Lecture One – Introduction to Civil Engineering Materials _____

CIV 2203: CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

Course Description
This course deals with the properties, applications and analysis of important materials of
construction/civil engineering. It offers coverage on how materials are made or obtained,
their physical properties, their mechanical properties, how they are used in construction,
how they are tested in the lab, quality control and their strength characteristics;
information that is essential for material selection and elementary design.

Student Learning Outcomes

The course has the following objectives:
1. To comprehensively discuss examples of principle materials used in Engineering.
2. To emphasise the properties and behaviour of these materials in the construction
industry.
3. To enable the student apply the materials within the general context of analysis
and design of structures.
4. To enable the student choose materials that will ensure the final product will
adequately fulfill the purpose for which it is intended.
5. To promote the awareness of the importance of material behaviour in both design
and construction and how this affects engineering decisions.
6. To create awareness of the diverse usage of materials in Civil Engineering
structures (roads, bridges, buildings, water supply systems etc)

Course Outline:
1. Introduction to Civil Engineering Materials
2. Concrete I
a) Cement
b) Aggregates, Water & Admixtures
3. Concrete II
4. Bricks and Blocks
5. Timber
6. Metals
7. Polymeric Materials:

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Lecture One – Introduction to Civil Engineering Materials _____

a) General
b) Protection and decorative materials
8. Bituminous materials

References:
1. Civil Engineering Materials by N. Jackson and R. K. Dhir
2. Properties of Concrete by A. M. Neville
3. Civil Engineering Materials (2nd Edition) by Shan Somayaji
4. Fundamentals of Building Construction; Materials and Methods (4th Edition) by
Edward Allen and Joseph Iano

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Some examples of Civil Engineering and building projects are roads, railways, bridges,
tunnels, dams, culverts, water and waste water treatment plants, water distribution and
drainage systems, coastal protection works, harbours, power stations, airports, industrial
complexes etc.

Some considerations in the initial planning and design stages of a project include among
others: -
1. Economic viability
2. Sociological and environmental impact
3. Alternative locations
4. Suitability of construction materials

The choice of materials depends on several factors that affect both the cost of
construction and the subsequent costs of maintenance. The term ‘choice of materials’ is
not restricted to the generic names of materials such as steel and concrete but also their
specific type, composition and their performance acceptance criteria. Thus an in-depth
knowledge and understanding of the properties of materials themselves is essential to be

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Lecture One – Introduction to Civil Engineering Materials _____

able to take into account the effects of forces and environmental conditions on the
materials.

1.1 BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS

The following properties form a basis for choice of materials:
 Strength: This is basically the ability of the material to carry loads e.g.
Compression, tension, shear, torsion, elasticity, ductility, hardness, toughness,
plasticity.
 Thermal Properties: This measures the ability of a material to conduct heat. It is
measured in such forms as melting and boiling points, heat capacity, heat of
fusion, heat of vaporisation, thermal expansion properties, heat transfer,
conductivity, and thermal diffusivity. The material must behave acceptably in
resisting fire spread, release of dangerous substances in fire and retaining
satisfactory structural stability
 Electrical Properties: This looks at the ease with which current flows through a
material e.g. electrical resistivity, resistance, conductivity.
 Density (which dictates the material’s weight. The higher the density of a
material, the higher its weight and therefore the higher is its dead load.)
 Chemical Properties: - Chemical deterioration, chemical solution, direct oxidation
of metals, corrosion of metals.
 Availability
 Cost
 Nature of the project
 Physical Properties-appearance during service
 Durability (the resistance of the material to deterioration processes like frost
attack, rusting etc.)
 Ease and speed of construction
 Durability: the material should fulfil the above performance criteria as required
for the planned lifetime of the building
 Health/Safety: there should be no risk to health due to chemical or physical
effects of the material, both during and after construction.

CIV 2203: Civil Engineering Materials – Chapter 1 RA2015/16

Lecture One – Introduction to Civil Engineering Materials _____

1.2 STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS

1.2.1 Standards
Usually the Bureau of Standards for different countries sets the standards for each
material to be used in any Civil Engineering Project to ensure safety and convenience of
the users of the structure. This implies that materials need to be tested to ensure that they
meet the required performance standards. There are several ways of testing materials,
some of which include:
a) Material testing: this type of testing is usually done to determine the
composition, physical strength or stability properties of individual materials or
their composition with a view to finding how they can be used appropriately in
construction.
b) Quality control testing: these tests are done to ensure that materials used in
construction are the right quality according to the specifications.
c) Condition testing: such tests are aimed at assessing the performance of a given
facility while in service. Conditions that affect its performance are analysed so
that a logical decision on whether to extend its life by any means available can
be taken.
d) Site studies and tests: usually these tests are done at the site for the proposed
structure in order to obtain technical data.
e) Research testing: these tests are a combination of any of the other forms of
testing which involves trying out new approaches to construction issues. The
outcome of the analysis is then used to give both technical and economic
recommendations.

1.2.2 Specifications
A specification is defined as an agreed method of conducting a certain function or the
qualities an item must have for a given purpose. Specifications are in two categories:

1. Method Specifications: under this, the methodology of performing standard functions

and putting up standard structure are laid out. Examples of such specification used in
Uganda can be found in:

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 BSI: British Standards Institution (Publishers of British standards and the

adopted Eurocodes)
 ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials
 AASHTO: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
 US: Uganda Standard

2. Quality Specifications: under this, standards of the products of construction and

engineering works are specified. For example roads are classified as Grade A, B or C
basing on their resistance to wear. In Uganda quality specifications used can be found in:
 Ministry of Works Standard Specifications
 TRRL: Transport and Road Research Laboratory

1.3 UGANDA AND MATERIALS

While the decentralised districts in Uganda are individually and collectively well
endowed with a diversity of basic primary raw materials for construction, Uganda faces a
number of pressing problems, including;
1. Lack of meaningful sustainable exploitation of these resources for the benefit of
the people
2. Over reliance on expensive in-country factory products
3. Use of low durability materials
4. Lack of minimum standards
5. Poor performance
6. High cost of materials
7. Lack of income generating activities
8. Poverty
9. Environmentally unfriendly and wasteful exploitation procedures
10. Short service life of just-built structures

Solutions to poor shelter conditions and poverty have therefore remained enigmatic
amidst an otherwise rich environment. In 1987, MoWHC forecast that within the
foreseeable future a vast number of buildings and other infrastructure will need to be

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Lecture One – Introduction to Civil Engineering Materials _____

constructed in Uganda. In the last few years, this forecast has been proven accurate as the
country has experienced a construction boom. A brief tour around the suburbs of the
Capital City, Kampala reveals rapid growth in construction. The eruption in building
activity is expected to continue rising due to the convergence of three major factors
namely: Population expansion (growth rate 3% to 5% per annum), high urban migration
(20% per annum), and rising and changing standards of living (Vision 2000 – 2025).
These trends will inevitably impact directly on the natural resource base of the country,
but more specifically on their exploitation.

With the expanding population in the country expected to double within the next forty
years, the provision of basic human needs such as shelter, food, water, sanitation,
employment will need to be ranked high in national planning priorities. It is reasonable to
expect that the demand for buildings and associated infrastructure in both rural and urban
areas will continue to remain high or worse, to escalate further.

It is generally known that no infrastructure can be built without the fundamental

knowledge and application of building materials and components. It is the materials that
dictate the form, structure, quality and regional identity of engineering products (Dean,
1996). They also constitute the greatest single unit cost of any building (over 40%
according to Harris & McCaffer). Therefore, for a developing country such as Uganda
with limited foreign exchange resources, a great degree of self reliance both in building
materials supply and technology is likely to remain the only available option.

Issues to focus on in relation to choice of materials for the near future:

1. Economic exploration and exploitation
2. Efficient small scale manufacture
3. Effective and appropriate utilisation of local building materials.

CIV 2203: Civil Engineering Materials – Chapter 1 RA2015/16