Ensuring the Durability of Masonry Cavity Wall Construction in a Changing Canadian Climate: Overview of a Transformative Industry-Driven Project at McGill University
Publication: ASCE Inspire 2023
ABSTRACT
In masonry cavity walls, the outer clay brick veneer experiences moisture/temperature-induced strains throughout its service life, while the concrete block backup, protected from temperature/moisture fluctuations by the building envelope, is prone to drying shrinkage. These long-term volume fluctuations, which may become more severe with climate change, cause differential movements between the veneer and backup and also cause distress in cavity walls and affect their durability if not properly accounted for in design. In Canada, masonry cavity wall designs rely on outdated experimental data that does not consider the interaction between mortar and masonry, while lacking substantial evidence from long-term field tests on modern structures. In this paper, preliminary results from a novel 2-step testing method for drying shrinkage on concrete masonry prisms are discussed. Future research includes moisture expansion tests on clay brick prisms, as well as mechanical tests on tie-masonry assemblies and wall-shelf angle assemblies.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
ASCE Inspire 2023
Pages: 176 - 184
History
Published online: Nov 14, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bricks
- Building materials
- Cavitation
- Clays
- Concrete
- Concrete blocks
- Construction (by type)
- Construction engineering
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Fluid dynamics
- Fluid mechanics
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydrologic engineering
- Laminating
- Masonry
- Materials engineering
- Materials processing
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Soil water
- Soils (by type)
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Walls
- Water and water resources
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