Summary of Article by Hendry (2001)

Summary of Article by Hendry (2001)

The article by Hendry (2001) reviews the present-day construction of the masonry wall. It focuses on materials and construction techniques. Evaluating the strengths and applications of masonry construction, mortar, and masonry units, structural and non-structural design factors, and construction of masonry walls. The authors observe that during the past few decades, there has been a significant change in the construction of masonry walls owing to the widespread application and introduction of lightweight materials and novel types of units (Hendry, 2001). The principal aim of these changes concerns the demand to improve thermal lagging and the higher rate of construction while taking care to retain the positive features of the building, in terms of robustness, durability, flexibility of use, and appearance. From the review, the principal observation or conclusion is that the application of masonry construction faces a continued great future on the condition that there is the achievement of the economy relative to the alternative materials.

Hendry (2001) observes that in the 20th Century, increasing focus on concrete and steel displaced masonry in many applications. Nevertheless, artistry has remained highly valuable, particularly in the cases of load-bearing walls in buildings that rise to low and medium heights. It is also exceedingly important in the construction of internal walls and the cladding of buildings when emerging materials serve the structural function. In all sectors – housing and non-housing (including educational, industrial, and commercial buildings, as well as recreational and administrative use buildings, Hendry (2001) notes that a significant demand for masonry remains, particularly in the maintenance and repair of existing buildings. A fundamental basis for this continued demand relates to the advantage that a single element of masonry wall construction has the potential to meet different functions, including protection from fire, enhancement of building structure, the sub-division of space and insulation against heat and sound. The materials of masonry have the capacity and properties to fulfill these functions, with the need to supplement them only rarely to achieve damp-proofing and insulation.

Traditionally, the materials for masonry include concrete, clay, and calcium silicate. These materials have featured a wide variety of forms, sizes per unit, and colors. Mortars have traditionally combined sand and cement, with the addition of a plasticizer or lime to improve workability. Nonetheless, Hendry (2001) notes that in recent years, novel kinds of mortars have emerged, such as thin-bed mortars, for applications that can enable the building of units with accurate dimensions and mortars with enhanced thermal qualities.

Some of the criticisms of masonry wall construction are that buildings take long to complete and that it is hard to fetch the relevant and adequate labor (owing to poor conditions of work). Nonetheless, Hendry (2001) notes the application of increasingly innovative techniques and models to overcome these challenges. These include the use of prefabricated columns of brickwork instead of walls and a model of the automated laying of bricks on site. The automated system laying bricks involves the setting of up to 11 hollow blocks from one end to the other on a staging table before lifting them at the same time by crane and a clamping device onto a pre-laid bed of mortar. These innovations demonstrate the modernization of masonry construction, which promises to address its criticisms and challenges. These innovative techniques guarantee the achievement of the economy in comparison with alternative, emerging materials, and hence promote an excellent future for masonry construction.

Reference

Hendry, E. (2001). Masonry walls: materials and construction. Construction and Building Materials 15: 323-330.