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

加拿大的砖石行业每年为经济活动贡献10亿美元，直接雇用数千名熟练工人、承包商、制造商和工程师，更多的人受雇于剥离出来的公司和必要的供应链。然而，加拿大和美国在砌体材料、设计和施工方法方面的差距越来越大，正在影响加拿大的行业，并可能阻碍原本可以获得的协同效应和成本节约。因此，加拿大砖石设计中心和美国国家混凝土砌块协会已承诺协调对砖石结构的设计要求，加拿大标准CSA S304-砖石结构设计和美国法规TMS 402-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，因此非常具体，但另一些差异，如各自针对结构安全进行校准的方法是固有的，因此在没有进行彻底分析的情况下，很难对两个规范进行比较。两个组织之间的初步会议确定了需要实现以下研究目标：(1)对使用这两个规范所产生的混凝土细长砌块墙设计进行比较分析；(2)根据CSA S304和ASTM C1314规范的要求评估砌块棱柱的抗压强度；(3)研究用于分析用ASTM C90砌块建造的部分灌浆和配筋的砖墙的有效翼缘宽度，这些墙承受轴向荷载和弯曲的联合作用。总共将为1名博士和2名硕士提供培训。学生在一个对加拿大具有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.