Load Bearing Masonry Buildings

Used mainly for smaller residential buildings nowadays, masonry

buildings are built from smaller masonry units such as bricks, stones
and concrete blocks, where they are laid in layers with cement
mortar to bind them together. This creates the structure; these
heavy masonry walls are able to support the whole structure
including horizontal floor slabs. The large weight of these walls
helps to stabilise the structure and reduce the effects from wind
loading and other external forces. Masonry is usually high in
compressive strength but is limited in it flexural or tensile strength
(This can be improved by thickening the walls, adding reinforced
steel or by building masonry piers).

There are many advantages to using masonry, such as its simplicity for construction while being
aesthetically attractive. Masonry is very durable, the walls will hold up to harsh storm conditions,
U.V degradation and sub-zero temperatures. It is also fire resistant as none of the materials used are
combustible. Masonry also requires much less maintenance then other buildings.

Masonry however is very labour extensive, it requires time and a lot of hands to lay individual units
together to create the walls, which requires skilled workers and means construction speed for
masonry structures will be quite high. They also consume a lot of materials and weigh quite a lot,
this can lead to sinking of the foundations,

There are different construction systems for masonry, such as Reinforced or non-reinforced
masonry. Reinforced masonry is where steel reinforcement in the form of bars or mesh are placed in
the cement mortar or placed in the holes of the masonry units and filled with concrete or grout. This
will increase the walls compressive and tensile strength.

Reinforced Masonry
http://www.understandconstruction.com/load-bearing-masonry-construction.html

http://www.constructionknowledge.net/masonry/masonry_masonry.php

https://www.scribd.com/doc/212715823/Introduction-to-Masonry-Structures