In which masonry type is the resistance of the reinforcing steel neglected?

Unreinforced masonry is characterized by a lack of internal reinforcement systems, which means that any reinforcing steel present is not taken into account when calculating structural resistance. This type of masonry relies solely on the strength and bonding of the masonry units themselves, such as bricks or stone, held together by mortar.

In typical structural applications, unreinforced masonry is less capable of withstanding tensile forces, as it primarily depends on compressive strength. Therefore, in engineering assessments and design considerations, any potential contributions from reinforcing steel are disregarded.

In contrast, reinforced masonry integrates steel reinforcement to enhance tensile strength and overall structural performance. Solid masonry refers to constructions made up of dense, load-bearing units, such as concrete blocks or bricks, but may or may not have reinforcing steel, depending on design requirements. Glass masonry typically pertains to decorative or architectural applications without structural reinforcement considerations. Hence, the focus on unreinforced masonry adequately highlights the reason why the reinforcing steel is neglected in performance assessments.