BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

UNIT – 3
1 List the different bonds in brick masonry? Explain any two of them.
Ans –
The most commonly used types of bonds in brick masonry are:
1. Stretcher bond
2. Header bond
3. English bond
4. Flemish bond

Stretcher Bond :
A stretcher is the longer face of the brick as seen in the elevation. In the brick
of size 190 mm × 90 mm × 90 mm, 190 mm × 90 mm × 90 mm face is the
stretcher. In stretcher bond masonry all the bricks are arranged in stretcher
courses as shown in the figure. However care should be taken to break vertical
joints. This type of construction is useful for the construction half brick thick
partition wall.

1
Header Bond :
A header is the shorter force of the brick as seen in the elevation. In a standard
brick it is 20 mm × 90 mm face. In header bond brick masonry all the bricks are
arranged in the header courses as shown in the figure. This type of bond is
useful for the construction of one brick thick walls.

2(a) Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of timber construction.

Ans –
Advantages of Timber :
 Timber can be easily shaped and modified. Remaining waste can be
recycled.
 Timber generates very few pollutants compared to other building
products.
 Timber can be easily connected using nails, screws, dowels, bolts and
connectors.
 Timber is light in weight and easy to handle in manufacture, transport
and construction.
 Disadvantages of Timber :
 It is likely to crack, wrap, bend and decay, if not properly seasoned and
not treated with the preservatives.
 There are many applications for which timber is unsuitable due to
durability issues.
 It requires careful regular maintenance.
 It is subjected to risk of fire. Timber can burn making it a less than ideal
material to use in applications where fire safety is a concern.
 If not readily available, it proves to be costly.

2(b) Compare natural seasoning and artificial seasoning.

Ans –

Natural Seasoning Artificial Seasoning

Natural seasoning is the most traditional
way of seasoning wood of timber.
In this method wood is dried usually by
keeping the wood exposed to air, so that
the moisture evaporates and wood is
seasoned.
This method is very economical in the
sense that no operational charges exists
but the process is too slow.
Artificial seasoning is the process by which
lumber is dried using man-made devices
such as a kiln.
Regular wood seasoning is done by air
drying in conditions below 18 percent
moisture.
Seasoning can only be completed in 4 to 5
days.

3 Classify the various types of woods used in building

construction. Ans –
Types of Woods used in Construction are :
1. Teak wood
2. Sal wood
 3. Ply wood
4. Nova – Pan wood
5. Rubber wood
Teak wood :
The wood which is extracted from broad-leaved deciduous trees ¨Tectona Grandis¨
¨teak¨ is called Teak Wood. Teak is a Hardwood and has rich oil content with high
tensile strength when compared with the other types of wood. It is very durable
and it can last long for 100 years. As mentioned every wood requires Seasoning.
Wood in construction is used only after proper Seasoning.
Sal wood :
The wood which is originated from Sal Tree is called Sal wood. It is less expensive
when compared with the Teak. Sal Trees are Straight & cylindrical in the shape
they can grow up longer heights. So we can extract good wood with longer
lengths.
Ply wood :
It is a Strong thin board of wood and made up of three or more layers of wood
and these layers are glued on top of one another with alternating grains. As it is
an engineered Wood by the perpendicular graining, it is more hard wearing and
long- lasting than normal wood.
Nova – Pan wood :
Nova – Pan particle boards are one of the best substitutes for ply wood and other
types of wood which we generally used for construction this wood is made up of
wastage generated from Hard wood or Soft wood and mixed with binders. It’s an
eco – friendly product and uses less energy for making boards. This type of wood
is used in making furniture which makes cheap and less expensive.
Rubber wood :
This type of wood is not recommended for construction purposes. This type of
wood is used in furniture. It has very less strength when compared with other
woods.
4 Contrast between English bond and Flemish
bond. Ans –

English Bond Flemish Bond

More strength given for bricks with Less strong and compact compared to
thickness greater than one & half brick. English bond.

Less pleasing appearance. Appearance is more attractive and

pleasing.

Expensive Economical

No strict supervision and skill is Requires good workmanship and careful

demanded. supervision.

It is more costlier than flemish bond. Less cost due to using brick bats.

The speed of construction is high. The speed of construction is less.

It does not require special attention. It requires special attention.

There is no continuous vertical joint. There are continuous vertical joint.

5 Explain in brief various types of mortars used in stone

masonry. Ans –
Types of stone masonry are :
 a. Rubble Masonry
b. Ashlar Masonry
a. Rubble Masonry :
In rubble masonry, the blocks of stones that are used are either undressed or
comparatively roughly dressed the masonry has wide joints since stones of
irregular size is used.
1. Random rubble
2. Square rubble
3. Miscellaneous type rubble
4. Dry rubble masonry
1. Random rubble :

 Un-coursed
It is the roughest and the cheapest form of stonewalling. Since stones are not of
uniform shape and size, they are arranged with great care so as to distribute
pressure over the maximum area and at the same time avoid long vertical joints.
 Built to course
It is similar to un-coursed except that the work is roughly leveled up to form
courses 30 to 45 cm thick.
2. Square rubble :

 Un-coursed
Stones having straight beds and sides are arranged in an irregular pattern to give
a good appearance and avoid the formation of long, continuous joints.
 Built to course
Stones having straight bed and sides are leveled up to form courses of varying
depth.
 Regular course
Stones having straight beds and sides are leveled up to form courses of varying
depth but the height of stones in each course is the same.
3. Miscellaneous type rubble :

 Polygonal rubble masonry :

In this type, stones are hammer finished on the face to an irregular polygonal
shape.
 Flint rubble masonry :
In this type the main material is “flints or cobbles” and is used that have vary in
width and thickness from 7.5 cm to 15 cm and length vary from 15 cm to 30cm .
The stones are extremely bard but brittle.
4. Dry rubble masonry :

In this masonry, as the name suggests the mortar is not used in the joints,
therefore it is the cheapest but more skilled manpower is required in
construction. The use of the dry rubble masonry is for non-load bearing walls like
compound walls.
b. Ashlar Masonry :
In ashlar masonry, square or rectangular blocks that are used are dressed and
have an extremely fine bed and end joints.
1. Ashlar fine tooled :

It is the finest stone masonry. The beds, joints, and faces of the stones are chisel
dressed to remove all unevenness and obtain perfectly horizontal and vertical
joints.
2. Ashlar rough tooled :

The beds and sides are finely chisel dressed but the exposed face is dressed by
rough tooling.
3. Ashlar rock faced :

The exposed face of the stones is not dressed but is kept as such to give rough
facing.
4. Ashlar chamfered :

It is a special type of ashlar rock-faced in which the strip provided around the
perimeter of the exposed face is chamfered at an angle of 45° to a depth of 25
mm.
5. Ashlar block in course :

It is immediate between ashlar and rubble masonry. Faces of each stone are
hammer dressed but the vertical joints are not as straight and fine as in ashlar
masonry.
6. Ashlar facing :

It is provided along with brick or concrete blocks to give a better appearance. The
outer faces of the stone are rough tooled and chamfered.

6 Develop a neat cross-section of an exogenous tree and label various

components of it and explain them in detail.
Ans –
The cross-section of exogenous tree is as shown in given figure. The following
components are visible to the naked eye:
 1. Pitch :
It is the inner most part of the tree and therefore the oldest part of exogenous
tree when the plant becomes old, the pith dies and becomes and dark and
fibrous. It varies in shape and size.
2. Heart Wood :
It is the portion surrounding pith. It is strong and dark in color. This portion is
useful for several engineering purpose. It is the dead part of wood. It consists of
various annular rings.
3. Sap Wood :
It is the layer next to heart wood. It denotes contains sap and recent growth. It
takes active part in the growth of trees by permitting sap to move in upward
direction. Annual rings of sap wood are less sharply divided and are light in color.
The sap wood is also called as alburnum.
4. Cambium Layer :
It is a thin layer of fresh sap lying among sap wood and the inner bark. It has sap
which is not still converted into sap wood. If the bark is removed & cambium layer
is exposed to atmosphere then cells cease to be active and tree dies.
5. Inner Bark :
It is a inner skin of tree defensive the cambium layer. It provides protection to
cambium layer.
6. Outer Bark :
It is the outer skin of the tree and contain of wood fibres. Sometimes it contains
cracks and fissures.
7. Medullary Rays :
These are thin radial fibers extending from pith to cambium layer. They together
hold annular rings. In some of trees they are broken and some other they cannot
be prominent.