CES 5715 – Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures

Spring 2014
Lecture: T, Th 7th & 8th period, Weil 234

Instructor: H. R. (Trey) Hamilton III, P.E., Ph.D.

Office: Weil 475K
Phone: (352) 392-9537 x1509
Email: hrh@ce.ufl.edu
Office Hours: M, W 11am-noon and M 2-3pm

Prerequisite: CES 4702 or equivalent, we will make extensive use of MathCAD as well.

Required references:
• Course will be posted on the E-learning website for this course. Printed and bring to
class.
• Building Code Requirements and Commentary for Masonry Structures*
• Technical Notes on Brick Construction, Brick Industry Association, available online at
http://www.gobrick.com/Technical-Notes/Links-to-Technical-Notes (free)
• NCMA Tek Manual, National Concrete Masonry Association, available on-line at
http://www.ncma-br.org/e-tek.asp (free).
• 2010 Florida Building Code,
http://ecodes.biz/ecodes_support/free_resources/2010Florida/Building/10FL_Building.ht
ml available on line (free).
*To be ordered in bulk for the class (Price ~$70).

Reference Materials:
Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7-10), American
Society of Civil Engineers, New York, 1999 ISBN 0-7844-0445-3.
Masonry Structures: Behavior and Design, Drysdale, R. G., Hamid, H. H., Baker, L. R.,
The Masonry Society, Boulder, CO, 1999, ISBN 1-929081-01-4.
Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures, Taly, N., McGraw-Hill, New York, 2001,
ISBN 0-07-063366-5.

Course Description:
Properties, specifications, and construction requirements for structures incorporating clay brick,
concrete block, and mortar; analysis and design of masonry structures including a comprehensive
diaphragm/shearwall masonry structure design project.

Grading: Homework 10% Final grades: Final Score Letter Grade

2 Exams 70% ≥ 93% A
90%-92.99% A-
Term Project 20% 87%-89.99% B+
100% 83%-86.99% B
80%-82.99% B-
77%-79.99% C+
73%-76.99% C
70%-72.99% C-
60%-69.99% D
< 60% F

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Potential Topics: Columns and Pilasters
Introduction Shear Wall Design
Units Wind and Earthquake loads
Mortar Lateral Load Analysis – Diaphragm
Grout Stiffness
Masonry assemblies Lateral Load Analysis – Torsion and MO
Masonry in Compression and f’m UBC Tall Walls
Masonry Codes and Design Methodology Expansion and Control Joints
Flexure wall design Connection design and details
Bearing and flexure wall design Prestressed masonry
Lintel and beam design Strengthening existing masonry

Goals:
1. Understand the materials and construction methods involved in masonry construction and
their impact on the structural design.
2. Design components of reinforced masonry structures including walls, columns, lintels,
and beams
3. Analyze rigid and flexible diaphragm structure with shears walls.

Grades:
Undergraduate students, in order to graduate, must have an overall GPA and an upper-division
GPA of 2.0 or better (C or better). Note: a C- average is equivalent to a GPA of 1.67, and
therefore, it does not satisfy this graduation requirement. Graduate students, in order to graduate,
must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better (B or better). Note: a B- average is equivalent to a
GPA of 2.67, and therefore, it does not satisfy this graduation requirement. For more
information on grades and grading policies, please visit:
https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx
http://gradcatalog.ufl.edu/content.php?catoid=4&navoid=907#grades

Course Policies:
1. Exams –Exams will be given during the semester as indicated on the previous page.
2. Make-up exams – Make-up exams will only be given for unavoidable emergencies or
prior arrangement. Emergencies, among other things, do not include job interviews,
nonrefundable airplane tickets purchased, etc.
3. Homework – Homework is to be completed in MathCAD and submitted electronically
through E-learning. Homework must conform to the format included in the syllabus and
example MathCAD file posted on Elearning in Resources. Assignments will not
necessarily coincide with class schedule so you must check the website regularly to keep
up.
4. Attendance is required. Lectures are an important complement to the class notes and
provide significant context and supplemental information. You are responsible for all
material presented in class. While I will not keep a record of attendance for lectures,
chronic absence will be noted and will affect adjustment of your final grade at the end of
the semester. If you are to be absent from class do not come to me and ask what was
covered in class. You must rely on your fellow students to obtain class notes, homework,
etc. You are also responsible for all schedule changes made during regular class time and
through the emails sent from E-learning (emails are delivered to your gatorlink address).

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 5. E-learning will be used for this course (http://lss.at.ufl.edu/). The following services will
be available: course notes posted; homework assigned and submitted; and grades posted.
6. Honesty Policy – All students admitted to the University of Florida have signed a
statement of academic honesty committing themselves to be honest in all academic work
and understanding that failure to comply with this commitment will result in disciplinary
action. This statement is a reminder to uphold your obligation as a UF student and to be
honest in all work submitted and exams taken in this course and all others. Note that
failure to comply with this commitment will result in disciplinary action compliant with
the UF Student Honor Code Procedures. See
http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/procedures/honorcode.php
7. Accommodation for Students with Disabilities – Students requesting classroom
accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office
(http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/). That office will provide the student with documentation
that he/she must provide to the course instructor when requesting accommodation.
8. UF Counseling Services – Resources are available on-campus for students having
personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals. The resources include:
UF Counseling & Wellness Center, 3190 Radio Rd, 392-1575, psychological and
psychiatric services.
Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career and job search services.
9. Software Use – All faculty, staff and student of the University are required and expected
to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to do so can lead
to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such
violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken
as appropriate. We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to
uphold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
10. Classroom Behavior – Classroom disruptions will not be tolerated. If you are talking,
reading newspapers, eating, or being disruptive in any other way, you will be asked to
leave. Turn cell phones off or set them to silent mode. Every student in this class is
expected to act in a professional manner. I encourage polite interruptions during class
with questions pertaining to the subject at hand. If you don’t understand what I’m
talking about, chances are others don’t as well. I expect you to treat your colleagues and
me with professional courtesy and respect.
11. Email Communication – Our primary means of communication outside the classroom
will be through the listserv and E-learning as well as meetings during office hours. I
strongly encourage you to use email to ask questions about lectures, homework, exams,
or projects. I will answer your email questions by replying to the entire class through the
listserv so that the class has the benefit of your question. I will only respond to emails
that are in the exact form of the example email given below.
- Use your gatorlink account to send emails concerning this class. I will ignore
emails for any other accounts.
- Specify a meaningful subject for each message. Use descriptive subject titles
like "Question on Quiz 4" or "Requesting a Meeting." Don't force me to guess
why you are sending me a message.
- Be concise. Add blank lines and other formatting so the structure of your
message is clear.
- Use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and form. Use the same care in
crafting your emails that you would if you were asking me for a job. If you don’t

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 put the few minutes of time necessary to form a presentable email, then I will not
read it.
- Proofread and think before you send email. The content of the email should
follow the same guidelines as our communications during office hours given
below.
12. Office Hours – I endeavor to treat my students as individuals and interact with them in a
professional manner showing them courtesy and respect. I expect the same from you.
Here are some of the guidelines for meetings:
- Your time is valuable and so is mine so let’s not waste it!
- Come by during scheduled office hours or by prearranged appointment. This
requires a little advanced planning and communication with me.
- Be prepared with pencil, paper, notes, text, homework, etc. Don’t rely on me to
provide support information.
- Be prepared with specific questions, not general questions and complaints. I’m
looking for “Why do we assume elastic-perfectly plastic in flexural analysis?” not
“Can you look over my homework and tell me if it is correct?” or “How do I work
this homework problem?”
- I will almost always answer your question with a question. In the end, I want
you to answer the question for yourself. I’m just here to help you along. This
means you need to put your brain in gear before you show up.
- Don’t whine about me, the TA, the irrelevance of this class, the textbook or
anything else. Use your fellow students to blow off steam, not me. If you have a
legitimate complaint, then express it to me in a professional and courteous
manner. I’m happy to listen and try to accommodate or correct the situation if
you present your case in specific, rational manner.
- Don’t ask questions that are already covered in the syllabus or ask me to repeat a
lecture for you or tell me you are going to miss class and ask me if we are
covering “anything important.”
Example Email Required components
Subject: Question Regarding Flexural Capacity Subject line

Dear Dr. Hamilton:

Salutation
I am confused as to why dt=19.62 inches for
5-1. Are we assuming there is a stirrup Body. Use multiple paragraphs if you
present? If so, is this the case for 5-2 have multiple questions.
also?

Also, why are the "d"s in the two problems

different if the bars are the same diameter
and the "dt"s are the same?

Sincerely
Close
Student, Frank E.
CES4704 Signature block with first and last
name and course number

CES5835 - Spring 2015 Page 4

Guidelines for Homework and Design Projects:

Engineers communicate ideas through their design calculations and construction documents.
Many times final engineering calculations are submitted to clients or as a part of the construction
permitting process. These calculations are a reflection of your competency as an engineer and on
the quality of product that your company produces. Part of your engineering training includes
learning how to prepare engineering calculations neatly and in the proper format.

1. All homework and design projects (excluding those completed in MathCAD) should be
completed on engineering paper, one side only (opposite side of lines).

2. Each page must have the student’s name, date, course number, homework set number,
and page number (including MathCAD – use the header function). The page number
should be written in the form of a fraction, with the numerator being the current page
and the denominator being the total number of pages in the set. You may need to
include printouts of computer work in your submittal. If so, these pages must also
contain the information given above.

3. Start each new problem on a clean sheet of paper. Clearly state the problem and list
other information given in the problem statement (material properties, loads,
dimensions, etc.). Draw and label the associated sketch (if any). You may cut and paste
the original problem statement, if you wish.

4. All work should be done in pencil. All straight lines must be drawn with a straight edge.

5. Format the calculations in the form of an outline. Describe each step in the solution
process. In addition to making the calculations easier for others to read, this will help
you organize your thought process.

6. Label answers and results clearly. Comment on answers that require comparison or
decisions.

7. When you are given a task as a structural engineer your finished product is generally a
drawing that a contractor can use for construction. The finished product for the design
projects will be a detailed sketch (sketch does not imply the absence of a straight edge)
made to an appropriate architectural scale.

8. Do not skip steps in the solution process, even if you think you know the answer! If you
make an assumption, state it clearly.

9. Significant figures: Usually three is sufficient but never more than four. Points will be
deducted for using too many significant figures!

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