Masonry brief history

Question 1

How did Pyramid construction used masonry?

Answer 1

• Constructed without cranes, pulleys or lifting tackle.
• Huge stones dragged and lifted from a quarry or manufactured in place with limestone concrete.
• Note: gypsum mortar used in the pyramid of cheops (3000 BC)
• 2600-2480 BC

Question 2

Citadel of Arg-e Bam

Answer 2

• 500 BC
• Non-baked clay bricks
• Largest building in the world until 2003.

Question 3

Great Wall of China

Answer 3

• 221 to 204 BC (construction time)
• 2400 km
• Longest human made structure
• Made of earth and stone with brick facing eastern part.

Question 4

What are some early uses of structural masonry?

Answer 4

• Romans refined arch, vault and dome construction.
• Constructed with concrete, terra cotta and fired clay bricks.
• Cut stone masonry
• Lifted with block and tackle as they weighed 6 tonne.

Question 5

Masonry in the Americas.

Answer 5

• Anasazi adobe construction.
• Core and veneer masonry.
• Sandstone and mud mortar.

Question 6

Roman architecture.

Answer 6

• 10th to 12th century

- Barrel vaults supported on thick squat columns and piers.

Question 7

Gothic Architecture.

Answer 7

• 12th to 16th century.

- Pointed arch which minimised thrust outwards resulting in lighter thinner walls.

Question 8

Renaissance architecture.

Answer 8

• Influenced by round arch, barrel vault and dome.

Question 9

American masonry.

Answer 9

• Largest office building in 1893
• Walls are 6ft thick at base
• 17 stories