Masonry Structures:

1. Explain the testing procedures for masonry units: Bricks, Hollow Concrete Blocks (HCB), Stones
and Cement Stabilized Earthen Blocks (CSEB). How the compressive and shear strength of
masonry units evaluated?
2. Discuss on the strength of bricks and HCB available in Nepal.
3. How would you evaluate the strength of mortar and grout? How would you select the appropriate
type of mortar for masonry?
4. Using appropriate mathematical relations explain the methods of estimating compressive, shear,
flexural tensile and diagonal tensile strength of masonry walls.
5. With the help of a clear diagram show the lateral force transferring mechanism from top of a
building to foundation. Explain the procedure for lateral load analysis in masonry buildings.
6. Explain how the lateral force is distributed to masonry walls with rigid and flexible floor
diaphragms.
7. How would you evaluate the flexural and shear strength of unreinforced masonry
walls/structures subjected to in-plane and out-of-plane loadings.
8. Explain how stiffness of a wall with openings is evaluated? How flexural moments and shear
forces are evaluated in the piers?
9. A stone masonry building is located in Sindhupalchowk is shown in Fig. 1 below. Determine the
seismic force at each storey and distribute to north-south walls of ground floor for with
flexible floor diaphragm. Take plinth height as 450mm, sill height as 750mm, door size
as 900mmx2100mm, window as 1000mmx1350mm and floor height as 2600mm. Wall
thickness is 350mm in ground floor as well as in first floor. Draw necessary elevations
and sections compatible with the given plan; assume all other necessary data suitably if
required. Estimate the rigidities of east and west walls. Calculate axial and shear forces
and overturning moment in the walls and axial and shear stresses developed in these
walls.

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 Fig.1
10. An unreinforced brick masonry residential building located at Kathmandu is given in Fig.
2. Obtain the seismic force at every storey and distribute to north-south walls (assume top
of paper as north) of ground floor for a) rigid floor diaphragm b) flexible floor
diaphragm. Take plinth height as 450mm, sill height as 750mm, door size as
900mmx2100mm, window as 1000mmx1350mm and floor height as 2600mm. Wall
thickness is 350mm in ground floor as well as in first floor, assume all other necessary
data suitably. Draw necessary elevations and sections compatible with the given plan and
evaluate the required parameters. Estimate the rigidities of north and south walls.
Calculate axial and shear forces and overturning moment in the walls and axial and shear
stresses developed in these walls.

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 Fig. 2

11. Explain why plith, sill, linte, roof and vertical bands are required in masonry buildings.
How these are designed?
12. Design the plinth, sill, lintel and roof bands for the building shown in Fig. 2 and draw
reinfrocement detailings for these bands.
13. How do you ensure the structural integrity of masonry structures? Prepare the check list
before proceeding to site.
14. Explain the failure mechanisms of masonry infilled frames. How infill plane stiffness is
considered in modelling? How inplane strength is evaluated? Explain for infills with
openings.
15. Explain the qualitative and analytical methods of evaluation of existing buildings to find
out seismic deficiencies.
16. Explain commonly adopted retrofitting methods. How would you decide the method of
intervention in a seismic deficient building so that its seismic resistant capacity can be
enhanced with resonable cost?
17. Explain the horizontal load transferring features in low strength masonry buildings. How
different bands are designed?
18. Indicate the common deficiencies in low strength masonry buildings. Explain the local
level and global level retrofitting methods for low strength masonry structures with
examples for stone and brick masonry buildings.
19. Indicate the common deficiencies in masonry buildings. Explain the local level and
global level retrofitting methods for masonry structures in cement mortar with examples
for stone and brick masonry buildings seperately.
20. Indicate the strengths and deficiencies in heritage masonry structures in Nepal. Prepare
the list of works that need to be carried out during RVA and during detailed survey.
21. How would you carry out structural evaluation of old masonry hertage structure?
Explain.
22. A three storey brick masonry building wall is to be constructed in Kathmandu. Gravity
loads on storeys 0,1,2 are 20kN/m in each and in roof level is 8kN/m. Seismic forces on
levels 1, 2 and 3 are 90, 150 and 200 kN resprctively. The wall is brick thick at
ground floor and one brick thick in second and third storeys. Design the wall using
relevent data for brick masonry and reinforcing bars. Show your results in a neat sketch.
1.5m
1.3m
1.5m
1.3m
1.5m
1.2m 0.8m
0.1m 0.1m
0.1m
0.6m 1.5m 1.5m 1.5m

0.3m 0.8m 0.6m 0.8m 0.6m 0.8m

0.8m
1.2m
1.5m
1.3m
1.5m
1.3m
1.5m
1.2m 0.8m

0.1m 0.1m
0.1m
0.6m 1.5m 1.5m 1.5m

0.3m 0.8m 0.6m 0.8m 0.6m 0.8m