What Is Composite Masonry?
Composite masonry is the one that is constructed out of two or more types of building units or of different types of building materials, often referred to as composite walls.
Composite Masonry: When composite walls are constructed with two or more types of building materials, including composite brick, it is termed as composite masonry construction.
The composite masonry may be adopted due to two reasons:
i) Improvement in the appearance of walls, etc.,
ii) Use of available materials, to obtain optimum economy.
Types of composite masonry may be of the following types:
Type of Composite Masonry
- Composite wall construction in Stone-Composite Masonry.
- Composite brick in Brick Stone Composite Masonry.
- Brick-Backed Ashlar Masonry.
- Brick-Backed Stone Slab Masonry.
- Brick-Backed Brick Masonry.
- Cement Concrete Masonry.
- Hollow Clay Tile Masonry.
- Reinforced Brick Masonry.
- Glass Block Masonry.
Stone-Composite Masonry
Composite stone masonry generally consists of a combination of ashlar masonry and rubble masonry. Rubble masonry is generally very cheap, while ashlar masonry gives a pleasing appearance.
Hence rubble masonry is used in the backing of the wall while the ashlar masonry is used in the facing, as shown in the above Figure. In order for both the facing and backing of the wall to act monolithically, it is essential to observe the utmost care during construction.
The following points should be specifically attended to :
- Through stones should be used at regular intervals and insufficient numbers.
- The backing and facing portions should be- constructed in rich cement mortar.
- Construction of both the backing and facing should be carried out simultaneously so that- proper bond is obtained.
- If necessary, metal cramps, dowels, lead plugs, etc. should be provided between facing and backing.
Brick Stone Composite Masonry
Bricks and Stone can be simultaneously used in three forms of composite masonry:
- Brick-Backed Ashlar Masonry.
- Brick-Backed Stone Slab Masonry.
- Brick-Backed Brick Masonry.
1. Brick-Backed Ashlar Masonry
Shows brick-backed ashlar masonry. The ashlar may be rough tooled. It is preferable to use the height of ashlar as a multiple of brick thickness plus masonry joints so that coursed masonry is obtained.
Cement mortar should be used for construction. Bricks should be laid in proper bond. Alternate courses of ashlar may be headers. Under each projecting course of ashlar, header bricks should be used.
2. Brick-Backed Stone Slab Masonry
Shows the facing of stone tiles. The backing consists of laid in courses with proper bound. This type of construction is quite common, since stone tiles may be of marble stone.
If stone slabs are used, they are finely dressed and are used in big panels. It is preferable to use metal clamps to connect the facing and backing masonry of the wall.
3. Brick-Backed Brick Masonry
Shows a rubble-backed brick masonry. It is commonly used at locations where rubble stone is available in large qualities, but ashlar is not available. In that case, the facing of the wall may be done in bricks laid in courses. Each alternate brick course consists of a quoin header.
Cement Concrete Masonry
Concrete masonry or cement masonry uses cement concrete blocks, either hollow or solid, for wall construction, with or without stone facing. A hollow unit is defined as that unit that has a core-void area greater than 25% of the gross area.
Hollow Clay Tile Masonry
I came across this textured wall the other day in my stroll around the city and I had to laugh. It is pretty much the architectural equivalent of walking around with your slip showing. What you see here is hollow clay tile, sometimes known as structural clay tile the precursor to concrete block.
Hollow clay tile was developed in the late nineteenth century as a fireproof technology for building partitions or structural slabs. It was a bit of a misnomer in that it was not a thin tile.
Instead, it was a structural block made of porous terra cotta that was molded into squares or rectangles for walls and floors, or other shapes to encase steel columns or beams. Each block has hollow cells inside that deaden sound, provide insulation, and keep bugs and rodents out of the wall.
This sheet from the Henry Maurer & Sons catalog dates to about 1898 shows you common sizes and cell arrangements of hollow clay tiles.
Reinforced Brick Masonry
Reinforcement brick masonry is analogous. The same deformed steel reinforcing bars used in concrete are placed is to reinforcement concrete construction thickened collar joints to strengthen a brick wall or lintel.
A reinforced brick wall (Show in the figure) is created by constructing two wythes of brick 2 to 4 inches (50-100 mm) apart, placing the reinforcing steel in the cavity, and filling the cavity with grout.
Grout is a mixture of portland cement, aggregate, and water. ASTM 0476 specifies the proportions and qualities of grout for use in filling masonry loadbearing walls. It is important that grout be fluid enough to flow readily into the narrow cavity and fill it completely.
The excess water in the grout that is required to achieve this fluidity is quickly absorbed by the bricks and does not detract from the eventual strength of the grout, as it would from concrete poured into formwork.
There are two methods for grout-ing reinforced brick walls:
- Low Lift
- High Lift
1. Low Lift
In low-lift grouting the masonry is constructed to a height not greater than 4 feet (1200 mm) before grouting, taking care to keep the cavity free of mortar squeeze-out and droppings, which might interfere with the placement of the reinforcing and grout.
The vertical reinforcing bars are inserted into the cavity and are left projecting at least 30 bar diameters above the top of the brick-work to transfer their loads to the steel in the next lift.
The cavity is then filled with grout to within PA inches (38 mm) of the top, and the process is repeated for the next lift.
2. High Lift
In high lift grouting, the wall has grouted a story at a time. The cleanliness of the cavity is ensured by temporarily omitting some of the bricks to create cleanout holes.
As the bricklaying progresses, the cavity is flushed periodically from above with water to drive debris down and out through the cleanouts.
To resist the hydrostatic pressure of the wet grout. the wythes are held together by galvanized steel wire lies laid into the bed joints and across the cavity, usually at intervals of 24 inches (600 mm) horizontally and 16 inches (400 mm) vertically.
After the dean out have been filled with bricks and the mortar has cured for at least 3 days, the reinforcing bars are placed and grout is pumped into the die cavity from above in increments not more than 4 feet (1200 mm) high.
To minimize pressure on the brickwork, each increment is allowed to harden for an hour or so before the next increment is poured above it.
Glass Block Masonry
Glass block, a form of composite masonry construction, has become a fairly widespread construction material. As with concrete block, glass block are currently limited to square and rectangular blocks.
This limits the architectural applications of glass block to straight vertical walls and square corners. Glass block is manufactured by first forming two pieces of glass, and then joining them while the glass is still warm enough to be moveable (at around 800 degrees F).
The two pieces are pinched together in a two-piece mold and allowed to anneal or cool slowly to reduce thermal stresses and obtain a thermally stable object. If the hot glass is not properly annealed, it will crack some time after it is removed from heat.
FAQs about Composite Masonry Construction
What is composite masonry?
Composite masonry refers to the construction of walls or structures using two or more different types of building materials, such as bricks, stones, concrete blocks, or glass blocks, combined to achieve specific aesthetic or functional goals.
Why use composite masonry?
Composite masonry is employed to enhance the appearance of walls, utilize locally available materials economically, or improve structural performance by combining different material strengths.
What are the types of composite masonry?
Composite masonry can take various forms, including brick-backed ashlar masonry, brick-backed stone slab masonry, reinforced brick masonry, hollow clay tile masonry, and glass block masonry, each utilizing different combinations of materials for specific purposes.
How is composite stone masonry constructed?
Composite stone masonry typically involves combining rubble masonry for the backing with ashlar masonry for the facing to achieve both cost-effectiveness and aesthetic appeal. Careful construction techniques ensure monolithic performance.
What is reinforced brick masonry?
Reinforced brick masonry incorporates steel reinforcement within the brickwork to enhance structural strength, similar to reinforced concrete. This technique involves placing reinforcing bars and grouting the cavity between brick wythes to increase load-bearing capacity.
What are the advantages of hollow clay tile masonry?
Hollow clay tile masonry offers benefits such as fire resistance, sound insulation, and pest prevention due to its porous terra cotta composition. It was historically used for partitions and structural slabs.
How are glass blocks used in masonry construction?
Glass block masonry involves using square or rectangular glass blocks, joined during manufacturing to create walls with unique aesthetic qualities. They are primarily used for vertical walls and offer limited architectural flexibility due to their shape.
Which composite masonry type is best for aesthetic purposes?
Brick-backed stone slab masonry and glass block masonry are often preferred for their visual appeal, offering options for creating textured or transparent walls that enhance architectural design.
What considerations are important when choosing composite masonry?
When selecting composite masonry, factors such as local material availability, desired aesthetics, structural requirements, and climate conditions should be carefully evaluated to ensure the chosen construction method meets all project specifications.
