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Unit 1 Construction Materials Support Notes PDF
Unit 1 Construction Materials Support Notes PDF
The expansion of RCC is Reinforced Cement Concrete. Plain concrete is very weak
in tension and cannot be used directly in the construction of lintels, roofs, slabs etc,,
because the bottom fibres are subject to tensile stresses. A combination of concrete
and steel is known as reinforced cement concrete and is widely used in construction.
22. List the advantages of reinforced cement concrete.
(i) RCC is tough and durable.
(ii) RCC construction is easy and fast.
(iii) The ingredient materials used for preparing RCC are easily available.
(iv) Maintenance of RCC roofs, slabs are easy.
23. Write short notes on light weight concrete.
Light weight concrete has a density ranging from 300 1850 kg/m3. It has a low
thermal conductivity. It is prepared by replacing the usual mineral aggregate by
cellular porous and light weight aggregate. Natural light weight aggregates are
pumice, diatomite, scoria, volcanic cinders, sawdust and rice husk.
24. Write short notes on steel sections used in
construction.
Since the steel has ductile and has elastic properties, mild
steel having a carbon content of 0.1 0.25 percent is used
for structural work. The various shapes of steel sections
used are shown in figure.
SHS : Square Hollow Section; RHS : Rectangular Hollow
Section.
25. Write short notes on Timber in construction.
Timber is obtained from trees. It is the form of wood used in construction. For
construction purpose, wood derived from deciduous trees is used. Deciduous trees are
broad leaf trees which yields hard wood. Example : teak, sal etc.
26. Differentiate between thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics.
Thermoplastics become soft when heated and hard when it is cooled. The thermosetting
plastics becomes rigid when moulded at suitable pressure and temperature.
27. Write short notes on any three properties of materials.
Ductility : It is the property of material by which it can be drawn as a thin wire.
5
Part B
1. Explain briefly how bricks are manufactured.
Preparation of brick earth
(i) Loose soil which contains impurities, is removed for about 20 cm depth.
(ii) Earth is then dug out from the ground, spread and weathering is done for a week time.
(iii) The clay is then mixed with suitable ingredients by tilting the clay and ingredients up and
down ina kiln.
(iv) Water is added to clay to make the whole mass of clay homogeneous and plastic.
Moulding of bricks
Hand moulding: It is done in a rectangular box with open at top and bottom. Box is made up of
wood or steel.
Table moulding
(i) Done by the experienced supervisor
(ii) Bricks are moulded on the table and sent to next stage.
Ground Moulding
(i) Small portion is cleaned and leveled.
(ii) Find sand is sprinkled over it.
(iii) Mould is dipped in water and kept on the ground and the clay is pressed by hand
Drying of bricks
(i) Bricks are staked in the yard with 8 to 10 bricks in a row.
(ii) Bricks are dried for a period of 5 to 12 days.
(iii) Some times bricks are dried by hot gases from kiln.
(iv) But artificial drying produces warps on the bricks
Burning of bricks
(i) It imparts hardness and strength to bricks and makes them dense and durable.
(ii) Burning should be uniform, because unburnt bricks remain soft and hence cannot carry
loads.
(iii) Overburnt bricks become brittle and break easily.
(iv) Burning of bricks done in clamp or kilns.
2. What are the types of rocks? Explain briefly about (i) dressing of stones and (ii)
quarrying of stones.
Building stones are obtained from rocks. Rocks are classified into igneous rocks,
sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks.
Igneous rocks are formed by cooling of the molten materials beneath the earths
surface. Stones from igneous rocks are harder. Granite which is widely used in
construction of building is a good example.
Sedimentary rocks are formed by deposition of weathering products on existing rocks.
Deposits in layers and when the load is applied along the layers these rocks easily split.
Metamorphic rocks are formed in the change in character of the pre existing rocks.
These rocks will also be hard, if the basic rock is igneous rock.
Dressing of stones: Stones have irregular shape after quarrying. The process of cutting
the stones to a regular shape and size and the required surface finish is called dressing
of stones.
Quarrying of stones
It is the process of extracting stone blocks from existing rocks. In general, it is done
some depth below the top surface of rock, where the effects of weathering are not
found. Quarrying is done by digging, heating or wedging. In soft rocks, like lime stone
and marble stones are obtained by digging, heating or wedging by hand tools. In hard
and dense rocks, stones are obtained by blasting using explosives.
3. What are the various classifications of mortar? Explain.
The major classifications of mortar are (i) Bricklaying mortar (ii) Finishing mortar (iii) Fire
resistant mortar (iv) Light weight mortar
Bricklaying mortar:
(i) It is used for brickwork and walls.
(ii) Depending upon the working conditions and the type of construction , the binding materials
for the mortar is decided.
Finishing mortar :
(i) These mortars include common plastering work and ornamental effects.
(ii) Cement or lime is used as the binding material for ordinary plastering mortar.
Fire resistant mortar :
(i) It is prepared by adding aluminous cement to the finely crushed powder of fire bricks.
(ii) The usual proportion is one part aluminous cement to two parts fire brick powders.
Light weight mortar:
(i) It is prepared by adding materials such as saw dust, wood powder, etc.,
(ii) Other materials could be asbestos, fibres, coir etc., This mortar is sued for sound proof and
heat proof construction.
4. Explain briefly about the steels, classification and its uses in construction.
Steel contains carbon upto a maximum of 1.5 percent. Based on the carbon content, steel are
classified into,
(i) Low carbon steel (Mild steel) with carbon content 0.25 percent.
(ii) Medium carbon or medium hard steel with carbon content between 0.25 0.70 percent
(iii) High carbon steel or hard steel having carbon content 0.70 1.5 percent.
Uses of Low carbon steel (Mild steel):
Low carbon or mild steel is used in structural works such as trusses, angles and plates.
It is also used in RCC works as plain or twisted rods.
References :
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/.../section3-eng.php
Shanmugam G and Palanichamy M S, Basic Civil and Mechanical
Engineering,Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Co., New Delhi, (1996).
Venugopal K and Prahu Raja V, Basic Mechanical Engineering, Anuradha
Publishers, Kumbakonam, (2000).