process, or transport new aggregates is also
conserved through recycling. Masonry components give a wall system strength,
endurance, fire resistance, energy efficiency, and sound attenuation. There are
many different sizes, forms, colors, and architectural treatments available for
concrete masonry units. The Concrete Masonry Shapes and Sizes Manual
illustrates a broad sampling of available units.

Woodbury University School of Architecture by Rios Clementi Hale Studios,

Burbank, CA, United States. The south-facing CMU wall was constructed using various stacking
patterns of blocks to create a shifting pattern of delicate shadowing.

Figure 4) Woodbury University School of Architecture Figure 5) Woodbury University School of Architecture

https://architizer.com/projects/woodbury-university-school- https://architizer.com/idea/156863/
of-architecture/

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Lianyuan Retreat by JYCArchitect + DCDAssociates, Alian District,

Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
In the farmland outside of Alian Village, the Lianyuan Retreat was created. The
center project has a conventional three-sided courtyard and is shaped like a
rectangle with a central space in the center. The project's revolutionary double
skin, which highlights the CMU structure, was used in its creation.
The entire house is wrapped with a CMU structure and outer layer blocks, which
provide the residence's common areas with a striking appearance.

Figure 6) Lianyuan Retreat, Alian District, Kaohsiung Figure 7) Lianyuan Retreat, Alian District, Kaohsiung
City, Taiwan. City, Taiwan.

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#media-9 media-11

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Conclusion
The most popular type of brick is concrete since it has several benefits,
including longevity. It doesn't require any more maintenance and can be used
for more than a century. It won't corrode, rot, peel, discolor, or rust.
Energy efficiency is offered. It has heat-absorbing and heat-releasing thermal
characteristics. As a result, it guarantees that the inside is warm in the winter
and cool in the summer. It respects the environment. It has minimal adverse
effects on the environment because it is constructed of organic ingredients and
enables recycling. It is inexpensive. Concrete brick structures are less
expensive to build than wooden structures. Considering that construction
workers have access to the field. There are no extra expenses for logistics or
assembly.

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References
https://theconstructor.org/concrete/applications-reinforced-concrete/6732/

https://cementconcrete.org/concrete/types-of-concrete-blocks-masonry-unit-
hollow-solid/2462/

https://retainpro.com/docs/appendix_c.htm

https://gharpedia.com/blog/concrete-block-types-pros-and-cons/

https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2019/7/24/choosing-the-right-insulation-
for-your-custom-home

https://www.nitterhousemasonry.com/blog/what-is-
cmu/#:~:text=Concrete%20block%20is%20made%20from,Durable

https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/cmu/

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