Masonry: Materials, testing, and applications. ASTM special technical publication 1356

Masonry is one of mankind's oldest arts. The construction of shelters, buildings, castles, and fortresses has been the life work of untold numbers of artists, architects, masons, plasterers, and laborers. Today people marvel at the ancient structures still standing after hundreds and thousands of years. Works such as the Great Wall of China, The Roman Coliseum, the cathedrals of Europe, and masonry bridges still in use after hundreds of years of wear and tear, encourage us to better understand the art, the mechanics, and the chemistries involved in building and maintaining these structures. In this seminar, the authors attempt to convey their experiences towards a better understanding of the principles and mechanics involved in designing and building masonry structures. The papers presented do just that. Separate abstracts were prepared for most papers.