Preface

Bricks are some of the first building materials and masonry has been the base of construction for thousands of years. Bricks have been a staple in human construction for eons. Initially, people around the Nile, the Tiber, and the Euphrates utilized mud brick. Humankind employed the first burned bricks similarly to other finishing materials. The Great Wall of China, at 8851.8 kilometers in length, is the most extended artificial structure in the world. It was constructed in the third century BC and built with two brick walls and a stone base. Every two hundred meters along the wall, a watchtower was built. Six meters separate the brick walls at the bottom of the building, but they draw together for an extra half a meter of stability at the top. As a result, there is a strong layer of clay between the walls.

Bricks can be laid in irregular or front patterns and the bricklaying technique selected determines the long-term stability, dependability, and longevity of the building or structure. Because of its characteristics, brick serves as a structural and serial element. The aesthetic value of bricks has traditionally been recognized as one of their distinguishing features. Brick was used as a building material and a face material, giving rise to iconic pictures of cities worldwide; its aesthetic potential has yet to be fully realized. Moreover, this material's employment in building cladding was often determined by pragmatic concerns like cost-effectiveness and utility, leaving little room for innovative design. Brick veneer may be used in various configurations and styles to give structures their distinctive appearance.

Masonry is a type of construction in which the walls of a system serve as the primary structural element, and the masonry units are placed to provide structural support and load-carrying. Masonry is a time-tested and universal building material that has been utilized for decades or even centuries all over the globe. The material is eco-friendly since it can be recycled and reused when construction is complete. Masonry's resilience and durability are two of its most notable benefits. Masonry buildings are resilient and long-lasting, withstanding the wrath of Mother Nature even in the face of hurricanes, typhoons, and other extreme weather events. In addition, the long-term cost of maintaining a masonry structure can be decreased by its resistance to rot, vermin, and fire.

Bricks, concrete blocks, ceramic blocks, and other materials laid in a horizontal line make up what is meant by "one line" of masonry. A brick wall is a single-layer construction that consists of several courses of brickwork laid vertically. Masonry veneers are another name for single-layer, non-structural brick walls. By reinforcing and grouting a row of masonry to create lintels, sills, and ring beams, masonry walls may be made into more robust structural components. The search for new visual solutions and the development of new types of aesthetic options for architectural solutions is the issue currently facing wall ceramics, thanks to the expansion of civil engineering and developers' desire for individuality, expressiveness, and aesthetic diversity.

The term "masonry engineering" describes the practice of employing masonry materials, such as clay bricks, load-bearing clay hollow bricks, autoclaved lime-sand bricks, fly ash bricks, a wide variety of tiny and medium-sized blocks, and stone, in building construction. The construction materials might include bricks, stones, blocks, lightweight wall panels, and other materials. Masonry materials include stone or concrete blocks set in mortar. Mortar acts as a binding substance to bond the blocks together to support loads of daily use and other stresses placed on the building. It is important to consider both the masonry's location and the surrounding environment when choosing the type and grade of cement to use in the mortar. It is essential to verify the glue's strength and stability before using it. Batches used for inspection must be produced by the same company and have the same serial number. Masonry and stone masonry are the two most common kinds of masonry. Masonry executed using bricks is called "brick masonry." Cement masonry is the most cost-effective, whereas "clay work" utilizes clay to fill the seams between bricks in a wall. Masonry refers to construction with natural materials such as bricks or stone. Masonry's strength is measured by how well it bears the weight of the structure above it. Internal strains and deformations are produced when loads are applied to masonry. The strength of masonry varies depending on factors such as the kind of mortar and brick used, the size and form of the masonry elements, and the width and density of the mortar joints. Stability refers to masonry's capacity to remain in place when subjected to a horizontal load. Because of this quality, the maximum height of a masonry building is constrained by the material's thickness and the wind's force. Bricks of various materials (silicate, ceramic, face, refractory) are assessed for their heat conductivity. The thermal conductivity coefficients of refractory bricks are shown for a range of temperatures, from 20°C to 1700°C, allowing for a comparison of the bricks' thermal properties.

Masonry is the most common material used in the construction industry, which includes many other subfields. Rectangular pieces of burned clay, known as masonry, are used to construct buildings and walls. These days, eco-masonry may be crafted from a wide range of resources, such as recycled plastic bottles, clay, and so on, each of which has unique advantages.

This book takes a comprehensive look at contemporary masonry use in building. Masonry is interpreted in this book as a central theme of modern architecture and green buildings. As a substance, it ranks among the highest in human history for its value. Masonry is a sustainable building material used for centuries in construction. Its construction utilizes plentiful and recyclable resources, including clay, sand, and stone. Masonry is an adaptable building material because it may be used to construct either load-bearing or non-load-bearing walls. Several masonry constructions have survived for centuries. As a result, there will be less of a need for constant upkeep and repairs, which is great for the environment and for saving money. As masonry walls have a large thermal mass, they are effective in keeping the interior of a structure at a comfortable temperature. This is why it is cheaper to heat and cool brick structures than other types of structures and thus bricks are better for the environment. As masonry is permeable to water, it can lessen the likelihood of flooding and protect against damage caused by water. For this reason, masonry constructions are more resistant to hurricanes and tornadoes. Masonry's great fire resistance and inability to catch fire mean it may be used to keep flames from spreading and protect people

**V**

inside buildings. Masonry may be recycled when a building's useful life is up, cutting down on landfill trash and saving valuable materials. Masonry is an environmentally friendly option that may help construct sturdy and long-lasting structures. Its application in building aids conservation, waste reduction, energy efficiency, and

Department of Construction Engineering and Lighting Science,

Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences Construction Technology,

Faculty of Health, Natural Sciences, and Technology,

**Amjad Almusaed**

**Asaad Almssad**

Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden

Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden

resistance to natural calamities.

inside buildings. Masonry may be recycled when a building's useful life is up, cutting down on landfill trash and saving valuable materials. Masonry is an environmentally friendly option that may help construct sturdy and long-lasting structures. Its application in building aids conservation, waste reduction, energy efficiency, and resistance to natural calamities.

## **Amjad Almusaed**

Department of Construction Engineering and Lighting Science, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden

## **Asaad Almssad**

Faculty of Health, Natural Sciences, and Technology, Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences Construction Technology, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden

**1**

Section 1

Masonry in the Construction

Process

Section 1
