Items Tagged with: Div04

Architectural concrete unit masonry is used as an architectural finish for interior and exterior walls, partitions, terrace walls, and other enclosures. Decorative CMU with textures, patterns, or other special finishes may be chosen for aesthetic attributes. Some units are available with the same treatment or pattern on both faces, to serve as both exterior and interior finish wall material.

Concrete unit masonry is a form of masonry which uses prefabricated concrete blocks, including hollow or solid architectural concrete masonry units (CMU). To be considered solid, units must be at least 75 percent solid. Hollow concrete units are preferred because of the reduced weight, easier handling, and lower cost.Concrete masonry units are made from hydraulic cement, water, and mineral aggregates with or without the inclusion of other materials. CMU are molded using a relatively dry mix of cement and aggregates; they are compacted and consolidated using low-frequency, high-amplitude vibration, and then cured under controlled temperature and humidity. These units are suitable for both loadbearing and non-loadbearing applications.

Brick Masonry is one of the oldest known man-made building materials, dating back to around 8000 B.C. Modern clay face brick comes in numerous standard sizes, most in nominal 4" widths, with nominal lengths of 8" or 12", and heights ranging from 2" to 5-1/3". Actual dimensions are normally 3/8" less than the nominal size, which allows for the typical mortar joint thickness. The most common size, "modular brick," measures 3-5/8" wide by 2-1/4" high by 7-5/8" long. This modular dimension works so that three bricks match the height and two bricks match the length of a standard nominal 8" by 16" concrete block or concrete masonry unit (CMU).

Unit masonry, whether employing natural stone or manmade units, provides the designer with a broad variety of choices of materials, sizes, colors, and textures. Units may include solid or hollow clay brick, adobe, concrete block, glass block, structural clay facing tile, terra cotta, stone, or other special units. Masonry assemblies may be load-bearing or non-load-bearing, grouted or non-grouted, reinforced or non-reinforced, single- or multi-wythe. Whatever materials are used, the skill of the mason is key to a successful installation.

Masonry anchorage and reinforcing perform the critical function of adding strength to masonry, either by transferring forces to the structure or by directly contributing resistance to applied loads. These systems are usually concealed within the masonry and therefore must be selected to resist corrosion, which could lead to catastrophic failure. Replacement of materials built into or embedded in masonry work is a very expensive and disruptive process.