Advantages and Pitfalls of Unreinforced Masonry Construction (WEBINAR)

In Advantages and Pitfalls of Unreinforced Masonry Construction , you'll learn ...

• The most commonly used masonry materials and their distinguishing features
• Why unreinforced masonry construction (URM) is still such a popular construction choice
• The structural limitations of URM and causes for numerous building collapses
• Ways to improve or increase the strength of masonry structures

Overview

Unreinforced masonry (URM), such as brick walls or walls constructed of concrete masonry units, has been used throughout history for the construction of various structures, including residential (single family homes), commercial (office space, retail), and assembly (churches, theaters). URM construction offers numerous advantages over other building materials, but there are also some structural disadvantages to it. Fortunately, there are prescribed repairs that can remedy the inherent structural weaknesses of URM construction. One of the main goals of this webinar is to describe those repairs and provide design examples.

We will begin the webinar with a brief look at the historical uses and development of masonry and masonry materials followed by a consideration of the most commonly used structural masonry units in today’s construction. Then we will identify and discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of unit masonry construction. We will also work through sample design problems and solutions for URM bearing walls, basement walls, and retaining walls, as well as for reinforced retaining walls. In addition, you will learn about some famous building collapses and foundation failures throughout the world, which were caused by structural limitations exposed by earthquakes.

Along with the applicable building codes and various articles and documents from the Masonry Institute of America, the main reference source for this webinar is Simplified Design of Masonry Structures by James Ambrose.