Masonry Design Hand Book Suggestions

[Jacst3]

I'm in need of a good masonry design handbook that covers design of walls for both gravity and lateral loads from wind, soil, etc.

Any suggestions for a text book that has ample examples and covers code compliance, control joints, horizontal reinforcement, construction issues etc.

I was thinking of this text: "Simplified Design of Masonry Structures" (Parker/Ambrose Series of Simplified Design Guides) any comments?

Thanks !

 

[ash060]

The Reinforced Masonry Engineering Handbook - By Amrhein

In my opinion one of the best out there.

 

[Jacst3]

Thanks ash060! I reviewed a bit online about Amrhein's book and it seems very comprehensive. I notice that the copyright is 1998 - is this the latest version?

Would there be some discrepancies with today's code?

 

[ash060]

There is a sixth edition out there. I have the 5th edition and it is based on the UBC, but the theory is still very good and there are a lot of useful tables that are not code dependant.

 

[concretemasonry]

Jim Amrhein's book is a leader in the concepts of masonry design, but some of his concepts were not included due to several reasons. It is heavily influenced by the west coast seismic concepts (he worked for a California group/association) of the era that are not practical in other areas, but the engineering is sound.

Some of his concepts were "don't count on what you cannot see", "don't arbitrarily fill all cores since it provides little additional strength, but changes the properties of the structure away from the design assumptions".

There will be no new version since Jim has passed away.

Keep in mind that any mention to codes are very fluid since codes can change at any time or at any location. The requirements can easily be altered based on good engineering.

An additional resource is the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) at ncma.org. The have many available testing program results, resources including over 100 TEK Notes on all subjects. Just go to the web site and sign in using a location and any producer name to gain access. All of the technical documents are prpared by the engineering staff that is active in all masonry groups plus TMS, ASTM, ACI, and the building codes. The also have a very substantial laboratory that does confidential testing for the government, private companies and general industry testing to document the TEK Notes. Some of the results are confidential, but the staff has been exposed to a great deal of additional general knowledge.

Dick

Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.

 

[PUEngineer]

Agree with concretemasonry. I believe TMS has a Masonry Designers' Guide that's good and has lots of worked examples and is up to date code wise.

Also, Taly's book Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures works.

 

[RFreund]

If you want a code orientated book then the Masonry Designers Guide (MDG) by the masonry society is very good. It references ACI530 or more commonly known as MSJC. I just contacted the Masonry Society the other day as I also was looking for a good reference.
The MSJC-11 is out now and they said they are hoping to release the MDG (7th Edition I believe) early next year.
Having said that I always see suggestions for Amrhein text.

EIT

 

[Jacst3]

Thanks everyone - I really appriciate it.

I've been using Mil Spec: Army TM 5-809-3 / Navy NAVFAC DM-2.9 / Air Force AFM 88-3, Chap. 3 and wanted another reference.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Personally, I don't think there is a single Masonry book which outshines the others. Not like the Breyer's book for wood design.

Amrhein's book is great, and it used to be the shining star. But I don't think it is really all that up to date anymore. I encourage you to have it as a reference, but not as your main reference.

I also use the following:
1) Design of Reinforced Masonry Strufctures by Narendra Tally. Though this is probably a bit more academic than other books.

2) The Masonry Society publishes something called the Masonry Designers Guide (MDG for short) which should be up to date.

3) The CMACN (Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada) used to publish a manual related to design of masonry for the 1997 UBC. That was a pretty good book and had a bit more of a seismic emphasis than others. My guess is that they have updated it for IBC or ACI 530, but I don't know for sure.

 

[dik]

I still have mine... first edition, first printing, 1972... is still good...

Glanville's 'Engineered Masonry Design' and Drysdale's 'Masonry Structures - Behaviour and Design' are both excellent... but, Canadian Code related...

Dik

 

[Hokie93]

The 6th edition of the Reinforced Masonry Engineering Handbook is available from the Masonry Institute of America. I purchased a copy earlier this year. The book has been updated to conform with IBC 2006, ASCE 7-05, and ACI 530-05. Max Porter is now a co-author.

The Narendra Taly textbook (Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures, 2nd edition) is also good. Be aware however that it is primarily discusses strength design as far as the code provisions and in the example problems. So if you are a fan of allowable stress design for masonry, you might want to find another reference.

 

[msquared48]

I have the Third Edition (1978) with four pages of erratta. If you get ahold of an edition, make sure it has an errata sheet. If not, contact the Masonry Institute in your state to see if thay can provide you with one.

I wouldn't ever use anything else for Masonry but Amrhein. It's the bible for masonry as far as I am concerned.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[dik]

Mike... mine has about a half a page...

Dik

 

[JAE]

concretemasonry - I think you are incorrect with your statement: "There will be no new version since Jim has passed away.". Dr. Max Porter at Iowa State just re-updated and edited a new version and it is on sale now.

Find it here: The RMEH at the Masonry Institute of America

Also there is the Masonry Designers Guide found HERE

 

[RFreund]

Now you guys really have me stuck.
I'm going to wait for the MDG-7 but I'd like to purchase either Taly's text or the 6th edition of the Reinforced Masonry Engineering Handbook but I'm not sure which!
Any votes for either?

EIT

 

[JAE]

The RHEH is pretty practical. I've not seen the MDG.