Editorial: Mechanics of masonry gravity structures

Abstract

Masonry gravity structures forming buildings, bridges and other constructions have been built for many centuries, but continue to pose challenges for engineers. Specifically, there is a need to more reliably understand and assess the safety of existing masonry buildings and bridges, and also to conceive more elegant and resource efficient structural solutions for use in new construction, using traditional and emerging new masonry materials. In the case of masonry arch forms, though ubiquitous in buildings and bridges, their mode of interaction with surrounding elements remains poorly understood, and more realistic modelling tools are required to address this.