Professional Documents
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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 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
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