Masonry Industry Seeks Greater BIM Integration
With the construction industry moving towards Building Information Modeling (BIM) as the preferred method of design and delivery, IMI is partnering with others in the industry to guarantee that masonry products and systems are fully integrated into BIM. Currently masonry is represented in BIM software packages, but not to the extent it should be. According to David Biggs, P.E., S.E., principal of Biggs Consulting Engineering, IMI and NCMA made the first step in 2005 by funding the development of Bentley’s RAM Elements software integrating architecture and structural masonry making structural masonry within BIM possible. He points out, however, that now masonry veneers and full wall systems need to be incorporated into the architectural packages as well.
BIM is capable of integrating engineering, cost estimating, scheduling and project delivery. The masonry industry’s collective effort, which includes contractors, labor and suppliers, will develop BIM tools specific to masonry and put them in the hands of designers to make it easier to design with masonry. “Clearly we have made progress,” says IMI Director of Industry Development, David Sovinski, “but even with structural masonry, you have to use one specific type of software to bridge to Bentley’s RAM Elements software and in other applications, you may have to re-enter the wall qualities. We need to make sure that we are putting our collective resources to work so that masonry does not get outpaced technologically with other building materials.”
No commentsHybrid Masonry and Steel Structure Behavior Under Seismic Loading
IMI is part of the industry review committee for a research program on hybrid masonry and steel structural behavior under seismic loading, currently being tested at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC) as part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Award.
Hybrid masonry/steel structures refers to reinforced masonry used as participating infill within a structural steel frame. Hybrid masonry can apply to exterior and interior walls with or without openings and in both single wythe or cavity wall designs. It has the potential to eliminate the steel bracing and reduce the size of the steel frame through load-sharing between the frame and infill. The concept has been used in low seismic regions in the Midwest and eastern United States. It has been included in commercial structural software programs since 2007 which has increased interest in the system. This research is tasked with assessing the performance of hybrid masonry in moderate to high seismic regions.
The research focuses on the connection from frame to masonry as that is critical to making the two materials function structurally as a system. The research team at UIUC led by Professor Daniel P. Abrams will examine three types of hybrid masonry. The connectivity of the masonry to the frame determines performance. Conceptually, type I is a non-loadbearing shear wall incorporated within the frame and type II is a loadbearing shear wall. Type III is a reinforced infill that is load-bearing.
Professor Abrams recently gave an update on the research: “We have masonry panels constructed for the first test structure and are about to start assembly of the frame. Apprentices from BAC Local 8 Illinois will be constructing the next four base-story masonry panels. With five test structures prefabricated, once we get clearance for the testing site, we will make some progress this spring and summer.”