Building Technology assignment

QUESTION AND ANSWER

1) Give the mean of technology of construction: it’s the study of the methods and
equipment’s used to build structure, people who study construction technology are
introduced to the field and a taught skill in engineering and in technology.

2) What is the different between BEAMS and PILLARS :

i. BEAMS is a long sturdy piece of squared timber or metal used to support the
roof or floor of a building

TYPES OF BEAMS

i. Simply supported beams

ii. Fixed beams and
iii. Continuously supported beams

B) PILLAR is a vertical structure made of wood, stone and rods used to

supporting a building

TYPES OF PILLARS

i. Doric pillar
ii. Ionic pillar
iii. Corinthian
3) How many bricks do you know
i. BURNT CLAY BRICKS :can be used to prevent moisture ,insects and
erosion
ii. Sand lime bricks: there can be used as ornamental works in building,
masonry work or is a product that uses lime instead of cement.
iii. Concrete bricks :this is a mixture of cements and cost aggregate
,usually sand
iv. Engineering bricks :there high compressive strength and low water
absorption

4) Different between block and bricks

Blocks: are contrasted using or are made out of cement, they include a hollow
core to make them lighter mean why,

Bricks: is a building material used to make walls, pavement and other elements
in masonry construction

5) Give dimension of block (20)

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ii. Length 40
iii. thickness 15
iv. Height 20
6) Give the name of blocks we use to made a slab concrete: hallow block
7) What’s a foundation : it’s the lower portion of a building structure that transfer its
gravity load to the earth
8) Give the different types of foundation
i. Strip foundation
ii. RAFT foundation
iii. PAD foundation
9) What’s the meaning of steel: is a very important subject for undergraduate civil
engineering ,steel is an alloy of carbon and iron which is used to construct ,and
other application
10)Steel structure is a very important subject for undergraduate civil engineers , steel
is an alloy of carbon WHY iron is used to construct and other application.

11) Different between ,steel ,rods and iron

Iron: is an element while steel is an alloy comprising of iron and carbon. However, in
this alloy iron is present in a greater quantity why Rod is a thin straight bar especially
of wood or meta

12)What is excavation: Excavation is the prices of moving earth ,rock or other

material with tools ,equipment or explosive .it includes earthworks ,trenching ,wall
shafts ,tunneling and underground
13)What is setting out : setting out refers to the act of measuring and making out a full
size plan of a building or element of a building on site
14)Rule of staircase: it helps to facilitate the movement of person up and down the
building .
15)What is mean by footing: they are typically made of concrete with rebar
reinforcement that has been poured into an excavation trench.
16)What is a pile: a pile is basically long cylinder of a strong material such as concrete
that is pushed into the ground to act as steady support for structure built on top of
it.
17)Different between soft sand and sharp sand: sharp sand is more coarse and has
larger particles than other construction WHY soft sand is not washed and which
contain a deal of clay in it feels. And also its smooth when held in the hand
18)When do you use a pile in foundation :
i. When there is a layer of weak soil at the surface .

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ii. This layer cannot support the weight of the building if its built in
rocking area

1. Raft foundations
Definition

Raft foundations (sometimes known as Mat Foundations) are a large concrete slab which can support a
number of columns and walls.

The slab is spread out under the entire building or at least a large part of it which lowers the contact
pressure compared to the traditionally used strip or trench footings.

Because of the speed and volume of houses required after the second world war, the raft foundation
was widely used. The raft foundation was cheaper, easier to install and most importantly, did not
require as much excavation as the usual strip foundations.

This meant that to use a raft foundation, it had to be designed and approved by Building Control. This
made the entire operation much more difficult and time consuming so raft foundations became less
widely used almost overnight.

Advantages of Raft foundations

• Raft foundations are constructed for shallow depths hence, it requires less excavation.

• Well suitable in soils of low bearing capacity.

• Loads coming from superstructure are distributed over a larger area.

• Differential settlement of soil can be reduced.

Disadvantages of Raft foundations

• In some cases, large amount of reinforcement is required for raft foundation which increases
the cost of project.

• Special attention on raft foundations is required in case of concentrated loads.

• If they are not treated properly, there is a chance of edge erosion.

Type of Raft foundations

There are five main types of Raft foundations namely

• Solid slab rafts, Flat raft mats are typically used for small buildings where it’s possible to
position columns at regular distances across the footprint of the building, to provide equal stress
distribution on the foundation.

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• Cellular rafts, This type of raft foundation comprises two concrete slabs, which lock together via
ground beams. Cellular raft foundations are exceptionally rigid, and so they are most suited for ground
that is likely to settle unevenly, or where very heavy loads are anticipated. Cellular rafts can also be used
where significant ground heave is expected to be a problem.

• Balancing (or floating) rafts. Balancing rafts or floating foundations are increasingly used in
cases where the reduction of soil settlements is of absolute importance, as well as in projects where the
soil bearing capacity is extremely low. They are created through excavation

Factors To Consider When choosing Raft foundations

• Adequate depth. The foundation must have an adequate depth to prevent frost damage

• Bearing capacity failure

• Settlements

• Quality

• Adequate strength

• Adverse soil changes

• Seismic forces.

1. DEFINITION

PAD FOUNDATION : Foundations which carry and spread concentrated loads to the soil from
superstructures is called pad foundation. They are usually placed to transfer point loads from the
column or framed structures and consists of a concrete block or concrete pad. The pads are usually
placed at a shallow depth, but they can also be used as deep foundation depending on the loads to be
transferred and condition of the subsoil.

Pad foundations may be square, rectangular or circular in shape. If the pad is subjected to a heavy
loaded structure, the pad footing may be stepped. The loads from the structure are simply distributed
by the pad to the bearing layer of soil. Pad foundations are also used to support ground beams.

REASON WHY YOU CAN CHOOSE PAD FOUNDATION

I. There is high bearing capacity at a shallow depth.

II. There is no chance of differential settlement.

III. Loads from superstructure are relatively low.

IV. For cost-effective solution.

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FACTORS AFFECTING PAD FOUNDATIONS

1. Accessibility

2. Condition of subsurface

3. The magnitude of the load to be transferred

4. The proximity of other structures

5. Water table depth

Types of Pad foundation

The Followings are the types of pad foundation used in construction

1. Plain Concrete Pad foundations .can be reinforced or non-reinforced. Plain concrete pad
foundations are a non-reinforced foundation. For non-reinforced pad foundation, the thickness of the
foundation should be equal or more than the required width of the foundation to safely distribute the
load. This type of foundation can be used when the loads from the superstructure are low.

2. Reinforced Concrete Pad Foundation. Reinforcement in pad foundation reduces the thickness
required for the foundation. For the ease of construction, they are usually designed to be square plan
area. Rectangular pads are also used, especially when there is eccentric or inclined loading.

3. Continuous Pad Foundation. This type of pad foundations is used when the columns are closely
placed and the individual pad foundations overlap each other. The reinforcement in continuous
foundation ensures longitudinal stiffness. This type of foundation can also be used to resists differential
settlement.

1. DEFINITIONS

Strip Foundation. is used to support a line of loads, either due to load-bearing wall, or if a line
of columns need supporting where column positions are so close that individual pad

PLACES WERE WE CAN USE STRIP FOUNDATION

Strip Foundation. Strip foundations are used where the soil is of good bearing capacity. The key
sizes of a strip foundation for concrete cavity wall construction and timber frame cavity wall
construction are similar. The size and position of the strip is directly related to the overall width of the
wall.

Types of strip foundation

i. Ordinary strip foundation
ii. Wide strip foundation

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iii. Deep strip foundation

ADVANTAGES OF STRIP FOUNDATION

i. Ability to withstand great loads.

ii. Easy to build, no special training requirements for personnel.
iii. Very long service life.
iv. They have subtypes from which you can choose the one you need for particular purposes.
v. The price is much lower than that of cast-in-situ structures, although strip foundations are not inferior
to them in strength.
vi. You can insulate the floors much better if you use a strip foundation.

DISADVANTAGES OF STRIP FOUNDATION

i. Not suitable for every soil type.

ii. You have to fill all the lot in one go, but preparing such an amount of concrete on your own is
quite problematic.
iii. There is quite a decent amount of work on running the concrete, so you can’t do without help.

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