MASONRY

GROUP 1
FACTURAN, GONZALES, MORENO, NOTARTE, SALIM, SEVILLANO, YAP
MASONRY
 A masonry structure is created by assembling masonry units like stone, blocks, or brick with mortar.

 An ancient construction material seen in structures like the pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, and
Greek and Roman ruins.

 Bricks of nearly uniform size were widely used in Europe starting in the 13th century. The United States saw
the first significant use of bricks around 1600.

 Bricks have been utilized for constructing various structures such as sewers, bridge piers, tunnel linings, and
multistory buildings over the past two centuries.

 Bricks are widely used in construction globally and are competitive with materials like wood, steel, and
concrete for specific purposes.
MASONRY
UNITS
• concrete masonry units

• clay bricks

• structural clay tiles

• glass blocks

• stone
MASONRY UNITS

 CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS  CLAY BRICKS

MASONRY UNITS

 STRUCTURAL CLAY TILES  GLASS BLOCKS

MASONRY UNITS

 STONE
MASONRY UNITS
 Concrete masonry units can be solid or hollow, while clay bricks, glass
blocks, and stone are usually solid. Structural clay tiles, larger than clay
bricks, are hollow units used for various masonry applications like partition
walls and filler panels.

 Can be used either vertical or horizontal direction

 Concrete masonry units and clay bricks are commonly used in the United
States.
 CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS
Solid concrete units are commonly called concrete bricks, while hollow units are known as
concrete blocks, hollow blocks, or cinder blocks. Hollow units have a net cross-sectional
area in every plane parallel to the bearing surface less than 75% of the gross cross-
sectional area in the same plane. If this ratio is 75% or more, the unit is categorized as
solid (Portland Cement Association, 1991).

Concrete masonry units are manufactured in three classes, based on their density:
lightweight units, medium-weight units, and normal-weight units, with dry unit weights as
shown in Table 8.1. Well-graded sand, gravel, and crushed stone are used to manufacture
normal-weight units. Lightweight aggregates such as pumice, scoria, cinders, expanded
clay, and expanded shale are used to manufacture lightweight units. Lightweight units
have higher thermal and fire resistance properties and lower sound resistance than
normal weight units.
CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS
 CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS

Concrete masonry units are manufactured using a relatively dry (zero-

slump) concrete mixture consisting of portland cement, aggregates,
water, and admixtures.
Type I cement is usually used to manufacture concrete masonry units;
however, Type III is sometimes used to reduce the curing time. Air-
entrained concrete is sometimes used to increase the resistance of the
masonry structure to freeze and thaw effects and improve workability,
compaction, and molding characteristics of the units during
manufacturing. The units are molded under pressure, then cured, usually
using low-pressure steam curing. After manufacturing, the units are
stored under controlled conditions so that the concrete continues curing
 CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS

Concrete masonry units can be classified as load bearing (ASTM C90) and
non– load bearing (ASTM C129). Load-bearing units must satisfy a higher
minimum compressive strength requirement than non–load-bearing units, as
shown in Table 8.2. The compressive strength of individual concrete masonry
units is determined by capping the unit and applying load in the direction of the
height of the unit until failure (ASTM C140).

A full-size unit is recommended for testing, although a portion of a unit can be

used if the capacity of the testing machine is not large enough.
CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS
CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS
CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS
 CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS

The amount of water absorption of concrete masonry units is controlled by

ASTM standards to reduce the effect of weathering and limit the amount of
shrinkage due to moisture loss after construction (ASTM C90). The absorption
of concrete masonry units is determined by immersing the unit in water for 24
hours (ASTM C140). The absorption and moisture content are calculated as
follows
 CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS

Table 8.1 shows the allowable maximum water absorption for load-bearing concrete masonry units.
CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS
CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS
 CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS

Concrete masonry units are available in different

sizes, colors, shapes, and textures. Concrete
masonry units are specified by their nominal
dimensions. The nominal dimension is greater than
its specified (or modular) dimension by the thickness
of the mortar joint, usually 10 mm.
 CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS

Solid concrete masonry units (concrete bricks) are manufactured in two

types based on their exposure properties: concrete building bricks (ASTM
C55) and concrete facing bricks (ASTM C1634). The concrete building
bricks are manufactured for general use in non-facing, utilitarian
applications, while the concrete facing bricks are typically used in
applications where one or more faces of the unit is intended to be exposed.
The concrete facing bricks have stricter requirements than the concrete
building bricks. The maximum allowable water absorption of the concrete
facing bricks is less than that of the concrete building bricks. Also, the
minimum net area compressive strength of the concrete facing bricks is
higher than that of the concrete building bricks as shown in Table 8.3.
CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS
CLAY BRICKS

Clay bricks are small, rectangular blocks made by firing clay, with varying compositions
depending on location. Clay consists mainly of silica, alumina, lime, iron, manganese,
sulfur, and phosphates. Manufacturing involves grinding or crushing clay, mixing with
water to form plastic clay, molding, texturing, drying, and firing. Bricks come in different
colors based on firing temperature, ranging from dark red to dull brown. Firing
temperatures vary from 900°C to 1200°C, resulting in bricks with an average density of 2
Mg/m³.
CLAY BRICKS

Clay bricks are used for different purposes, including building, facing and aesthetics, floor
making, and paving. Building bricks (common bricks) are used as a structural material
and are typically strong and durable.
CLAY BRICKS

Absorption is one of the important properties that determine the durability of bricks.
Highly absorptive bricks can cause efflorescence and other problems in the masonry.
According to ASTM C67, absorption by 24-hr submersion, absorption by 5-hr boiling, and
saturation coefficient are calculated as:
CLAY BRICKS

Clay bricks are very durable and fire resistant and require very little maintenance. They
have moderate insulating properties, which make brick houses cooler in summer and
warmer in winter, compared with houses built with other construction materials. Clay
bricks are also noncombustible and poor conductors.
 CLAY BRICKS

The compressive strength of clay bricks is a crucial mechanical property that influences
their load-bearing capacity and durability. It depends on factors like clay composition,
manufacturing method, and firing intensity. Testing involves applying load "flatwise" to a
half unit and dividing the load at failure by the cross-sectional area. Net or gross cross-
sectional area is used, with net area applicable if it's less than 75% of the gross area. If
necessary, a quarter brick can be tested. Other mechanical properties include modulus of
rupture, tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity, with typical ranges provided for each
property
 CLAY BRICKS

Clay building bricks are categorized based on durability and weather resistance,
considering factors like compressive strength, water absorption, and saturation coefficient
(ASTM C62). The three grades—SW (severe weathering), MW (moderate weathering), and
NW (negligible weathering)—have specific requirements outlined in Table 8.4. SW bricks
are suitable for frost-prone areas, while NW bricks are ideal for frost-free and dry regions,
including indoor use. As weathering severity increases, stricter criteria for compressive
strength, water absorption, and saturation coefficient are enforced to mitigate the impact
of freezing/thawing and wetting/drying.
CLAY BRICKS
CLAY BRICKS
CLAY BRICKS
CLAY BRICKS

Facing clay bricks (ASTM C216) come in two durability grades: severe weathering (SW) and
moderate weathering (MW). Each grade offers three appearance types: FBS (face brick
standard), FBX (face brick extra), and FBA (face brick architecture). FBS is for general
exposed masonry, FBX for precise exterior and interior construction, and FBA for creating
architectural effects with varied size and texture.
CLAY BRICKS

Clay bricks, like concrete masonry units, are designated by nominal dimensions, which
include the mortar joint thickness. The actual size depends on the nominal size and firing
process shrinkage, typically ranging from 4% to 15%. They're specified by nominal width
times height times length, with modular bricks having dimensions in multiples of 100 mm.
Typical nominal widths range from 75 to 300 mm, heights from 50 to 200 mm, and lengths
up to 400 mm.
MORTAR
Mortar is a mixture of cement, aggregate, and water used for various functions,
including cement-lime, cement, or masonry cement mortar. Mortahr is used for the
following functions:
 bonding masonry units together, either non-reinforced or reinforced
 serving as a seating material for the units
 leveling and seating the units
 providing aesthetic quality of the structure
MORTAR
Mortar is manufactured in types M, S, N, and O, meeting either proportion or
property specifications (ASTM C270). Laboratory evaluation involves testing
compressive strength using 50-mm cubes (ASTM C109). Field evaluation includes
trial batches to establish mix properties (ASTM C780). Mortar binds masonry units
when it sets, with thin layers generally producing stronger walls. Tensile bond
strength (ASTM C952) is crucial for adhesion and durability, affected by lime
content. Other important properties include workability, tensile and compressive
strength, freeze-thaw resistance, and water retention (ASTM C91)
GROUT
Grout is a high-slump concrete consisting of portland cement, sand, fine gravel,
water, and sometimes lime. Grout is used to fill the cores or voids in hollow masonry
units for the purpose of
 (1) bonding the masonry units,
 (2) bonding the reinforcing steel to the masonry,
 (3) increasing the bearing area,
 (4) increasing fire resistance, and
 (5) improving the overturning resistance by increasing the weight.

The minimum compressive strength of grout is 14 MPa at 28 days, according to

ASTM C476.
PLASTER
Plaster is a fluid mixture of portland cement, lime, sand, and water, which is used
for finishing either masonry walls or framed (wood) walls.

Plaster is used for either exterior or interior walls. Stucco is plaster used to cover
exterior walls. The average compressive strength of plaster is about 13.8 MPa at 28
days.
MASONRY SUSTAINABILITY
LEED CONSIDERATION

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design) is the world's most widely used green
building rating system.

Subasic (2013) developed a summary table of the

sustainable design with concrete masonry units
(Table 8.5).
MASONRY SUSTAINABILITY
LEED CONSIDERATION

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design) is the world's most widely used green
building rating system.

Subasic (2013) developed a summary table of the

sustainable design with concrete masonry units
(Table 8.5).
 MASONRY SUSTAINABILITY
OTHER SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATION
As a traditional material, it is difficult to make the case that masonry should be credited as a sustainable material.
Subasic (2013) points out that LEED uses surrogate measures of environmental impact, such as recycled content,
and measures of on-site construction practices. He argues for a more comprehensive evaluation of environmentally
preferable products which uses the following strategies:

 Abundance of raw materials

 Efficient use of raw materials

 Use of recycled materials

 Sustainable measures in acquisition or manufacture

 Use of regionally available materials (near to the building project site)

 Regional manufacture or fabrication (near to the building project site)

 MASONRY SUSTAINABILITY
OTHER SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATION
 Recyclable
 Salvageable
 Durable
 Non-toxic
 Avoidance of construction waste.

Subasic makes the case that when these factors are considered concrete masonry, pavers, and segmented retaining
walls are sustainable materials and provide sustainable structures
SUMMARY
Masonry is an ancient building technology that dates back to the use of sun-dried adobe blocks. Modern masonry units
are manufactured to high standards, with the strength of the units being crucial for quality control. However, the overall strength of
masonry construction is primarily determined by the ability to bond the units together using mortar. An essential quality
consideration for masonry units is their resistance to environmental degradation, which is closely linked to their absorption
capacity.
THANKS FOR WATCHING!
GROUP 1
MEMBERS: FACTURAN, GONZALES, MORENO, NOTARTE, SALIM, SEVILLANO, YAP

SLIDES PREPARED BY: SEVILLANO