INTRODUCTION

As per the old convention, masonry is a term used to indicate the art of building structures in stones using mortar and stone. But in a simplified form, it may be defined as construction of building units bonded together with mortar. The building units may be brick, stone, concrete, hollow blocks, etc.

The selection of the type of unit for the masonry is made keeping in view the requirements of strength, water proofing, thermal insulation, fire resistance, durability and economy. The binding strength of the mortar is usually disregarded as far as the strength of masonry is concerned.

The mortar is required to keep the building units in position. It is prepared by mixing lime or cement with sand after adding water which forms the mortar. Sometimes a portion of cement is replaced by lime and accordingly called as cement-lime mortar. If the mortar is to be strong, more plastic and workable lime-cement mortar is used.

The masonry is classified based on the basic unit used for the structure.