MASONRY JOURNAL

The “Masonry Journal” is an individual assignment that will involve the following activities.

• Reviews of readings in technical journals that you do during the semester.
• Discussion of popular articles on any aspect of masonry that you read during the semester.
• A list of questions, as they arise during the semester, and a discussion of what the answer may be.

Part One: Review of Readings (60% of effort)
Over the course of the semester, you will be required to read and review 5 technical journal articles. The only requirement is that the articles are on some of aspect of masonry, and that they come from refereed journal publications. All of your articles must come from the following sources. If you come across another journal, please see me before reviewing the article.

The Masonry Society Journal
ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering
ACI Structures Journal
ACI Materials Journal
Earthquake Spectra
Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics

For each review, you should think of yourself as on of the ‘referees’. Discuss the technical aspect of the paper. Do you agree with the findings? Do the findings contradict other researchers? Each review is limited to 2 pages, 12 point font single spaced, 1” margins all around. Do not simply quote the paper. Include a copy of the paper in your journal.

Part Two: Popular Articles (20% of effort)
This is similar to part one, except that you will be dealing with the popular media such as newspapers and magazines, or videos. Again, include a copy of the article and your review that is limited to 1 page, 12 point font, 1” margins all around. Over the course of the semester, conduct at least 5 reviews.

Part Three: Questions and Answers (20% of effort)
Keep a log of questions or problems you encounter (including the dates). Questions could come from the lectures, from doing your homework, from your readings, or any other source. Also report the answer to your question. If you were unable to find an answer, that’s ok. When I review your journals, I will do my best to help you. There in no minimum or maximum.

Submission
Your journal is to be submitted with every homework assignment. Include your homework assignments in a separate section of the journal.

HOMEWORK: Homework assignments 40% and the masonry journal 15% (a series of homework assignemts regarding the review of technical papers)

EXAMINATIONS: Midterm 15% and Final 30 %

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS: N/A

PROJECTS: N/A

Drysadale, Robert, Ahmad Hamid, and Lawrie Baker, Masonry Structures: Behavior and Design, The Masonry Society, 1999. ISBN: 1-929081-01-4

NCSU has recommended minimum specifications for computers used for classes. Depending on your computer needs, we recommend your computer meet or exceed the following minimum specifications below.

PCs must have an Intel-compatible 800 MHz processor, 256 MB RAM, 8 GB hard drive with 1 GB free space available, 256 Color Display, CD-ROM drive, 800x600 (min.) video adapter, sound card, and speakers. The operating system should be Windows 2000 or XP. Real One Player Basic (available free online) and high speed Internet connection such as cable, DSL, T1 or LAN will be required for EOL courses.

MAC users must have a G3 processor with firewire and USB factory built-in, 256 MB RAM, 10 GB with 1GB free space available, 256 Color Display, CD-ROM drive, 800x600 (min) video adapter, sound card, and speakers. The operating system must be MacOS 10.3 (minimum) along with the above RealOne and Internet specifications above .

For more detailed information on computer specifications and recommendations, please refer to our website at: http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu/currentstudents/computeraccess.htm

Dr. Mervyn J. Kowalsky, Associate Professor
Dept. of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering
North Carolina State University
417 Mann Hall
Campus Box 7908
Raleigh, NC 27695-7908

Phone: (919) 515-7261
Fax: (919) 515-7908
E-mail: kowalsky@ncsu.edu
Instructor Website: http://www.ce.ncsu.edu/faculty/kowalsky/