Evaluation of Masonry Assemblage Strength In Accordance With CSA S304-14 And ASTM C1314-18 Requirements

Abstract

Masonry is commonly used in construction and has made the industry an integral part of both the Canadian and U.S. economies. The requirements related to materials, design, and construction methods for masonry that are currently used in Canada and the U.S., however, vary remarkably even though these requirements were fundamentally developed from the results of a small pool of supporting literature that has been published worldwide. The notable differences between the Canadian and the U.S. design requirements for masonry are affecting the Canadian and the U.S. masonry industry, potentially holding back synergies and cost savings that may otherwise be available. While some differences can be easily isolated and compared, others such as the reported masonry assemblage strengths form the basis of the Canadian and the U.S design codes, cause a comparison between the two codes difficult. An experimental investigation with the aim of evaluating and comparing the requirements related to prism geometry, construction, and testing in accordance with both the Canadian masonry prism requirements,as specified in Annex D of CSA S304-14: Design of Masonry Structures, and the U.S. masonry prism standard ASTM C1314-18: Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Masonry, was therefore performed at the University of Saskatchewan. A set of conversion factors was established to correlate the reported masonry assemblage strengths determined in accordance with ASTM C1314-18 to those determined in accordance with CSA S304-14. Results also showed that smaller prisms can be constructed and used to verify the assemblage strength of constituent materials on construction sites in Canada. Changes to the commentary in Annex D of CSA S304-14 as related to Canadian prism test requirements are also supported.