Masonry, though one of the oldest forms of construction, is still not a perfect system, nor can it ever be. It can only be continuously improved, as has been done over centuries. The effort presented here is an attempt to improve the masonry industry, specifically concrete masonry. It first identified the different ways that concrete masonry can be improved. It then incorporated a selection of those methods into a new masonry system. Last, it measured and compared the refined system against a benchmark using a productivity study. The refined system was designed with all aspects of concrete masonry in mind. The material, the actual blocks, how they would be manufactured, and even the method of assembly were designed in an integrated fashion. The result is a lightweight, interlocking, concrete block that is larger than standard concrete masonry units. The system consists of three types of blocks, namely a stretcher, a half, and a universal corner to increase the speed of construction. Physical tests on masonry prisms, theoretical structural checks using a model structure, and a productivity study were conducted. With 27.6 N/mm2 (4,000 psi) grout the average load sustained by the prisms was 430.5 kN (96,733 lb). Nearly all structural checks passed, however, certain load combinations exceeded the axial load-moment interaction diagram envelope, prompting for further investigation. The productivity study produced consistent results, showing that the assembly time of the refined system is shorter than that of the traditional system. This demonstrates the potential the refined masonry system has for improving concrete masonry.
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