Part II: Masonry structures

Chapter 7: Introduction to Masonry Structures

Chapter 8: Design of Masonry Walls for Gravity Loads
Chapter 9: Masonry Walls Under Lateral Loads
Chapter 10: Testing of Masonry Elements
Chapter 1: Introduction to Masonry Structures

7.1 Composition of masonry and different types of masonry units

Masonry Structures : Masonry are those structures which are made from
individual units laid in and bound together by mortar.
• The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble,
granite, limestone, concrete block, tile, etc.
• Masonry Structures are highly durable structure.
• But depends upon (affected by ) material used , quality of mortar,
workmanship and bonding (pattern in which the units are assembled)
• Masonry is normally used for components subjected to compressive
loading.
• The weight of masonry structures stabilized them against lateral loads
from wind and earthquakes.
 Used of masonry Structure
• Masonry is widely used to construct large and small structure .(
Structure and non structure)
• It is commonly used in construction of :
Walls (load bearing and non-load bearing , eternal , internal and
partition)
Retaining walls
Ornamental garden walls
Chimney ( fire resisting)
Column, piers, lintels, sills, bond beams etc
Slope protection works
Advantages of Masonry
• It has high compression strength.
• It is durable-no finish is required.
• It is made from raw materials readily available in Nepal at low cost.
• No complicated plant is required.
• It has an attractive appearance.
• There is design flexibility, bricks or blocks can be combined to form complex
shapes.
• Masonry has good fire resistance properties and good thermal properties.
• Masonry structures built in compression preferably with lime mortar can
have life of more than 500 years as compared to 30 to 100 years for
structures of steel or reinforced concrete, etc.
Disadvantages of masonry
• It has very low tensile strength, which means it cannot be used for elements
which bend, for example: beams or slabs.
• Frost and chemical attack can cause spalling in brickwork.
• Efflorescence-chalky (dissolvable salts in moisture that are transported through
porous materials such as concrete, brick, block and stone through) deposit
can occur on brickwork following a cycle of wetting and drying.
• Masonry tends to be heavy and must be built upon a strong foundation.
 Masonry

Masonry refers to construction by stone or

brick “masonry units” with mortar, and is
divided into two types:
Exterior and Interior
Modular brick are sized such that the specified dimension plus the intended mortar joint thickness
equal a modular dimension. ... A modular brick has a set of nominal, specified and actual dimensions
as referenced above. A non-modular brick has a set of specified and actual dimensions but does not
have nominal dimensions.
Construction technology :
• Strength of masonry structure is the function of quality of units or
bricks , mortar types and method of bonding used in the
construction.
• Adequate lap needs to maintained in bonding .
• Types of bonding used in any wall should be required sufficient
strength can be carried by wall ,column or pier , lateral stability
should be ensured and acceptable appearance should be created .
Brick
i. Types of Bricks Based on Quality:
• Size of Brick : 190mm *90mm*90mm with mortar thickness of 10mm
• Nominal size : 200mm*100mm*100mm (Indian standard)
• NBC recommended size of Brick is : 230mm*110mm*55mm
• Assuming 10mm thickness of mortar size : size of brick should be
240mm*120mm*65mm
ii. Types of Bricks Based on Raw Materials
 Construction technology :
English Bond
Types of Bricks Based on Weather Resisting Capacity
Types of Bricks Based on Purpose of their using
Stone
• Stone masonry is made of stones units bonded together with mortar.
• Stone masonry is traditional form of construction practiced for centuries.
• It is constructed by building up structural units in horizontal layers called
courses, which are bonded together by intermediate layers of mortar.
Concrete: A building unit or block larger in size than 12 inches by 4 inches
by 4 inches (305 mm by 102 mm by 102 mm) made of cement and suitable
aggregates.

Hollow Blocks: A masonry unit whose net cross-sectional area in any plane
parallel to the load-bearing surface is less than 75% of its gross cross-
sectional area measured in the same plane.

Solid Blocks: A masonry unit whose net cross-sectional area in every plane
parallel to the load-bearing surface is 75% or more of its gross cross-
sectional area measured in the same plane.
7.2 Types of Masonry Structures
Masonry Structures in Nepal