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Glossary for gem taxonomy

Authors: Luke Allen, Andrew Charleson, Svetlana Brzev, and Charles Scawthorn

This online Glossary explains around 400 terms contained in the GEM Building Taxonomy v 2.0 and nearly 700 images.

The terms have been listed in alphabetical and numerical order. Text description of each term is accompanied by illustrations (photos and/or drawings) where possible.

We welcome contributions in the form of photographs or images, illustrating glossary terms. If you have any questions you can also contact us at buildingtaxonomy@globalquakemodel.org


Rubble/field stone masonry is composed of uncoursed rounded field stones or roughly-cut stones used for construction with or without mortar. There are two wall wythes and a core, usually filled with stone rubble and mud. Semi-dressed stone masonry is characterized by one wall wythe (usually exterior) built using shaped stones; usually only the exposed stone surface is shaped. In some cases, stone masonry can be reinforced, usually with wood elements (wood-reinforced).

Rubble -field stone- or semi-dressed stone 1.jpg

Rubble stone masonry, Italy (T. Schacher)

STRUB_Indonesia_Bothara_1

Rubble stone masonry constructed using round river stones in lime or cement:lime mortar, usually 250 mm thick, West Sumatra, Indonesia (J. Bothara)

STRUB_UK_Brzev_1

Random rubble stone masonry, Cambridge, United Kingdom (S. Brzev)

STRUB_Algeria_Farsi_1

Stone masonry building in Algiers suffered damage in the 2003 Boumerdes, Algeria earthquake (M. Farsi)

STRUB_Pakistan_Bothara_1

Rubble stone masonry with timber bands, NWFP, Pakistan (J. Bothara)

Rubble -field stone- or semi-dressed stone 2.jpeg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rubble stone masonry, Maharashtra, India (S. Brzev)

 

Rubble -field stone- or semi-dressed stone 3.jpg Rubble -field stone- or semi-dressed stone 3.jpg

Semi-dressed stone masonry, Maharashtra, India (S. Brzev)

STRUB_Chile_Mihaldzic_1

Semi-dressed stone masonry in mud mortar, Chile (S. Mihaldzic)

STRUB_Marrakesh_Morocco_Scawthorn_1

STRUB_Marrakesh_Morocco_Scawthorn_2

Rubble stone masonry, Marrakesh, Morocco (C. Scawthorn)

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