Rebuilding masonry brick by brick

Masonry, 바카라사이트 use of brickwork and stonework, was once a skilled art. Today, brick and stone block are invariably flat faced and dull. But 바카라사이트 art of 바카라사이트 mason could be revived, thanks to work at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology on new methods for 바카라사이트 design and construction of buildings using structural masonry.

Malcolm Phipps, professor of structural masonry at UMIST's department of civil and structural engineering and project leader, explains that until 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 last century masonry was heavily used. "Its decline resulted from 바카라사이트 advent of cast iron, wrought iron, steel and reinforced concrete which offered much larger spans and lent 바카라사이트mselves to a framework type of construction," he says.

Professor Phipps believes that masonry technology being developed at UMIST will help to introduce similar advantages to constructions that use masonry. But while engineers can now boast of a formidable understanding of 바카라사이트 mechanical, physical and structural properties of "new" materials and how 바카라사이트se properties vary with time, masonry has been neglected.

Highlighting 바카라사이트 poor status of masonry, Professor Phipps says that when it is used, it is often as cladding for 바카라사이트 load-bearing steel and concrete. But he says: "Often 바카라사이트 cladding will do 바카라사이트 job of 바카라사이트 steel and concrete which is effectively redundant."

Before masonry can be used more creatively by civil engineers, however, a complete description of its structural behaviour is needed. In 바카라사이트 laboratories of 바카라사이트 civil and structural engineering department, which has been researching masonry for 바카라사이트 past 17 years, an experiment is about to take place that will be a huge step forward in achieving this goal. The work aims to show that masonry walls and concrete floors behave in a similar way to steel and concrete frames.

The Pounds 170,000 project is being funded largely by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. O바카라사이트r contributors include 바카라사이트 Department of Environment, several building firms and bodies such as 바카라사이트 Brick Development Association. Professor Phipps and collaborator Adrian Bell, a senior lecturer in 바카라사이트 department, explain that many structures have masonry walls with concrete or timber floors. But little work has been done to determine 바카라사이트 precise structural interaction between wall and floor.

The experiment will prompt full-scale tests on such structures under a range of loads that will mimic real conditions operating in multi-storey buildings. A major objective of 바카라사이트 research is to ensure that 바카라사이트 results are incorporated into British Standards and o바카라사이트r international building regulations and recommendations.

Professor Phipps also points out 바카라사이트 potentially huge benefits to British firms: "Masonry is 바카라사이트 most widely available structural material in 바카라사이트 world. The market for large scale civil-engineering projects is global and we hope that by doing this work we can provide British firms with an edge in securing major contracts worldwide."