INTRODUCTION

This chapter addresses forensic investigation of stone, clay brick, and conventional concrete masonry. It does not include consideration of chemical resistant, refractory, aerated concrete, or glass block masonry.

Forensic investigation of masonry structures involves failure of masonry to perform adequately. The purpose of such an investigation may be to avoid greater failure, provide a basis for recommended remedial measures, or settle a claim by negotiation, arbitration, or litigation.

Masonry failures may relate to aesthetics, engineering, or economics and may involve any of the following:

Masonry falls off a building facade somewhere in the United States about every three weeks. In the decade or so prior to 1999, at least 49 such masonry failures killed 30 persons and injured 81 in the United States. The failures occur under normal loading conditions, not during construction, and are not subject to earthquake, hurricane, tornado, fire, blast, collision, or demolition.

It has been the author's experience with hundreds of masonry failures that the primary cause of failure was design error or omission in about 50 percent of cases, construction error or omission in about 25 percent of cases, and inadequate materials...