Composite Masonry: Research Needs

Composite masonry walls (walls built of brick and concrete masonry units bonded so as to exert common action under load) have been used for decades. Until recently, the only method of sizing composite masonry walls was an empirical one using ANSI A41.1 Now, with the completion of ACI-531, there is a rational method available. This standard is actually a concrete masonry standard, but it includes a chapter on composite masonry. The ASCE/ACI 530 Joint Committee on Masonry is currently developing a new design standard for masonry of all products, including composite masonry. This paper presents a short history of past research and gives suggestions for needed research in the area of composite masonry.