Stone

 Stone is one of the oldest materials used by humanity for building purposes. Even today, it is widely used in the form of manufactured mineral material like ceramics, lime-sandstone, concrete, aerated concrete, or light concrete. It is considered here in the variant executed from single masonry units and combined in a masonry bond to form areal components, particularly walls. The main rules governing the patterns of load-bearing arrangements of masonry blocks are discussed as well as their mechanical behavior under load.