Patent Publication Number: US-9885177-B2

Title: Masonry wall assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional patent application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/465,421, entitled “Masonry Wall Assembly,” filed Aug. 21, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/869,311, filed Aug. 23, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable. 
     NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to the field of masonry structures and methods of installing the same, and more particularly, to a single face shell masonry wall assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with masonry wall construction and reinforcement systems. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,808, issued to Bengtson, et al., teaches a masonry block system that uses blocks formed with minimum webbing to minimize heat flow. Briefly, the patent teaches a wall system that is formed into a unitary structure using blocks. The wall also uses threaded post-tensioning rods tied to reinforcement rods in the wall footer and extending through the voids that contain polyurethane foam in the respective blocks to a top plate positioned on top of the wall. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,116, issued to Ward, et al., teaches a method of rammed-earth building construction wherein post-tensioning rods are anchored to a concrete footing so that the wall is post-tensioned to enhance the ability of the wall to receive lateral loading without failing in tension. The wall is then topped with a concrete bond beam and a retaining plate. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,955, issued to Kostopoulos, et al., teaches a method and apparatus for constructing a concrete block wall. Briefly, the patent teaches a concrete block wall constructed of concrete blocks each having one or more vertical openings. The patent includes the steps of the layering the blocks to generally align the vertical openings to initiate formation of the wall and placing reinforcement bars through the aligned openings. The wall also utilizes a connector that tightly grips each respective bar to form a frictional engagement of the connector and the bars. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,450 issued to Locke, et al., teaches a masonry reinforcement system. The patent teaches a reinforcement system that includes a number of tensioning rods extending from the top to the bottom of a masonry wall structure in spaced columns. In each column, several rod segments are interconnected at each floor diaphragm using a double conical connector assembly. Each type of connector assembly is embedded in a pocket formed in the masonry wall structure using a hardenable grout. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,357 issued to Franklin, et al., teaches a modular precast construction block system with a wall subsystem and a foundation subsystem. The wall subsystem has a number of wall units having cavities and pre-stressed tension cables. The wall units are aligned to form walls with vertically aligned cavities. Threaded wall bars and extension bars are threaded through the cavities. The foundation subsystem includes a variety of precast foundation members. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,225,578 issued to Ronagh, et al., teaches a method for construction of a wall using flexible interlocking mortarless wall units. Briefly, the patent teaches a wall foundation, with foundation tendon rods, that is first constructed with a set of mechanical fastenings attached to the foundation tendon rods. A wall structure is created by vertically stacking a plurality of wall units onto the threaded tendon rods and affixing the wall units using the mechanical fastening. A plurality of roof connecters and rods are attached to horizontally form a network of roof rods, which interconnect the walls for building a roof. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,040 issued to Cerrato, et al., teaches a masonry wall system made of masonry blocks each consisting of interlocking dovetails combined with vertical and horizontal mating surfaces. The main block has two stabilizing holes through the center, and steel reinforcement rods are inserted into these stabilizing holes. The masonry components and loosely placed rods have predetermined tolerances, which permit the wall to have a fluid property. When all of the masonry components reach the peak of their tolerance, the wall locks up as a solid interconnected mass, and the force is then passed on to the stabilizing rods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a unit for a wall comprising: a single face shell having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a top surface and a bottom surface, and a first end and a second end, wherein the interior surface has a transverse axis running from the top surface to the bottom surface of the face shell, and one or more webs having a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end of each web is integral with or attached to the interior surface of the face shell along the transverse axis. In one embodiment, the wall unit includes two or more webs that are integral with or attached to the interior surface of the face shell and are each separated with a gap. Other embodiments have webs attached at the front end. Each web further has a fastener-receiving groove located on the front end of the web or a recess in the side of the web to receive a fastening clip. In another aspect, the one or more webs are further defined as having an end opposite the face shell, wherein the end comprises a ledge to support a HAT or furring channel. In another aspect, the one or more webs having a first and a second face, and an opening or opening knock-out that traverses from the first face to the second face of at least one web. In another aspect, the one or more webs further comprise a top and bottom surface and the webs further comprise an opening or opening knock-out that traverses from the first face to the second face of at least one web for, e.g., lifting the unit, as well as another opening that traverses from the first face to the second face but along at least one of the top and bottom surface, or front and rear end for horizontal reinforcements or building services (e.g., electrical, wiring for sound or internet, plumbing, etc.). The face shell and/or web may further comprise one or more ridges or ledges that can be used for lifting the masonry unit, for mechanical strength for the face shell or web, to help provide mechanical restraining or position control for any number of items that are fitted or fixed with the masonry unit, e.g., insulation, plumbing, wiring, etc. The face shell may further comprise one or more face shell lugs in which each face shell lug has portions that form a groove for receiving a fastener. One or more face shells can be fastened together by one or more fasteners that attach to the one or more face shell lugs. The face shell and the one or more webs can be made from at least one of, e.g., cement, concrete, cinder block, aggregate, clay, polymers, copolymers, metals, fiberglass, forming materials, wood, plywood, oriented strand board, particle board, cement board, engineering composite materials, bamboo, hemp, plastic, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, polystyrene. 
     In another aspect of the unit, the top surface and the bottom surface of the face shell may include one or more horizontal grooves extending from the first end of the face shell to the second end. The horizontal grooves contain one or more horizontal joint reinforcement set into the grooves between the top surface of one unit and the bottom surface of another unit. The one or more horizontal joint reinforcements can be made of, e.g., iron, iron alloys, metal, nickel, steel, steel alloy, stainless steel alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, bronze alloys, brass, brass alloys, chromium, copper, copper alloys, polymers, plastic, reinforced polyester epoxy, fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass, fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass, engineering plastics, Teflon®, lead, natural or synthetic rubber, or some combination thereof, and can provide mechanical and non-mechanical features to the wall. Alternatively, horizontal joint reinforcement may be installed on the mortar bed joint between units without face shell grooves. Apart from the horizontal grooves and joint reinforcement design, other designs for the top and bottom surface of the face shell include, e.g., a tongue and groove design, dovetail joints, interlocking joints, canal, corrugation, crease, crimp, cut, cutting, depression, ditch, flute, fluting, furrow, gouge, gutter, hollow, incision, notch, pucker, rabbet, rut, scallop, score, scratch, slit, trench, valley, or crenellated joints to provide interlocking capabilities between the surfaces in one or more directions. 
     Other embodiments of the wall unit exist in terms of the placement of the webs on the interior surface of the face shell. In one aspect, the web closest to the first end of the face shell is integral with or attached to the right of the middle transverse axis of the interior surface of the face shell closer to the second end of the face shell. In another aspect, the web closest to the first end of the face shell is integral with or attached to the left of the middle transverse axis of the interior surface of the face shell closer to the first end of the face shell. In another aspect, the unit may further comprise one or more brick ties embedded in or fastened to the interior or exterior surface of the face shell, or embedded in or fastened to the one or more webs. Another aspect has the one or more webs that are integral with, or attached to, the interior surface of the face shell justified on or radiating out from the middle transverse axis of the interior surface. 
     The present invention also includes a method for construction of a wall comprising: positioning one or more vertical reinforcement rods or tendons having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is embedded or mechanically attached to an anchor embedded in a wall-foundation, and laying a first layer of one or more wall units on the wall-foundation with each wall unit comprising: a single face shell having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a top surface and a bottom surface, and a first and a second end, wherein the interior surface has a transverse axis running from the top surface to the bottom surface of the face shell, and one or more webs having a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end of each web is integral with or attached to the interior surface of the face shell along the transverse axis, and the vertical reinforcement rods or tendons are spaced such that the one or more vertical reinforcement rods or tendons are running through or adjacent to at least one web of the wall unit. Another aspect of this method further comprises laying one or more subsequent additional layers of wall units such that the one or more webs of the subsequent layer is aligned and flush with the one or more webs of the previous layers of wall units, and the one or more vertical reinforcement rods or tendons also run through or are adjacent to the one or more webs of the subsequent additional wall unit layers. Another embodiment of the method for laying wall units includes adding one or more subsequent additional layers that include the first and second ends of the face shells, with the subsequent layers being staggered compared to the first and second ends of the face shells of the previous layers. In one embodiment the vertical rods or tendons are embedded in hardened grout between the unit webs. Another embodiment of the method further comprises the step of creating a downward tension force in each of the vertical reinforcement tendon to provide support to the wall. Different ways of tensioning each of the vertical reinforcement rods or tendons include using a fastener, which further comprises, e.g., a clip, nut, bolt, washer, or screw that secures over a threaded second end of each vertical reinforcement tendon. In another aspect, the masonry units may further comprise one or more brick ties embedded in or fastened to the interior or exterior surface of the face shell, or embedded in or fastened to the one or more webs. 
     Another aspect of this method includes the wall-foundation being further defined as being capable of withstanding a weight of a wall, and a mechanical force or strain of one or more vertical reinforcement tendons. Embodiments of the wall-foundation further comprise a cast-in-place footing made from, e.g., castable cement, concrete, grout, clay, fiberglass, fiber reinforced polymers, polymers, metals, pressure-wood, compacted aggregate, helical piers, pre-cast concrete or aggregate piers, a pier and beam foundation, or other moldable forming materials. 
     In another aspect, the method further comprises the step of laying a beam on the top layer of the masonry units, wherein the beam further comprise being made from wood, wood composites, plywood, a reinforced grout bond beam, concrete, cement, iron, iron alloys, metal, nickel, steel, steel alloy, stainless steel alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, bronze alloys, brass, brass alloys, chromium, copper, copper alloys, polymers, plastic, reinforced polyester epoxy, fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass, engineering plastics, Teflon®, lead, natural or synthetic rubber, steel reinforced concrete, or any combination thereof. Additionally, the beam further comprises one or more opening for each vertical reinforcement tendon to go through to further provide stabilizing and support for the tendons. In yet another aspect, the method further comprises positioning a cap on top of the beam or the top layer of wall units wherein the cap has one or more holes for each vertical reinforcement tendon to go through to stabilize and support the vertical reinforcement tendons. The cap further comprises being a single elongated piece with one or more holes, or separate pieces each with holes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the wall unit incorporating the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the side of the wall unit depicting the first end. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the top surface of the wall unit. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the bottom surface of the wall unit. 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the interior surface of the wall unit. 
         FIG. 6  is an inverted view of the wall unit that is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIGS. 7A to 7O  are perspective views of other embodiments of the wall unit incorporating various quantities and configurations of webs. 
         FIG. 8  shows a vertical reinforcement tendon placement adjacent to the webs. 
         FIG. 9  shows horizontal joint reinforcements placed in a horizontal mortar bed joint between wall units. 
         FIGS. 10 to 11  are illustrations of partially completed wall constructed in accordance with the method of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  shows another partially completed wall using a different assembly configuration. 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  show top views of wall units using the present invention. 
         FIGS. 14A to 14D  show side views of options for installation of the wall assembly on various types of foundations. 
         FIGS. 15A to 15C  show side views of a wall assembly with three variations for the top of the wall. 
         FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C  show embodiments of wall assemblies in which the face shell serves as the outside wall. 
         FIGS. 16D, 16E and 16F  show embodiments of wall assemblies in which the face shell serves as the inside wall. 
         FIGS. 17A to 17D  show embodiments of wall assemblies in which a clip pocket and ledge for attachment of interior finish framing is shown, and index marks are included to provide locations for cuts used for blocks in corners and/or window jambs. 
         FIG. 18  shows an embodiment in which a ledge extends from distal ends of webs that are coupled together. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. 
     To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms are defined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as outlined in the claims. 
     The present invention includes a wall unit for assembly into a masonry wall. The wall unit includes a single face shell with one or more webs attached or integral therewith. A face shell is the outer (or inner) sidewall of a concrete masonry unit, in other words, the face shell can be either on the outside or the inside of the structure. In the examples shown herewith the face shell is an exterior version of the wall unit. A web is a portion of the wall unit that extends from the face shell. 
     The face shell and web can be made from the same material (or different materials), including but not limited to, castable cement, concrete, cinder block, clay, polymers, copolymers metals, forming materials, wood, aggregate, clay, plywood, oriented strand board, particle board, cement board, engineering composite materials, bamboo, hemp, plastic, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, polystyrene, metal, and combinations thereof. The portions of the wall unit that contact the foundation (or a wall unit above an existing wall unit) will often include a transition that provides mechanical attachment and/or insulation, e.g., they can include a tongue and groove design, dovetail joints, or crenellated joints to provide interlocking capabilities. Horizontal joint reinforcements (e.g., pencil rods) can be placed in a groove or in a mortar joint between ungrooved units, which is just one example of features or methods used to provide, e.g., mechanical strength, attachment, shear stabilization, and/or insulation between one or more layers of wall units. The horizontal joint reinforcements can be made of iron, iron alloys, metal, nickel, steel, steel alloy, stainless steel alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, bronze alloys, brass, brass alloys, chromium, copper, copper alloys, polymers, plastic, reinforced polyester epoxy, fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass, engineering plastics, coated with Teflon®, lead, natural or synthetic rubber. 
     Constructing the present invention will generally require a wall-foundation that can support the weight of the wall and/or the strain of one or more vertical reinforcement tendons. The wall-foundation can include, but is not limited to, cast-in-place footing made from castable cement, concrete, grout, clay, fiberglass, fiber reinforced polymers, polymers, metals, pressure-wood, compacted aggregate, helical piers, pre-cast concrete or aggregate piers, a pier and beam foundation, or other moldable forming materials, or it can be a pre-existing surface of, e.g., concrete, ice, rock, dirt, gravel, earth, sand, etc. 
     The size of each wall unit not limited to a certain width, height, and depth. It is possible that an entire wall is made up of only a single wall unit. The wall units can be of a length along the transverse axis of 4 in, 6 in., 8 in., 12 in., 16 in., 20 in., 22 in., 2 ft., 3 ft., 4 ft., 5 ft., 6 ft., 7 ft., 8 ft., 9 ft., 10 ft., 11 ft., 12 ft., 13 ft., 14 ft., 15 ft., 16 ft., 17 ft., 18 ft., 19 ft., 20 ft., 21 ft., 22 ft., 23 ft., 24 ft., 25 ft., 26 ft., 27 ft., 28 ft., 29 ft., and 30 ft., 40 ft., 50 ft., 60 ft. or more. Likewise with width of the face shell can be 4 in, 6 in., 8 in., 12 in., 16 in., 20 in., 22 in., 2 ft., 3 ft., 4 ft., 5 ft., 6 ft., 7 ft., 8 ft., 9 ft., 10 ft., 11 ft., 12 ft., 13 ft., 14 ft., 15 ft., 16 ft., 17 ft., 18 ft., 19 ft., 20 ft., 21 ft., 22 ft., 23 ft., 24 ft., 25 ft., 26 ft., 27 ft., 28 ft., 29 ft., and 30 ft., 40 ft., 50 ft., 60 ft. or more. The length of the webs can be 4 in., 6 in., 8 in., 10 in., 12 in., 16 in., or more. Generally, the size of the wall unit will confirm with standard building sizes in either metric or imperial units of measure. 
     In one non-limiting example, a bond beam and/or cap can also placed on top of the wall. The bond beam and/or cap can include but is not limited to reinforced grout bond beam, concrete, cement, iron, iron alloys, metal, nickel, steel, steel alloy, stainless steel alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, bronze alloys, brass, brass alloys, chromium, copper, copper alloys, polymers, plastic, reinforced polyester epoxy, fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass, engineering plastics, metal coated with Teflon®, lead, natural or synthetic rubber, steel reinforced concrete, or any combination thereof. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an individual wall unit  2 , which includes a single face shell  14  with an interior surface  4 , and two webs  8   a  and  8   b  integral with or attached to the face shell  14 . A transverse axis  6 - 6 ′ is shown on interior surface  4 , and the webs  8   a ,  8   b  are attached to face shell  14  along the transverse axis from the top surface  10  to the bottom surface  12  of face shell  14 . The wall unit  2  is not limited to the two webs  8   a ,  8   b , but can also include e.g., one, two, three, four, five, or more webs. When there are two webs  8   a ,  8   b  or more, they are each separated with a gap  16 . Webs  8   a  and  8   b  are also depicted as having fastener-receiving grooves  18  which extend from the top surface  24  of webs  8   a ,  8   b  to the bottom surface  26 . Face shell  14  has portions that form a lifting edge  15  along the bottom of face shell  14 . The presence of lifting edge  15  provides strength and a gripping feature to face shell  14 , especially when face shell  14  is being lifted. Face shell  14  also has portions that form one or more face shell lugs  17  on the interior surface  4  of the face shell  14 . Each face shell lug  17  also provides strength to the face shell  15 . Each face shell lug  17  may be formed with portions that define a fastener receiving groove  28  for receiving a fastener (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) for fastening the face shell  14  to another wall unit  2  or fastening building services (e.g., electrical, plumbing lines, etc.) to the wall. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of wall unit  2  depicting an opening  20  in web  8   a , which may be an opening knock-out that may be used e.g., as a lifting pocket for wall unit  2  or for inspection of rods/tendons or to pass building services. Opening  20  can exist in web  8   a , webs  8   a  and  8   b  (not shown), or all of the webs in a multi-web arrangement, which are integral with or attached to wall unit  2 . Opening  20  can function as an opening for e.g., horizontal reinforcements or building services such as e.g., electrical, plumbing, tubing, conduit, vacuum, fiber optic, wiring (communication, telecom, internet, Ethernet, network, IT networks), vacuum, coaxial, conduits, air vents, HVAC, ventilation, refrigeration, gas sources, lighting. Opening  20  is not limited to just being at the top surface  24  of web  8   a , but can also be positioned along the bottom surface  26  as well, or anywhere throughout web  8   a . Face shell  14  has portions that form a lifting edge  15  along the bottom  12  surface of face shell  14 . Lifting edge  15  provides strength and a gripping feature to face shell  14 . Face shell  14  also has portions that form one or more face shell lugs  17  on the interior surface  4  of the face shell  14 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of wall unit  2  depicting top surface  10  of face shell  14  and top surface  24  of webs  8   a  and  8   b . Top surface  10  may be formed with portions that define one, two three, four, and five or more receiving fastener grooves  28  shown in relation to the top surface  10 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts the bottom view of wall unit  2  and shows the bottom surface  12  of face shell  14 .  FIG. 4  also shows the location of the fastener receiving grooves  28  that extend through the bottom surface  12  of face shell  14 . 
       FIG. 5  is a frontal view of wall unit  2  depicting the interior surface  4  of face shell  14 .  FIG. 5  shows that webs  8   a  and  8   b  are placed closer to the second end  32  of face shell  14  (see  FIG. 1 ) and both are to the right of the middle transverse axis  34 - 34 ′ of face shell  14 . Face shell  14  has portions that form a lifting edge  15  and one or more face shell lugs  17  on the interior surface  4  of the face shell  14 . Top surface  10  is shown along with bottom surface  12 , fastener receiving grooves  28 , shown with line  34 - 34 ′ to show alignment and side surface  30 . 
       FIG. 6  is a frontal view of wall unit  2  showing an inverted view (i.e., rotated 180 degrees) of the wall unit  2  that is shown in  FIG. 5 . The wall units  2  however are not limited to this type of placements of the one or more webs. Webs  8   a  and  8   b  are placed closer to the second end  32  of face shell  14  (see  FIG. 1 ) and both are to the left of the middle transverse axis  34 - 34 ′ of face shell  14 . Top surface  10  is shown along with bottom surface  12 , side surfaces  30  and  32 . 
       FIGS. 7A to 7O  are perspective views of other non-limiting embodiments of the wall unit that incorporate various quantities and configurations of webs and while shown with specific configurations, the skilled artisan will recognized that whether the webs are right-of-center, in the mid-point or left-of-center, these can be configured in the opposite manner and can include any variants of the same. The various figures show the wall unit  2  with: a single web to the right-of-center ( 7 A), a single web in the center with a center-aligned enlarged web ( 7 B), a left-of-center web that is enlarged but not centered ( 7 C), a double web configuration with both webs right-of-center ( 7 D), a double web with each web adjacent the centerline of the wall unit and having an enlarged portion ( 7 E), a double web configuration with both webs left-of-center and having an enlarged portion that extends into the opening between the webs ( 7 F), a double web configuration where the webs are attached to each other and are right-of-center ( 7 G), a centered double web configuration in which the webs are also attached and further comprise additional material outside the opening between the webs ( 7 H), a double web configuration that is left-of-center and is attached without additional material ( 7 I), a triple web configuration with two webs right-of-center and one web left-of-center ( 7 J), a triple web configuration with a web in the center, the right-of- and left-of-center with additional material at the end ( 7 K), a triple web configuration shown with two webs left-of-center and one web right of center with additional material ( 7 L), a triple web configuration with a single web left-of-center and two connected webs right-of-center ( 7 M), a triple web configuration with a single web left-of-center and two connected webs right-of-center both with additional material ( 7 N), and a triple web configuration with a double web left-of-center connected webs and a single right-of-center web ( 7 O). The skilled artisan will recognize that the masonry unit can contain more than three webs, that the exemplary masonry units shown are not limiting but rather show various optional configurations which can be mixed and matched to produce variants on either side, middle, or both. 
       FIG. 8  shows the placement of a vertical reinforcement tendon  38  in gap  16  between webs  8   a  and  8   b  of wall unit  2 . Face shell  14  (see  FIG. 1 ) has portions that form a lifting edge  15  along the bottom  12  surface of face shell  14 . Lifting edge  15  provides strength and a gripping feature to face shell  14 . Face shell  14  also has portions that form one or more face shell lugs  17  on the interior surface  4  of the face shell  14 . Also shown are bottom surface  12  and fastener receiving grooves  28 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the placement of horizontal joint reinforcements  36  on the face shell and webs of wall unit  2 . The horizontal joint reinforcements  36  sit between the top surface  10  and bottom surface  12  of different layers of wall units  2 , which can be inserted into grooves  29 . This is only one example of the construction design between the top surface  10  and bottom surface  12  of different wall units  2 . The design serves to provide both mechanical features such as friction and reducing shear movement between the surfaces, and non-mechanical features such as insulation for the wall. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , wall  100  is constructed by first positioning one or more vertical reinforcement rods or tendons  38  in a wall-foundation  110 , followed by the laying of a first layer of one or more wall units  2  on the wall-foundation  110  such that the one or more vertical reinforcement rods or tendons  38  are adjacent to webs  8   a  and  8   b  and are in gap  16 . The skilled artisan will recognize that the rods or tendons  38  can be a single piece or multiple pieces that are fastened together and tightened and may be pre-inserted into the foundation prior to installation of the masonry units, or may even be added during or even after installation of some of or the entire wall. The wall construction further includes laying one or more subsequent additional layers of wall units  40  such that the webs of the subsequent layer is aligned and flush with the webs  8   a ,  8   b  of the previous layers of wall unit  2 . Additionally, the one or more vertical reinforcement rods or tendons  38  also run through or are adjacent to the webs  8   a ,  8   b  of the subsequent layer of wall unit  2 . Wall  100  is shown alternating wall unit  2  in an upright and inverted orientation between layers. With the aligning of the webs  8   a ,  8   b , the different wall units causes the first end  30  and second end  32  of the subsequent layers to be staggered compared to the first end  30  and second end  32  of the previous layers.  FIG. 11  is an isometric view of wall  100  showing the alignment of the webs  8   a ,  8   b  that allows the continued placement of the vertical reinforcement rods or tendons  38  to be adjacent to the webs  8   a ,  8   b , or to potentially go through them and are depicted with a filler, concrete or equivalent in gap  16 . 
       FIG. 12  shows wall  200  constructed with wall unit  2  with all units in an inverted orientation as shown in wall  100  of  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The first and second ends  30  and  32  in wall  200  are not staggered, but instead are aligned for wall units  42 . The webs in wall  200  are also aligned and flush for the proper placement of vertical reinforcement rods or tendons  38 . Placement of all units in an upright orientation is another embodiment and will create a similar condition. 
     After the final layer of the wall unit is laid and the optional bond beam and cap placed, a downward tension is created in the vertical reinforcement tendon to enhance the ability of the wall to receive lateral loading without failing in tension. The creating of the downward tension in the vertical reinforcement tendon can be but is not limited to being accomplished with a fastener such as a clip, nut, bolt, washer, or screw that secures over a threaded second end of each vertical reinforcement tendon. Additional methods include but not limited to physically deforming the vertical reinforcement tendon to also create the downward tension and stabilize the vertical reinforcement tendon. 
     The single face shell provides access to vertical reinforcement tendon members for inspection, maintenance, and replacement, as well as access to wall interior during or after construction for installation of concealed building services, damp proofing, and insulation. Allowing access to wall interior results in decreases in construction time and increases in construction efficiency. 
     The masonry unit of the present invention provides several distinct advantages: including but not limited to: singlet sided single face shell: access to interior of wall after erection, which: reduces trade scheduling dependencies; allows installation of: vertical reinforcing/post-tensioning tendon, damp proofing, insulation, building services (elec., plumbing, low-voltage, etc.), and allows inspection of building services (elec., plumbing, low-voltage, etc.) after the wall is erected. 
     The masonry unit of the present invention also provides an open system, which allows for: modular coursing with standard block; works with installation of conventional non-proprietary (e.g., inexpensive) insulation systems; allows typical or conventional installation for electric, or plumbing), or low-voltage systems; and supports typical interior/exterior finishes other than masonry if desired. 
     Another advantage of the masonry unit of the present invention is that is uses less material per square foot of wall area (efficient with material and labor) and more wall area per unit (in particular when used as a one-handed unit for installation). Another advantage is that the units can be nested for shipping, pressing and curing, which allows for more efficient manufacturing and palletizing, shipping, and/or staging. 
     Additional advantages of the masonry unit of the present invention includes that the masonry units are reversible (integral masonry surface (e.g., the face shell) can be inside or out) allowing an earlier building dry-in for accelerated construction schedules. Other advantages include: reinforcing options/flexibility, such as: conventional grouted rebar; and no-grout post-tensioned reinforcing. The masonry units allow for true back dam flashing in single wythe construction, and it also allows industrial buildings to later be upgraded to more finished uses without supplemental framing. 
       FIGS. 13A and 13B  include two top views of masonry unit of the present invention showing two variations for providing mechanical strength to the wall, before, during or after installation. In  FIG. 13A , a masonry unit  2 , is shown with face shell  14  and webs  8   a  and  8   b . A vertical reinforcement tendon  38  is shown within a grout  90 , which is held in place while hardening using an integral knock-out  92 . In  FIG. 13B , a masonry unit  2 , is shown with face shell  14  and webs  8   a  and  8   b . A vertical reinforcement tendon  38 , but in this version the post-tensioning of the rod provides all the support without the addition of a grout  90  or other packing materials in the space between webs  8   a  and  8   b.    
       FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, and 14D  show various side views of wall assemblies positioned on various types of foundations.  FIG. 14A  shows a vertical reinforcement in which the wall assembly  50  is shown over a footing integrated with a slab on-grade edge. In  FIG. 14B , the wall assembly  50  is shown over a continuous linear cast-in-place ‘strip’ foundation. In  FIG. 14C , the wall assembly  50  is shown over a compacted aggregate with steel tube and spreader plates.  FIG. 14D  shows the wall assembly  50  is shown over helical piers with steel tube and plates. 
       FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C  show three variants for mechanical support at the top of wall.  FIG. 15A  shows the use of a tube  92  and spreader plates  94  on wall assembly  50 , in relation to the vertical reinforcement tendon  38 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15B , grout  90  and longitudinal reinforcing is used within a beam  96 , shown on wall assembly  50  also, in relation to the vertical reinforcement tendon  38 . In  FIG. 15C , grout  90  and longitudinal reinforcing is used within a continuous cavity formed by units supported by lugs and ridges of masonry units. 
       FIGS. 16A, 16B, and 16C  show examples of an embodiment of the present invention in which, once the wall has been assembled it can include various finishes using a configuration in which the face shell  14  serves as the exterior wall surface of wall unit  2 . The face shell  14  serves as the exterior wall surface, which can be, e.g., sealed, painted directly, and/or can be pre-painted. The wall assembly  50  is shown with an internal damp-proofing  108 , batt insulation  110  (also shown for illustration purposes as rigid insulation  114 ), which can be inserted with friction based on the size of the wall unit and the insulation, or attached with ties, and the interior wall  112 . Also for purposes of illustration the interior wall can be a wall-board, e.g., sheetrock, concrete board, fiberglass, or wood (with or without a pre-existing moisture barrier), and/or brick  116 . 
       FIGS. 16D, 16E and 16F  show examples of an embodiment of the present invention in which the wall, once assembled, has a face shell  14  serves as the interior wall surface. The face shell  14  serves as the interior wall surface, which can be, e.g., sealed, painted directly, and/or can be pre-painted. The wall assembly  50  is shown with an internal damp-proofing  108 , batt insulation  110  (also shown for illustration purposes as rigid insulation  114 ), which can be inserted with friction based on the size of the wall unit and the insulation, or attached with ties, and the interior wall  112 . Also for purposes of illustration the exterior wall can be a wall-board, e.g., concrete board, fiberglass, metal, or wood (without or without a pre-existing moisture barrier), and/or brick  116 . 
       FIG. 17A  is an isometric view,  FIG. 17B  a side view,  FIG. 17C  is a top-view and  FIG. 17D  is another side view of an individual wall unit  2 , which includes a single face shell  14  with an interior surface  4 , and two webs  8   a  and  8   b  integral with or attached to the face shell  14 . As depicted in  FIG. 17A , this embodiment of the individual wall unit  2  further includes notches  150   a ,  150   b  at the end of the two webs  8   a  and  8   b  opposite the face shell  14  that can be used, e.g., as a ledge for a HAT or furring channel. Also shown in  FIG. 17A  is a channel  152 , designed to receive fasteners, e.g., to receive a tension clip for the attachment of interior finish framing (not shown). In addition, another optional feature shown in this embodiment of the individual wall unit  2  are cut index marks  154   a ,  154   b , and  154   c . The cut index marks  154   a ,  154   b , and  154   c  are spaced to provide convenient marks for cutting the individual wall unit  2  to form corners, door or window jambs. The face shell  14  is depicted in this embodiment having a reduced concrete volume by tapering the interior surface  4  of the face shell  14 , until either end of the face shell is reached, wherein the face shell  14  is thickened to a uniform thickness, e.g., 1⅝ inches. The edges of the two webs  8   a  and  8   b  are shown having rounded internal edges to facilitate manufacturing of the units. The two webs  8   a  and  8   b  are shown forming an opening or gap  16  between the webs  8   a  and  8   b.    
       FIG. 18  illustrates an embodiment of a unit  2 ′ similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  in that the distal ends of webs  8   a ′,  8   b ′ are coupled together. However, in this embodiment, a ledge  250  extends from the outer surfaces of the distal ends  8   a ′,  8   b ′ in the direction of an axis C-C that extends orthogonal to an axis A-A that extends through the top  10 ′ and bottom surfaces  12 ′ of the face shell  14 ′ and an axis B-B that extends through the ends  30 ′,  32 ′ of the face shell  14 ′. The ledge  250  includes a horizontal surface  251  that is spaced apart from and between the top surface  24  and the bottom surface  26  of the webs  8   a ,  8   b . The horizontal surface  251  lies within a plane that extends substantially parallel to the axes B-B and C-C. 
     It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented with respect to any method of construction. It will be understood that particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims. 
     All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
     The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects. 
     As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. In embodiments of any of the compositions and methods provided herein, “comprising” may be replaced with “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of”. As used herein, the phrase “consisting essentially of” requires the specified integer(s) or steps as well as those that do not materially affect the character or function of the claimed invention. As used herein, the term “consisting” is used to indicate the presence of the recited integer (e.g., a feature, an element, a characteristic, a property, a method/process step or a limitation) or group of integers (e.g., feature(s), element(s), characteristic(s), propertie(s), method/process steps or limitation(s)) only. 
     The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, “A, B, C, or combinations thereof” is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, AB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context. 
     As used herein, words of approximation such as, without limitation, “about”, “substantial” or “substantially” refers to a condition that when so modified is understood to not necessarily be absolute or perfect but would be considered close enough to those of ordinary skill in the art to warrant designating the condition as being present. The extent to which the description may vary will depend on how great a change can be instituted and still have one of ordinary skilled in the art recognize the modified feature as still having the required characteristics and capabilities of the unmodified feature. In general, but subject to the preceding discussion, a numerical value herein that is modified by a word of approximation such as “about” may vary from the stated value by at least ±1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 or 15%. 
     All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
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