Factors Affecting the Performance of Brick Veneer Construction

The first topic focused on in this report is the height restriction imposed by the masonry standard for brick veneer on wood frame backing. The current US standard (ACI 530-05/ASCE 5-05/TMS 402-05 Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures) does not allow brick veneer to extend more than thirty feet above the foundation when supported by wood framing. These prescriptive requirements are compared with those of the Canadian (CSA 304.1-04) and Australian (AS 3700-2001) masonry standards. The logic found for this height restriction is based on the vertical differential movement caused by moisture and thermal expansion of the brick veneer and moisture loss shrinkage of the wood framing. Structural analysis found that shrinkage of the wood framing primarily contributed to this vertical movement. Replacing sawn lumber framing with engineered lumber can result in significantly less shrinkage, therefore allowing for an increase in allowable height. In addition, this paper recommends extending the allowable height when the veneer is supported by shelf angles at each floor height or when the framing is stiffened against horizontal movement with appropriate sheathing. The second topic considered is the requirement for horizontal wire joint reinforcement for brick veneer in Seismic Design Categories E and F according to IBC 2003. Previous research at other institutions has been investigated. Structural analyses for out-of-plane and in-plane loading demonstrate the theoretical capacity of the brick veneer without wire reinforcement compared to applicable loads. Next, an experimental program was designed to determine if the wire joint reinforcement was detrimental, beneficial, or had no effect on the performance of the wall system. First, quasi-static out-of-plane tests were performed on specimens with wood frame backing. These first tests compared the performance of the wall system with and without the joint reinforcement, as well as the ductility of the two systems when subjected to out-of-plane loading after the formation of diagonal shear cracking. Second, diagonal shear tests were performed on brick panels. These compared the performance of the brick veneer in diagonal shear with and without the joint reinforcement. Finally, flexural bond strength tests were performed. The variables considered in these tests included: the performance or absence of wire joint reinforcement, the type of mortar, the presence or absence of wall ties, and the type of wall tie used. Previous research conducted at other institutions has indicated that joint reinforcement is either unnecessary or detrimental to the performance of the wall system. The structural analyses performed in this investigation found that the brick veneer theoretically has the capacity to withstand applicable seismic loadings. In the experimental portion of this investigation, the wire did not appear to have any effect on the performance of this wall system. The walls typically failed due to the nail connecting the corrugated sheet metal tie to the wood framing pulling out. This investigation concluded that further research is needed on additional backup and connecting systems

Performance of masonry buildings and churches in the 22 february 2011 christchurch earthquake

As part of the „Project Masonry‟ Recovery Project funded by the New Zealand Natural Hazards Research Platform, commencing in March 2011, an international team of researchers was deployed to document and interpret the observed earthquake damage to masonry buildings and to churches as a result of the 22nd February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The study focused on investigating commonly encountered failure patterns and collapse mechanisms. A brief summary of activities undertaken is presented, detailing the observations that were made on the performance of and the deficiencies that contributed to the damage to approximately 650 inspected unreinforced clay brick masonry (URM) buildings, to 90 unreinforced stone masonry buildings, to 342 reinforced concrete masonry (RCM) buildings, to 112 churches in the Canterbury region, and to just under 1100 residential dwellings having external masonry veneer cladding. In addition, details are provided of retrofit techniques that were implemented within relevant Christchurch URM buildings prior to the 22nd February earthquake and brief suggestions are provided regarding appropriate seismic retrofit and remediation techniques for stone masonry buildings.The authors acknowledge the financial support for Project Masonry from the New Zealand Natural Hazards Research Platform. The testing of adhesive anchors was undertaken in conjunction with the RAPID grant CMMI-1138614 from the US National Science Foundation. The investigation of the performance of residential brick veneers was financially supported by Brickworks Building Products Australia

« The Reception of Roman Comedy in Early-Modern Italy and France »

International audienc

Native Italian drama and its influence on Plautus

No abstract available

« 20th and 21st Century Reception and Staging of Roman Comedy »

International audienc

16 - The Reception of Republican Comedy in Antiquity

The Cambridge Companion to Roman Comedy provides a comprehensive critical introduction to Roman comedy and its reception through more than twenty accessible and up-to-date chapters by leading international scholars. This book defines the fundamentals of Roman comedy by examining its literary and comic technique as well as its stagecraft and music, and then traces the genre's influence through the centuries. Roman comedy has served as a model for writers as well as artists ranging from Shakespeare to Molière and from Martin Luther to Cole Porter. Just as the Middle Ages spawned Christianised versions of Terence's comedies, in which harlots find God rather than a husband and young men become martyrs rather than never-do-well lovers, the twentieth century has also given us its take on Roman comedy with Stephen Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and numerous modern versions of Plautus' Amphitryon