University of Central Florida

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering

CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS (CGN 3501C) LAB
Fall 2020

CLASS This laboratory course shall assist the students in understanding the concepts and
DESCRIPTION: applications of civil engineering materials. The course is designed to provide an
understanding of basic construction materials as steel, aluminum, aggregate, cement,
concrete and asphalt and testing including tension test, specific gravity, sieve analysis of
aggregates, slump test, compressive strength test, flexural strength test, and Marshall test.

LAB LOCATION: ENG2-111C Geotechnical Laboratory

LAB TIME: Section #1: Monday 09:30 AM – 12:20 PM

Section #2: Monday 01:30 PM – 04:20 PM
Section #3: Wednesday 01:30 PM – 04:20 PM
Section #4: Thursday 01:30 PM – 04:20 PM
Section #5: Friday 9:30 AM – 12:20 PM

REFERENCE Materials for Civil and Construction Engineers – Mamlouk & Zaniewski
TEXT: Appendix – Laboratory Manual

GTA OFFICE Lab Instructor: Mohammad Shokri Sergio M. Savatier

HOURS: Tuesday 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM (Zoom) Thursday 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM (Zoom)
Email: Shokri.m@knights.ucf.edu marinsergio81@knights.ucf.edu
Office: ENG2-213 ENG2-426

**Note: Emails must include course title & section number within the subject line;
Example: CGN 3501C–Section1/Group1

LAB REPORTS: All report submittals must be submitted in a professional manner. All reports must be
typed, neat, organized, and must follow the minimum format requirements provided
below. Reports are due by two weeks at the beginning of the lab section. Late lab
reports will not be accepted. Do not copy from books; the report must be in your
own words. An electronic copy of each report will be required along with a printed
hardcopy, as assigned by the lab instructor.

When you submit electronic version of lab reports, please name your file according to
the following rule:
Section#_Group#_LAB#.doc or pdf
For example, “S1_G2_LAB3.docx” for section one, group two and lab three.

LAB ABSENCES: Only ONE excused absence is permitted. A make-up lab will only be permitted if a
valid excuse for the absence is provided in writing. In case missing a lab session is
unavoidable (e.g. personal injury, family emergency) both course instructor and
teaching assistant must be informed before the session. It is the student’s responsibility
to provide documentary evidence in a week to avoid any grade penalty.
More than TWO unexcused absences may result in a failing grade for the lab course.

CLASS In each section, students will be divided into four groups. Each group will have
ORGANIZATION: approximately five members. The members within each group will work together
in order to conduct the lab experiment and prepare/submit on lab report. However,
due to COVID19 restrictions, only two students from each group can attend the lab
and the rest must follow the lab work online through Zoom link. The physical lab
attendance should be by turn among group members.

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 University of Central Florida
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS (CGN 3501C) LAB
Fall 2020

ACADEMIC Engineers must demonstrate “high” standards of integrity. Copying directly from
INTEGRITY: outside books or other students is not permitted; however, group reports may be
assigned at the discretion of the lab instructor. By enrollment at UCF, you are
bounded by The Golden Rule – Rules of Conduct. Please review these rules and
act accordingly (www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu)
School and university policies on academic integrity will be strictly enforced.
Students found to have cheated or plagiarized will receive a grade of “ZERO”.
As this is a professional, junior level engineering course, all students shall
conduct themselves in a professional manner during the lecture period.

CLASS Laboratory Reports 90%

ASSESSMENT: Lab Participation 10%

LABORATORY Title Page 0%

REPORTS: Abstract 10%
Introduction 10%
Materials/Equipment & Procedures 10%
Data 15%
Sample Calculations & Results 20%
Discussion 25%
Conclusion 10%
Appendix 0%

REPORT Report must include the following to receive full credit: Title Page, Abstract,
REQUIREMENT: Introduction, Materials & Equipment, Procedures, Data, Sample calculations,
Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and Appendix.
Points will be deducted for grammatical/spelling errors, erroneous data,
miscalculations, or insufficient analysis. Attendance and participations can
also modify a student’s report grade.
The title page must include each group member’s full name, lab section & group
number, experiment number and title, instructor name, and the date. Data and
Results should be separated, and all graphs must have appropriate labels. Sample
calculations must be typed. The discussion must include possible sources of errors
and should be roughly one page in length. An appendix may be included at the end
of each lab report and should include any references.

Format Font: Times New Roman

Font size: 12
Spacing: Double
Headings: Bold

**See next page for further information

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 University of Central Florida
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS (CGN 3501C) LAB
Fall 2020

Title Page Name of each group member

Lab section number and group number
Experiment number and title
Instructor’s name
Date of submission
Abstract Summary of the laboratory report with key results stated
Introduction Objective and important background/theory of laboratory experiment
Justification of experiment’s importance
Materials/Equipment & List the materials used for the experiment
Procedure Explain the procedure for conducting the experiment
Include theory and diagrams of the apparatus
Data Present the raw data that was obtained during the experiment
Sample Calculations & Explain the variables and the equations
Results Calculate the values that are required for the experiment (i.e. processed data)
Discussion Interpret the results of the experiment
Discuss the connection between the results and theory
Include possible sources of error & make appropriate recommendations
Conclusion Summarize the results & discussion
Make a final judgment from the experiment
Appendix Additional material/References (if needed)

LAB EXPERIMENTS:
Book
Week Date Lab # Lab Title Due Date
Appendix
1 8/24 - 8/28 NO LAB
2 8/31 - 9/4 1 Introduction, lab policy, measurements A.1 --
3 9/7 - 9/11 NO LAB (labor day)
4 9/14 - 9/18 2 Tension tests on steel and aluminum A.2 9/28 - 10/2
5 9/21 - 9/25 3 Specific gravity and sieve analysis of aggregates A6 & A7 10/5 - 10/9
6 9/28 - 10/2 4 Bulk unit weight and voids in aggregate A.9& A.6 10/12 - 10/16
7 10/5 - 10/9 5 Slump test + Casting of concrete cylinders and beams A.10 & A.14 10/19 - 10/23
8 10/12 -10/16 NO LAB (MIDTERM EXAM)
Compressive strength test of concrete cylinders and
9 10/19 - 10/23 6 A.16 & A.17 11/2 - 11/6
masonry blocks
10 10/26 - 10/30 7 Flexural strength of concrete beams A.17 11/9 - 11/13
11 11/2 - 11/6 8 Viscosity of asphalt and penetration resistance A.21 & A.23 11/16 - 11/20
12 11/9 - 11/13 NO LAB (Veterans day)
13 11/16 - 11/20 9 Marshal compaction and stability of asphalt concrete A.26, A.28 11/30- 12/4
14 NO LAB
15 NO LAB
16 NO LAB (FINAL EXAM)

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 University of Central Florida
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS (CGN 3501C) LAB
Fall 2020


 Safety
a. General Safety
1- No student may work in the lab without signing the lab safety agreement form.
2- Do not enter the lab unless you are authorized to do so.
3- You are responsible for your safety as well as others’ safety. Do not do anything you feel is dangerous.
You need to talk to the lab instructor before using equipment.
4- Keep the lab area clean. Do not bring food to the laboratory.
5- Report all lab incidents to lab instructors. Call 911 in case of emergency.

b. Personal Safety
1- Think before you act. Be careful for your safety as for others. Take instructor permission before using any
equipment.
2- Wear shoes that completely cover your feet all the time in the lab. No one with sandals or open-toed shoes
will be permitted to enter the lab.
3- Wear full pants (preferably jeans). No one with shorts or skirt will be permitted to enter the lab.
4- Wear gloves if handling hot fluids or reactive materials.
5- Wear helmets and goggles while working with equipment that possibly splatter liquids or broken pieces of
metal.
6- Tie back long hair.
7- Remove bracelets, metal watches, etc. when working with magnetic or electrical equipment.

c. Equipment Safety
1- Inspect all equipment prior to use. Do not operate equipment you are not familiar with.
2- Before equipment is operated, the guards for all accessible moving mechanical components must be in
place. Do not bypass guards or safeties.

 Group Work
1- Discuss with your group mates all the tasks you and others are expected to do.
2- Only one excused absence is permitted. More than two unexcused absences may result in F grade for the
lab, which means F grade for the course as well.
3- At least two members of a group have to be present for any lab; otherwise the lab instructor may refuse to
assign the experiment. If all members of a group are absent for any lab, all members will get zero credit
for that lab. No makeup lab will be given.
4- Remember that all the group members will get the same grade for the report part of the lab.

 Lab Report
1- The due date for each lab report is stated in table on page 3.
2- Each group shall submit just one copy of the report in the given format on page 2 and 3. Group reports
must NOT be written by a single group member. All group members must contribute to the writing of
report.
3- The graded lab reports will be returned within two weeks after the report is submitted.
4- Each student shall obtain a photocopy of graded report for his study.

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 University of Central Florida
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS (CGN 3501C) LAB
Fall 2020

Lab Safety Agreement Form

By signing below, I indicate that I have read and have agreed to follow the safety

requirements provided on page 4. I am expected to follow these rules as well as any

additional printed or verbal safety instructions given by the instructor. I realize that my

failure to adhere to these safety rules will result in my dismissal from the laboratory.

Name_________________________________________________________________

Student Signature ________________________________ Date __________________

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 University of Central Florida
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS (CGN 3501C) LAB
Fall 2020

Formal reports should contain the following components.

Title Page The number and name of the experiment

Name of each group member
The course number, lab section, and group number
Lab instructor’s name
Date of submission
Abstract What was done
Key results
Key conclusions
Introduction/Background The objective of the experiment
Relevant background information
And indication of the importance of the work
A brief preview of what will be described
Experimental List the materials used for the experiment
Apparatus/Procedure Explain the procedure for conducting the experiment
Include theory and diagrams of the apparatus
Data Present the raw data that was obtained during the experiment
Sample Calculations & Explain the variables and the equations
Results Calculate the values that are required for the experiment (i.e. processed
data)
Discussion Interpret the results of the experiment
Discuss the connection between the results and theory
Include possible sources of error & make appropriate recommendations
Conclusions/Recommendations Summarize the results & discussion
Make a final judgment from the experiment
References/Appendices Additional material/References (if needed)

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 University of Central Florida
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS (CGN 3501C) LAB
Fall 2020

COVID-19 STATEMENTS:

1. University-Wide Face Covering Policy for Common Spaces and Face-to-Face Classes: To protect members of
our community, everyone is required to wear a facial covering inside all common spaces including classrooms
(https://policies.ucf.edu/documents/PolicyEmergencyCOVIDReturnPolicy.pdf). Students who choose not to wear
facial coverings will be asked to leave the classroom by the instructor. If they refuse to leave the classroom or put
on a facial covering, they may be considered disruptive (please see the Golden Rule for student behavior
expectations). Faculty have the right to cancel class if the safety and well-being of class members are in jeopardy.
Students will be responsible for the material that would have been covered in class as provided by the instructor.

2. Notifications in Case of Changes to Course Modality: Depending on the course of the pandemic during the
semester, the university may make changes to the way classes are offered. If that happens, please look for
announcements or messages in Webcourses@UCF or Knights email about changes specific to this course.

3. COVID-19 and Illness Notification: Students who believe they may have a COVID-19 diagnosis should contact
UCF Student Health Services (407-823-2509) so proper contact tracing procedures can take place. Students
should not come to campus if they are ill, are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for
COVID, or if anyone living in their residence has tested positive or is sick with COVID-19 symptoms. CDC
guidance for COVID-19 symptoms is located here: (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-
testing/symptoms.html). Students should contact their instructor(s) as soon as possible if they miss class for any
illness reason to discuss reasonable adjustments that might need to be made. When possible, students should
contact their instructor(s) before missing class.

4. In Case of Faculty Illness: If the instructor falls ill during the semester, there may be changes to this course,
including having a backup instructor take over the course. Please look for announcements or mail in
Webcourses@UCF or Knights email for any alterations to this course.

5. Course Accessibility and Disability COVID-19 Supplemental Statement: Accommodations may need to be
added or adjusted should this course shift from an on-campus to a remote format. Students with disabilities should
speak with their instructor and should contact sas@ucf.edu to discuss specific accommodations for this or other
courses.

Lab BlendFlex STATEMENT:

The lab sections will incorporate the BlendFlex model. This means that the face-to-face lab sections will take
place on the days and times noted on the lab schedules for each lab section, but will also be online (Zoom) for
remote student participation. The idea is to provide all students with continued access to learning experiences.

 Please view the 3-minute BlendFlex Delivery Model UCF Student Guide video for an overview
(https://youtu.be/3DTjFNQoFNo).
 In order to maintain academic quality while accommodating physical distancing needs during the
COVID-19 crisis, students in this class will be firstly divided into several report groups and students
within each lab report group will take turns to attend labs physically. Please pay attention to lab-group
announcements and further arrangements by TAs.

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