Performance Evaluation Testing of Masonry Materials and Assemblages Towards the Harmonization of Canada-U.S. Masonry Structures Design Standards

加拿大的砖石工业每年为经济活动贡献10亿加元，直接雇用数千名熟练工人、承包商、制造商和工程师，更多的人受雇于分拆公司和必要的供应链。 然而，加拿大和美国在砌体材料、设计和施工方法上的差距越来越大，这影响了加拿大的工业，因此，加拿大砌体结构设计中心和美国国家混凝土砌体结构协会致力于协调砌体结构的设计要求，标准CSA S304-砌体结构设计和美国规范TMS 402-砌体结构建筑规范要求和规范。 虽然这两个规范之间的一些差异是孤立的，所以相当具体，其他的，如每个已被校准的结构安全的方法是内在的，使得两个规范之间的比较，而不进行彻底的分析是困难的。 这两个组织之间的初步会议确定了需要实现下列研究目标：（1）对采用两种规范设计的细长混凝土砌块墙进行对比分析，（2）根据CSA S304和ASTM C1314规范的要求评估砌体棱柱体的抗压强度，以及（3）检查有效翼缘宽度，用于分析使用ASTM C90砌块建造的部分灌浆和钢筋砌体墙，这些砌体墙承受轴向荷载和弯曲。和2个硕士学生在加拿大的战略和经济重要性的领域。

The masonry industry in Canada contributes $1 billion annually towards economic activity, and employs thousands of skilled laborers, contractors, manufacturers, and engineers directly, with many more employed by spin-off companies and within the necessary supply chain. However, the increasing gap in materials, design, and construction methods for masonry as are being used in Canada and the U.S. is affecting the Canadian industry, and potentially holding back synergies and cost savings that may otherwise be available.The Canadian Masonry Design Centre and the National Concrete Masonry Association in the U.S. have therefore committed to harmonizing design requirements for masonry as are included in Canadian Standard CSA S304 - Design of Masonry Structures and U.S. code TMS 402 - Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures. While some differences between these two codes are isolated and so quite specific, others, such as the method by which each has been calibrated for structural safety are intrinsic, and makes a comparison between the two codes difficult without conducting a thorough analysis. Initial meetings between the two organizations have identified the need for the following research objectives to be achieved: (1) to conduct a comparative analysis of slender concrete block wall designs resulting from use of the two codes, (2) to evaluate the compressive strength of masonry prisms based on the requirements of CSA S304 and ASTM C1314 specifications, and (3) to examine the effective flange width to be used for the analysis of partially grouted and reinforced masonry walls constructed with ASTM C90 blocks that are subject to combined axial load and bending.In total, training will be provided to 1 Ph.D. and 2 M.Sc. students in an area of strategic and economic importance to Canada.