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Technical Seminars

Support the continual development of your team

From simple and straightforward, to technical and in-depth, we have exactly what you’re looking for

The Canada Masonry Design Centre offers a wide array of technical seminars directed towards the design community. These sessions provide participants with the tools and knowledge to design masonry more confidently, efficiently, and effectively. They range from graduate level courses covering various topics in advanced masonry design to complimentary, in-office lunch and learns on topical masonry-related subjects. Popular topics include masonry construction considerations, seismic design, connection details, and code interpretation. These lunch and learns can also be tailored to address specific masonry-related design and construction themes based on your requests.

Don’t have a specific seminar in mind? Browse our list of topics and choose from the list below:

Designing with Masonry: Recommended Detailing and Specifications – for all Building Designers

This 45 minute seminar highlights the general information that should be provided and included in masonry related construction documents.

Masonry Assemblages – for Structural Engineers

This 90 minute seminar covers the fundamentals behind the assemblage strength that you count on for your designs. Loadbearing projects in particular can benefit from a better understanding of what really matters when it comes to mortar testing, things to keep an eye out for in a grout specification, or what else comes along with using a higher strength unit. This is a great refresher for anyone familiar with masonry design that aims to touch on the most common issues we see in the field.

Masonry Design Software Introduction – For Structural Engineers

This 45 minute demonstration is meant to quickly get up to speed if you are new to the MASS design software. It walks through the user interface, basic design workflow, and thought process to save you time in getting up to speed.

Tips and Tricks to get the most out of MASS – for Structural Engineers

This one hour presentation is meant to seasoned software users, running through the most commonly encountered issues and offer guidance to maximize the efficiency of your designs. Hint: The first successful design you see in MASS is not necessarily the best…

Specific to the engineering community, CMDC can present as much or as little into the topics below as needed. Feel free to mix and match topics of interest and start a dialog with our office to discuss time constraints and how much content can reasonably covered.

Overview of Masonry Construction, Design and Standards

Introduction to Masonry Materials and Assemblages

Masonry Beams:

Ultimate Limit States Shear and Flexure

Serviceability Limit States

Detailing

Design Examples

Masonry Shear Walls:

Ultimate Limit States Shear and Flexure

Serviceability Limit States

Detailing

Design Examples

Out-of-Plane Masonry Walls:

Ultimate Limit States Shear and Flexure

Interaction Diagram

Deflection, Second Order Effects, and Slenderness

Serviceability Limit States

Detailing

Design Examples

Single Storey Buildings:

Load Calculation

Load Distribution around Openings and Movement Joints

Design Examples:

Individual Structural Elements

Full Structure Example

Additionally, these topics are available for those looking to dive into more specific areas within the overall realm of masonry design.

MASS Design Software:

Design of Masonry Beams Using MASS

Design of Out-of-Plane Walls Using MASS

Design of Masonry Shear Walls Using MASS

Shear Wall Load Distribution Around Openings and Movement Joints

General Overview of Changes from 2014 to 2024 CSA Standards

Summary of Changes (Masonry Materials, Construction and Design

Masonry Materials:

Specialty Mortars, Clay Brick, Connectors and Stone Products

Case Studies and Diagnostics of Masonry Veneers

Masonry Beams:

Design of Brick Beams, Deep Beams and Prestressed Beams

Modified Compression Field Theory and Shear Design of Masonry Beams using the 2014 Standard

Support of Masonry and Bearing Design, Using Movement Joints for Structural Applications and Arching of Masonry over Openings

Masonry Shear Walls:

Unreinforced Masonry, Floor Connections and Intersecting Walls

Multi-Storey Shear Walls and Introduction to Seismic Design

Masonry Out-of-Plane Walls:

Unreinforced Masonry

Intersecting Walls and Stack Pattern Masonry

Design Assumptions: Smeared versus Discrete Partially-Grouted Masonry

Request a Seminar

Let us know if you’re interested in hosting talk by someone with CMDC to present virtually, or in your office meeting space. Submit your information below and start planning your masonry design or construction seminar.

    Get in touch with our team

    The Canada Masonry Design Centre helps members of the design community across the country by connecting them to the resources and supports they need. Contact us today and get the conversation started!

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