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Masonry

designs
Part 1
Masonry construction
Despite the use of masonry for construction during many centuries, design techniques
based on well-established scientific principles have only been developed during the latter
part of the 20th century.

The mechanisation and development of brickmaking occurred in the rnid-19s century. Prior
to this time the firing of bricks had always been in intermittent kilns. Using this technique,
moulded and partially dried bricks were loaded into a kiln and fired. On completion of the
firing the fire was put out, the kiln opened and the bricks allowed to cool. This process was
then repeated for the next batch.

Modern brickmaking is carried out using a continuous process in which batches of bricks are
loaded, fired, cooled and removed in permanent rotation. The shaping of clay to produce
bricks is carried out either by extrusion or by moulding/pressing.
The strength of masonry/brickwork is dependent on a number of factors, one of which is the
unit strength. (Note the distinction between brickwork - an assemblage of bricks and mortar
- and brick - the individual structural unit. In this text in general, reference to bricks and
brickwork also implies blockwork, stonework etc.).

In civil engineering projects which require high strength characteristics, high density
engineering bricks are frequently used, whilst in general construction, common bricks
(commons) are used. Where appearance is a prime consideration,facing bricks are used
combining attractive appearance, colour and good resistance to exposure. Bricks which are
non-standard size andlor shape are increasingly being used by architects and are known as
INTRODUCTION TO CODE
Eurocode 6 is the new European standard for the design of masonry
structures. It applies to the design of buildings and civil engineering
works in, predominantly, unreinforced and reinforced masonry. It is
based on limit state principles and is published in four parts as shown
below.

Part 1.1 of Eurocode 6 which is the focus of the discussion in this


chapter provides the basic information necessary for the design of
masonry structures. It deals with the material properties and gives
detailed rules which are mainly applicable to ordinary buildings.
General parts in ec 6
Part 1.2 deals with the accidental event of fire and addresses, amongst other
aspects, fire protection of load-bearing members to prevent premature collapse
of the structure and the measures required to limit the spread of fire in masonry
structures.

Part 2 provides guidance on, amongst other aspects, the selection of mortars and
masonry units for various exposure conditions and applications.

Part 3 contains simple rules for the design of various types of unreinforced
masonry walls including panel, shear and basement walls. The rules are
consistent with those provided in Part 1.1 but will lead to more conservative
designs and would appear to have been included because they have traditionally
been used in some EC Member State countries. Neither Part 1.2 nor Part 3 of
Eurocode 6 is discussed in this chapter.
Part 1.1 of Eurocode 6, hereafter referred to as EC 6, was published as a
preliminary standard, reference no: DD ENV 199611, in 1994 and then
in final form in 2004. It is expected to replace

BS 5628 by around 2010. In common with the other structural


Eurocodes, design of masonry structures cannot wholly be undertaken
using EC 6. Reference will have to be made to a number of other
documents, notably EN 1990 and Eurocode 1 for details of design
philosophy as well as rules for determining the design value of actions
and combination of actions as discussed below.
Lay out
In common with the other structural Eurocodes, EC 6 has been drafted
by a panel of experts drawn from the various EC Member State
countries. The base documents for the first draft of EC 6 were

Report 58: International recommendations for the design of masonry


structures and Report 94: International report for design and erection of
unreinforced and reinforced masonry structures, published in 1980 and
1987 respectively, prepared by CIB (Council for International Building)
committee W23. The following subjects are covered in EC 6:
Chapter 1: General
Chapter 2: Basis of design
Chapter 3: Materials
Chapter 4: Durability
Chapter 5: Structural analysis
Chapter 6: Ultimate limit states
Chapter 7: Serviceability limit states
Chapter 8: Detailing
Chapter 9: Execution

In addition, supplementary information is provided in a number of


annexes. All the annexes in EC 6 are labelled informative
1.GENERAL
Like the other structural Eurocodes, Eurocode 6 allows some parameters and design
methods to be determined at the national level. Where a national choice is allowed this is
indicated in a note in the normative text under the relevant clause. The note may include
the recommended value of the parameter, or preferred method, etc., but the actual value,
methodology, etc., to be used in a particular Member State country is given in the
appropriate National Annex.

The recommended values of these parameters and design method/procedures are


collectively referred to as Nationally Determined Parameters (NDPs). The NDPs determine
various aspects of design but perhaps most importantly the level of safety of structures
during execution (i.e. construction/fabrication) and in-service, which remains the
responsibility of individual nations. The UK National Annexes for all four parts of Eurocode 6
were published in 2005 and the discussion and the worked examples in this chapter are
based on the material in EC 6 and the NDPs in the accompanying National Annex.
2. Basis of designs
Like BS 5628, EC 6 is a limit state code. The two principal categories of limit states relevant
to the design of masonry structures are durability and strength. Design for durability is
discussed in chapter 4 of EC 6 and largely relates to the selection of masonry units and
mortars for particular structure types and exposure classes.

The design rules dealing with ultimate limit states are given in chapter 6 of EC 6. Only those
rules relevant to the design of unreinforced masonry walls subjected to either mainly
vertical or lateral loading are discussed in this chapter. Generally, in order to assess the
effect of these loading conditions on masonry structures the designer will need to estimate

(a) the design values of actions

(b) the design strength of materials.

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