--- title: "Uses and scope of masonry structures" subject: "Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure" chapter: 7 key: "semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure:masonry-uses-scope" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/masonry-uses-scope site: BCT Engineering --- # Uses and scope of masonry structures Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure · Chapter 7: Introduction to masonry structures - Asked in: 2079 Baisakh, 4 marks; 2078 Bhadra, 2 marks; 2076 Ashwin, 6 marks; 2075 Ashwin, 3 marks; 2071 Chaitra, 6 marks (asked 5 times) - Video: [The Rules of Masonry Design - Insights from a Structural Engineer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqmn-LSIrEE) — Brendan Hasty - Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5 on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/masonry-uses-scope - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/chapter-7 ## Question Explain the uses (scope and importance) of masonry structures, with neat sketches where needed. ## Short answer Masonry is used for load-bearing walls (up to 3 storeys), RC frame infill, foundations, arches, and boundary walls. It uses local materials, provides fire resistance and thermal insulation, and needs low maintenance, but has low tensile strength and requires reinforcement for seismic safety. ## Answer Masonry is the construction of units (clay brick, stone, concrete or hollow block, compressed earth block) bound by mortar. It is the oldest and the most widely used building system in Nepal and South Asia, especially for low and medium-rise buildings. #### Uses 1. **Load-bearing walls** in houses, schools and hospitals (up to 2 to 3 storeys in Nepal, NBC 202 and NBC 109), which carry floor and roof loads to the foundation. 2. **Infill and partition walls** in RC frames, for enclosure, privacy, and sound and fire separation. 3. **Foundations, plinth and retaining walls**, boundary walls, parapets and compound walls. 4. **Special structures:** arches, domes, chimneys, culverts, bridge piers and abutments, dams, water tanks and monuments. 5. **Cladding and finishing:** exposed brick facades and flooring. #### Importance and advantages - Locally available and cheap materials; labour with simple tools; easy to learn. - Good fire resistance, thermal and sound insulation, and durability. - Walls serve as structure, enclosure and insulation at once. - Good compressive strength, pleasing appearance, and low maintenance. - Materials can be reused, and the carbon footprint is lower than that of concrete. #### Limitations Masonry has low tensile and shear strength, heavy self-weight, and brittle failure in earthquakes (the 2015 Gorkha earthquake showed the damage to un-reinforced masonry in mud mortar). Hence reinforced and confined masonry with bands (NBC 105 and NBC 202) and sound design to IS 1905 are used. ```text ======== roof slab ======== | | | | | load path: | brick wall | roof -> wall | | | | | -> footing -> soil ---+---+---+---+---+--- [ footing ] ///////////////////// ``` ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which is a use of masonry? A. Load-bearing walls up to 2 to 3 storeys, infill and partition walls, foundations, arches, chimneys, dams B. Only decorative cladding C. Only temporary shuttering D. Only steel bridges Answer: A. Masonry serves in structural, enclosing and special structures. (Key point: Uses of masonry) 2. Which is an advantage of masonry? A. Light self-weight B. High tensile strength C. Local cheap materials, good fire and thermal/sound insulation, serving as structure, enclosure and insulation at once D. Ductile failure in earthquakes Answer: C. Masonry is heavy and brittle; its strengths are cost, insulation and durability. (Key point: Importance of masonry) 3. What is the main limitation of masonry? A. Very poor fire resistance B. Low tensile and shear strength and brittle failure in earthquakes, so reinforced or confined masonry with bands is used C. No compressive strength D. Very high carbon footprint compared to concrete Answer: B. The 2015 Gorkha earthquake showed damage to un-reinforced mud-mortar masonry. (Key point: Limitations of masonry) ## Related in Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure - [Advantages of masonry structures](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Amasonry-advantages) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7 - [In-plane and out-of-plane behaviour of masonry](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Ain-plane-out-of-plane-behaviour) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 9, asked 9× - [Brick masonry infill walls in RC frames](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Amasonry-infill-walls) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7, asked 3× - [Typical damage in masonry under lateral loads](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Atypical-damage-lateral-loads) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 9, asked 2× - [Use of masonry; English and Flemish bond](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Amasonry-use-english-flemish) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7 - [Elements resisting lateral loads in masonry](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Alateral-load-resisting-elements) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 9, asked 6× ## Related in other subjects - [Drop structures: need and types with sketches](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Adrop-structures-types-sketch) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 7, asked 6× - [Types of bands in masonry structures](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Abands-masonry) — Building Technology, chapter 11 - [Types of cross drainage works with sketches](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Acd-works-types-definition-sketches) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 8, asked 9× - [Importance of ductile detailing, sketches](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fdesign_of_rcc_structure%3Aimportance-of-ductile-detailing-sketches) — Design of RCC Structure, chapter 12