Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of Alberta
$300,000.00
Resilient concrete masonry walls to meet the needs for the next generation of low-rise structures
FY 2018-19
Summary
Load bearing slender masonry walls (SMWs) are widely used in single-storey construction in Canada (for example in school gymnasiums, warehouses, etc.). However, design limits imposed on these walls (CSA S304-14; TMS 402-13) tend to be stringent, in terms of strength and stability. This puts the masonry industry at a disadvantage as a construction alternative compared to other structural options. Research and innovation in slender masonry wall design has been scarce since the 1980s, when working stress and prescriptive-based design was common. This has had a negative impact on the use of conventional slender masonry walls, as limit states and objective-based design have since been adopted. Adding to these challenges, newer building energy code regulations (NRC 2015 and 2017) place further constraints that impact the design, cost, and performance of SMWs.*The proposed research will (1) examine the structural performance of conventional slender masonry walls; (2) develop innovative wall systems with superior performance compared to current construction and evaluate their hygrothermal (hygric and thermal) performance; (3) enhance design methods for SMWs through the application of probabilistic and first-principles-based analysis models within a rigorous reliability framework and develop a performance-based design tool; and (4) enhance the thermal energy storage function of SMWs and quantify its contribution to meeting code energy requirements.*The proposed project is something that is long overdue for the industry, it has been an item that has garnered wide interest from the members of both sponsoring associations, CMDC and CCMPA, as well as the design community and CSA S304 standards committee. This research program has sufficient scope to provide the industry with enough technical knowledge to implement a substantial change to the way masonry is designed and constructed across Canada, resulting in safer, more durable, and eco-friendly masonry constructive systems -- training 19 highly qualified engineers throughout the project.*
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
528050-2018
Name nom
CruzNoguez, Carlos
Department département
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2018
Competition year année de concours
2018
Award amount
300000
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1206
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Engineering
Area of application fr
Génie
Research subject code
1001
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie civil
Research subject en
Construction engineering and management
Research subject fr
Génie et gestion du bâtiment
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Resilient concrete masonry walls to meet the needs for the next generation of low-rise structures
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Load bearing slender masonry walls (SMWs) are widely used in single-storey construction in Canada (for example in school gymnasiums, warehouses, etc.). However, design limits imposed on these walls (CSA S304-14; TMS 402-13) tend to be stringent, in terms of strength and stability. This puts the masonry industry at a disadvantage as a construction alternative compared to other structural options. Research and innovation in slender masonry wall design has been scarce since the 1980s, when working stress and prescriptive-based design was common. This has had a negative impact on the use of conventional slender masonry walls, as limit states and objective-based design have since been adopted. Adding to these challenges, newer building energy code regulations (NRC 2015 and 2017) place further constraints that impact the design, cost, and performance of SMWs.*The proposed research will (1) examine the structural performance of conventional slender masonry walls; (2) develop innovative wall systems with superior performance compared to current construction and evaluate their hygrothermal (hygric and thermal) performance; (3) enhance design methods for SMWs through the application of probabilistic and first-principles-based analysis models within a rigorous reliability framework and develop a performance-based design tool; and (4) enhance the thermal energy storage function of SMWs and quantify its contribution to meeting code energy requirements.*The proposed project is something that is long overdue for the industry, it has been an item that has garnered wide interest from the members of both sponsoring associations, CMDC and CCMPA, as well as the design community and CSA S304 standards committee. This research program has sufficient scope to provide the industry with enough technical knowledge to implement a substantial change to the way masonry is designed and constructed across Canada, resulting in safer, more durable, and eco-friendly masonry constructive systems -- training 19 highly qualified engineers throughout the project.*
