Masonry Design and Construction

Explore the foundational principles and advanced practices of "Masonry Design and Construction" in this comprehensive course, guided by expert structural engineer Sam Rubenser.

This course is intended to assist design professionals with properly utilizing masonry in their next project. The course discusses all aspects of masonry design and construction: masonry codes, guidelines, materials, products, design, construction, software and sustainability.

You will learn to leverage the inherent strengths of masonry, moving beyond conservative minimums to embrace data-driven design.

Key learning outcomes include:

• Understanding critical codes, guidelines, and diverse resources for masonry design, including the nuances of TMS 402/602 and relevant ASTM standards.
• Gaining in-depth knowledge of masonry materials—block (concrete and clay), mortar, grout, and reinforcement—and their impact on overall assembly strength (f'm).
• Mastering strength design provisions for masonry, drawing parallels with concrete design for a more intuitive and efficient approach.
• Optimizing masonry elements like walls, columns, and particularly lintels, by understanding load distribution, arching action, and the strategic placement of movement joints.
• Exploring connections to masonry, from embed and bearing plates to hybrid frames, and detailing strategies that enhance both performance and constructability.
• Discovering innovative structural masonry solutions, including prefabrication, advanced materials, and modern construction techniques that promote sustainability and efficiency.
• Utilizing software effectively for masonry design, distinguishing between component and finite element analysis, and interpreting results for optimal solutions.

Join us to transform your approach to masonry, designing structures that are not only robust and visually appealing but also embody the principles of responsible, cutting-edge engineering.