Term Paper

Construction Material
CIV 203
Topic: - Case study of stone masonry

Submitted To Submitted By
Mr. Niranjan Lal Atish Kumar
Reg. No.:- 4100070015
Roll No.:- RH5001A53
Class: - B-Tech-Civil (2nd Year)
Section: - H5001
 AKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude to all those who gave me the possibility to complete this
term paper. I want to thank the Department of CIVIL ENGINEERING of LOVELY
PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY for giving me permission to commence this Term paper, to do
the necessary research work and to use departmental data. I would also like to thank to Mr.
NIRANJAN LAL, Lecturer. in constructional material, who gave and confirmed this
assignment and encouraged me to go ahead with my term paper.

I am finally thank of our friends whose help, valuable suggestions and encouragement helped
me in all the time of research for and writing of this term paper.

THANK YOU.
 CONTENTS
S.N. Description Page No.
1. Introduction 1

2. Types of Stone 2

3. Stone Masonry 3

4 Different Types of Laying in Courses 4

5 Selection of Material 5

 Stone 6

 Sand 7

 Binding Agents 8

 Water 9

6 Types of Stone Masonry 10

 Rubble Masonry 10

 Ashler Masonry 11

7 Training 12

8 Tools 13

9 Reference 15
Introduction
Stone masonry is the craft of shaping rough pieces of rock into accurate geometrical shapes, mostly
simple, but some of considerable complexity and then arranging the resulting stones, often together
with mortar, to form structures.

The art of building a structure in stone with any suitable masonry is called stone masonry.

Stone masonry is a traditional form of construction practiced for centuries in the regions
where stone is locally available. It is still found in old historic centres, often in buildings
of cultural and historical significance, and in developing countries where it represents
affordable and cost-effective housing construction. This construction type is present in
Earthquake-prone regions of the world, such as Mediterranean Europe and North Africa,
the Middle East, India, Nepal, and other parts of Asia.

Taj Mahal Stone masonry

Red Fort Birla Mandir (Laxminarayan Temple) Delhi

These All are made by Stone Masonry

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Types of stone

Stonemasons use all types of natural stone: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary; while some also
use artificial stone as well.

Igneous stones
Granite is one of the hardest stones, and requires such different techniques to sedimentary stones that
it is virtually a separate trade. With great persistence, simple mouldings can and have been carved into
granite, for example in many Cornish churches and the city of Aberdeen. Generally, however, it is used
for purposes that require its strength and durability, such as kerbstones, countertops, flooring, and
breakwaters.

Igneous stone ranges from very soft rocks such as pumice and scoria to somewhat harder rocks such as
tuff and hard rocks such as obsidian, granite and basalt.

Metamorphic
Marble has traditionally been used for carving statues, and for facing many Byzantine and Renaissance
Italian buildings. The traditional home of the marble industry is the area around Carrara in Italy, from
where a bright white marble is extracted in vast quantities.

Slate is a popular choice of stone for memorials and inscriptions, as its fine grain and hardness means it
leaves details very sharp. Meanwhile, its tendency to split into thin plates has made it a popular roofing
material.

Sedimentary
Many of the world's most famous buildings have been built of sedimentary stone, from Durham
Cathedral to St Peter's in Rome. There are two main types of sedimentary stone used in masonry work,
limestones and sandstones. Examples of limestones include Bath and Portland stone. Yorkstone and
Sydney sandstone are well-known sandstones.

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Types of Stone Masonry
Stone masonry may be broadly classified into the following two types:

1. Rubble Masonry
2. Ashlar Masonry

1. Rubble Masonry:
The stone masonry in which either undressed or roughly dressed stone are laid in a suitable mortar is
called rubble masonry. In this masonry the joints are not of uniform thickness.

Rubble masonry is further sub-divided into the following three types:

1. Random rubble masonry

2. Squared rubble masonry
3. Dry rubble masonry

1. Random rubble masonry: The rubble masonry in which either undressed or hammer dressed
stones are used is called random rubble masonry. Further random rubble masonry is also
divided into the following three types:-
a. Un coursed random rubble masonry: The random rubble masonry in which stones are
laid without forming courses is known as un coursed random rubble masonry. This is the
roughest and cheapest type of masonry and is of varying appearance. The stones used
in this masonry are of different sizes and shapes. before lying, all projecting corners of
stones are slightly knocked off. Vertical joints are not plumbed, joints are filled and
flushed. Large stones are used at corners and at jambs to increase their strength. Once
"through stone" is used for every square meter of the face area for joining faces and
backing.
Suitability: Used for construction of walls of low height in case of ordinary buildings.
b. Coursed random rubble masonry: The random rubble masonry in which stones are laid
in layers of equal height is called random rubble masonry. In this masonry, the stones
are laid in somewhat level courses. Headers of one coursed height are placed at certain
intervals. The stones are hammer dressed.
Suitability: Used for construction of residential buildings, go downs, boundary walls etc.

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 2. Squared rubble masonry: The rubble masonry in which the face stones are squared on all joints
and beds by hammer dressing or chisel dressing before their actual laying, is called squared
rubble masonry.
There are two types of squared rubble masonry.
a. Coursed Square rubble masonry: The square rubble masonry in which chisel dressed
stones laid in courses is called coarse square rubble masonry. This is a superior variety of
rubble masonry. It consists of stones, which are squared on all joints and laid in courses.
The stones are to be laid in courses of equal layers. and the joints should also be
uniform.
Suitability: Used for construction of public buildings, hospitals, schools, markets,
modern residential buildings etc and in hilly areas where good quality of stone is easily
available.
b. Un coursed square rubble masonry: The squared rubble in masonry which hammer
dressed stones are laid without making courses is called un coursed square rubble
masonry. It consists of stones which are squared on all joints and beds by hammer
dressing. All the stones to be laid are of different sizes.
Suitability: Used for construction of ordinary buildings in hilly areas where a good
variety of stones are cheaply available.

3. Dry rubble masonry: The rubble masonry in which stones are laid without using any mortar is
called dry rubble masonry or sometimes shortly as "dry stones". It is an ordinary masonry and is
recommended for constructing walls of height not more than 6m. In case the height is more,
three adjacent courses are laid in squared rubble masonry mortar at 3m intervals.

2. Ashlar Masonry
The stone masonry in which finely dressed stones are laid in cement or lime mortar is known as ashlars
masonry. In this masonry are the courses are of uniform height, all the joints are regular, thin and have
uniform thickness. This type of masonry is much costly as it requires dressing of stones.

Suitability: This masonry is used for heavy structures, architectural buildings, high piers and abutments
of bridges.

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Ashlars masonry is further sub divided into the following types:

i. Ashlars fine or coarse ashlar masonry

ii. Random coarse ashlars masonry
iii. Rough tooled ashlar masonry
iv. Rock or quarry faced ashlars masonry
v. Chamfered ashlars masonry
vi. Block in coarse masonry
vii. Ashlar facing

1. Ashlar fine or coarsed ashlar masonry: In this type of stone masonry stone
blocks of same height in each course are used. Every stone is fine tooled on all
sides. Thickness of mortar is uniform through out. It is an expensive type of
stone masonry as it requires heavy labor and wastage of material while dressing.
Satisfactory bond can be obtained in this type of stone masonry.
2. Random coursed ashlar masonry: This type of ashlar masonry consists of fine or
coursed ashlar but the courses are of varying thick nesses, depending upon the
character of the building.
3. Rough tooled ashlar masonry: This type of ashlar masonry the sides of the
stones are rough tooled and dressed with chisels. Thickness of joints is uniform,
which does not exceed 6mm.
4. Rock or quarry faced ashlar masonry: This type of ashlar masonry is similar to
rough tooled type except that there is chisel-drafted margin left rough on the
face which is known as quarry faced.
5. Chamfered ashlar masonry: It is similar to quarry faced except that the edges
are beveled or chamfered to 450 for depth of 2.5 cm or more.
6. Block-in course masonry: It is the name given to a class of ashlar masonry which
occupies an intermediate place between rubble and ashlars. The stones are all
squared and properly dressed. It resembles to coursed rubble masonry or rough
tooled ashlar masonry.
7. Ashlar facing: Ashlar facing is the best type of ashlars masonry. Since this is type
of masonry is very expensive, it is not commonly used throughout the whole
thickness of the wall, except in works of great importance and strength. For
economy the facing are built in ashlars and the rest in rubble.

Training
Traditionally medieval stonemasons served a seven-year apprenticeship. A similar system still operates
today.A modern apprenticeship lasts four years. This combines on-site learning through personal
experience, the experience of the tradesmen and college work where apprentices are given an overall
experience of the building, hewing and theory work involved in masonry. In some areas colleges offer
courses which teach not only the manual skills but also related fields such as drafting and blueprint
reading or construction conservationism. Electronic Stonemasonry training resources enhance
traditional delivery techniques. Hands-on workshops are a good way to learn about stonemasonry also.
Those wishing to become stonemasons should have little problem working at heights, possess
reasonable hand-eye co-ordination, be moderately physically fit, and have basic mathematical ability.
Most of these things can be developed while learning.

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Tools
Stonemasons use a wide variety of tools to handle and shape stone blocks (ashlars) and slabs into
finished articles. The basic tools for shaping the stone are a mallet, chisels, and a metal straight edge.
With these one can make a flat surface - the basis of all stone masonry.

Chisels come in a variety of sizes and shapes, dependent upon the function for which they are being
used. There are different chisels for different materials and sizes of material being worked, for
removing large amounts of material and for putting a fine finish on the stone.

Mixing mortar is normally done today with mortar mixers which usually use a rotating drum or rotating
paddles to mix the mortar.

The masonry trowel is used for the application of the mortar between and around the stones as they
are set into place. Filling in the gaps (joints) with mortar is referred to as pointing. Pointing in smaller
joints can be accomplished using tuck pointers, pointing trowels, and margin trowels, among other
tools.

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At least one tool bears the name of the tradesmen that use it, and that is the Stonemason's hammer.
This hammer can be used in place of a chisel in certain circumstances. The hammer can also be used to
make shims and chinks while holding a small stone in one hand and striking it with the hammer.

Stonemasons use a Lewis together with a crane or winch to hoist building stones into place.

Today power tools such as compressed-air chisels, abrasive spinners and angle grinders are much used:
these save time and money, but are hazardous and require just as much skill as the hand tools that
they augment. But many of the basic tools of stonemasonry have remained virtually the same
throughout vast amounts of time, even thousands of years.

air chisels angle grinders

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Reference
Books:-

 Building Construction By BC Punmia

Website
1. www.world-housing.net/uploads/stone_masonry.pdf
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonemasonry
3. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=m7tp9x242EYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Stone+masonry+
By+United+Nations+Development+Programme,+International+Labour+Organisation&hl=en&ei
=e6_NTPKzDoWSuwO4xLjVDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEw
AA#v=onepage&q&f=false
4. www.google.com (for Searching)

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