CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING
Steel and metal reinforcement – single or
TOPIC 1
Construction-
Is the process of constructing a building infrastructure.
Construction starts with planning, design and financing;
and continues until the project is built and ready for
use.
There are three sectors of construction
1. Buildings
- Building constructions is usually further
subdivided into residential and non- residential. When
we say non- residential, those are
commercial and institutional structures.
2. Infrastructure
- Is often called heavy civil or heavy engineering.
it includes large public works such as dams,
bridges, high ways, railways, water ,waste water
,and utility distribution.
3. Industrial
- It includes refineries, processed chemicals,
power generation mills, and manufacturing plants.
There are ways to break industry into sectors or market.
Building construction projects typically include various
common elements, such as design, financial, estimating
and legal considerations. However, many projects of
varying sizes reached undesirable end such as structural
collapse, cost overrun, and or litigation. For this reason,
those with experience in the field make detailed plans
and maintain careful oversight the preparation of
materials and constructing materials during the project
to ensure a positive outcome.
Construction materials
Is any material which is used for construction purposes.
Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay,
rocks, sand and wood, event twigs and leaves, have
been used to constructed structures.
The engineering structures are composed of materials.
These materials are known as engineering materials or
building materials or materials of construction. It is
necessary for the civil engineer to become conversant
with the properties of such materials.
Principal materials used in building structures are
a. Concrete- coarse and fine aggregates, cement,
water, etc
b. Masonry- fine aggregates, cements, water,
CHBs , etc
2. ISO -International Organization of
c.
bundled reinforcing bars, ties, stirrups, bend bars,
dowel bars, GI wire, etc
d. Timber, lumber, and wood materials – fine or
straight grained, crooked or cross grained, plank, board,
timber, surface or dressed lumber, etc
e. Forms and scaffolding – galvanized iron sheet,
purlins, etc
f. Architectural finishes- tiles, hardware, painting
works, and other auxiliary works
Construction materials
Familiarization of the basic construction materials is one
the basic knowledges a civil engineer needs to know.
Comprehending with characteristics and properties of
construction materials through systematic laboratory
tests conforming to standards helps to analyze
underlying principles in the design of the structure.
Testing of materials
Before any construction materials are incorporated into
any type of structures, standard specifications must be
followed and in every specification, a test must be
done. Testing of materials is done to ensure the highest
quality of work and extend the service life of any
structure by constructing according to the prescribed
plans and specifications.
Material testing is a measurement of the characteristics
and behavior of such substances as metals, ceramics, or
plastics under various conditions. The data thus
obtained can be used in specifying suitability of
materials for various applications.
Without testing either in the field or laboratory, no one,
not even the experts can state definitely if the standard
of quality pf certain material is satisfied.
If quality control is done by slight or other means
without benefit of laboratory test, that is purely or
simply guessing.
Since material testing is well established technique to
determine the physical and mechanical of raw materials
and components……we have the standard national and
international bodies. This is where standard
specifications came from.
1. ASTM international – formerly known as
American Society for Testing and Materials, is an
international standards organization that develops and
publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a
wide range of materials, products, systems, and
services. – including construction materials.
Standardization – quality materials is essential
for the construction of safe and robust
buildings. ISO has more than 100 standards
 related to raw materials used in construction,
such as concrete, cement, timber, and glass.
These include standards on terminology, testing
procedures and assessment of safety levels.
3. Bureau of Philippine Standards of the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI- BPS) – They
serve as the National Standard s Body (NSB) of the
Philippines and is mandated to develop, promulgate,
and implement standards for all products in the
Philippines, to promote standardization activities in the
country, and to ensure the manufacture, production,
and distribution of quality products for the protection
of the consumer. Under the BPS is the Standards
Development Division that develops Philippine National
Standards (PNS).
4. DPWH Blue Book- it contains all the standard
specifications of all item of work. This includes the right
terminology in every structure or description, the pay
item number, unit of measurement per item, its
construction methodology, material requirement that
includes the required test and number of samples in a
given test.
We don’t need to test all the item one by one.
Sampling and testing
Samples are taken to represent the total, to know the
distinct characteristics. There is no substitute for
sampling if the aim is to get an idea of quality. Sampling
is standardized so as to minimize the effect of human
error.
Testing refers to the process of making test son samples
submitted to determine the degree of compliance of
delivered or constructed materials with the
specifications.
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS ----LABORATORY TEST----
ANALYSIS OR RESULT
To sum it up, it is important that future civil engineers
like you have the basic knowledge on the various
construction materials, their properties and suitability
when used in the project also the laboratory test,
standard procedures and equipment to be used and
finally be able to analyze the results of the laboratory
tests which certifies the suitability of the tested
construction materials.
easily and reads correctly. The host machine represents
where the exact section the test should be conducted.
TOPIC 2
UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE PARTS AND FUNCTIONS
UTM or UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINCE
- From the name itself, this machine is used to
conduct numerous test on various materials from steel,
concrete, and even wood.
- A UTM is an electric machine used in
Engineering where the main mechanical
properties of a given specimen of a construction
material are being tested.
- The usual process of UTM is pulling,
compressing, and vending or stretching materials until
they break.
These tests performed by UTM is called as
1. Compressive Strength Test (ASTM C39)
2. Flexural Strength Test (ASTM C78)
3. Tensile Strength Test (ASTM C1557)
Compressive Strength Test and Flexural Strength Test
are usually done to concrete specimen samples, and
Tensile Strength Test is usually done for reinforcing
steel bars samples.
Thru this test we can determine the mechanical
properties like tenson, compression, bending, and
shearing of non – metal and metal materials.
The universal testing machine is used primarily by
laboratories that manufacture or mold various plastics.
These different test determine the quality of the
materials as well as how suitable it is for particular use.
 The quality of the material as well as how
suitable it is for particular use can de easily determined
by using UTM. In addition, knowledge in the Standard
Specification provided by the national and international
bodies is a great importance.
UTM – there are two main parts ; HOST MACHINE, and
CONTROLLER MACHINCE.
The HOST MACHINE is cylinder-underneath, hydraulic
loading, and hydraulic clamping specimen, operates
In order to avoid affecting the reading value of machine
when the specimen is broken, the host machine (figure
B), control machine and computer (figure C) is
separately set-up, and then connected by transverse
link and highpressure hydraulic host.
PARTS AND USES OF UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE
The MACHINE CONTROLLER processes the test data,
storages, displays and drawing curves (graph and As laboratory technician/civil engineer, before
illustration) by the computer. The printer can print the operating the machine, you should know first what are
test report and draw the test curve. Perfect statements the use of those piece, what part are you holding at or
operation realizes the archiving capability. maybe when and where to be use this kind of piece.

To be able to familiarize to its function, let’s start with

the figure D. Figure D represents where the exact
PARAMETERS OF THE UTM
section should test be conducted.
When we say parameters, generally it states a limit that
For the Tensile Strength Test, it should be conduct at
affects how something can be done
the tension section (upper part of the host machine)
using twoflat/round grip plate, upper and lower clamp.
While Compressive And Flexural Strength Test, should
Main Parameter be conducted at the compression and flexural section
(lower part of the host machine) using upper and lower
Before conducting experiment in laboratory, technician
plate, wheel load and bending platform.
and operator must view the tables presented below
first, to familiarize with the specification and limits of
the machine.

Like any other machine we cannot avoid errors.

When we say relative error, it is not the specific or

actual error but a ratio of the absolute error and
experimental value.

Absolute error is the difference between the actual

value and the calculated value.

HRC, Hardness Rockwell C. how hard the material is.

The
cylinder (see figure E) was fixed on bottom support with
bolts. The piston was fixed on work table, while work
table supports column. When piston is moving; work
table, column and upper crosshead also moves. Screw
cross over work table, down end was fixed on bottom,
up end was connected with up crosshead

There is a remote box / controller button at the lower

crosshead so it is easy to adjust the original test space
and can clamp the upper and lower clamp automatically
and column lift upper crosshead, so achieve tensile,
compression and bending test

On the left-upwards side of the control machine (see

Figure F), there are two power switches additional, the
bigger one with mushroom head (Stop Button) is the
emergency stop switch, and the other one (Start/Stop
or On/Off Button) is the power switch.
The two hand wheels of “Load and Unload are used to
control loading and unloading hydraulic oil. “Pump” is
oil pump switch to startup oil pump motor unit (inside
controller cabinet). The button of “Jaw” is tensile grip
switch, the tensile grip and remote box will be able to
work after pressing Jaw Button.
When clamping samples, take a note that the upper grip
should first clamp and then lower grip will be next,
otherwise the hydraulic clamps will not work well.
When doing tensile test, please turn off the tensile grip
button (Jaw) to keep the electrical valve could working
more long time.
WORKING CONDITION
Before using Universal Testing Machine, certain
condition that are listed below should be observe first
to ensure the safe of operator.
1. Room Temperature at least 10ºC to 35ºC.
2. Relative humidity not more that 80%.
3. No quaky or vibration condition
4. No caustic medium around
5. Level installation on steady base, level degree no
more than 0.2 /1000 .
6. Power Supply: 3-Phase 220V, 50/60Hz, 2.5KW.
Common Faults and Troubleshooting
In some instances, problems may occur anytime,
particularly when it comes in operating. In UTM, the
main reasons of common faults and troubleshooting are
as follows:
1. Reading value of testing force is unstable.
a. There is air in oil cylinder and oil pipe. Put the air out.
Start the oil pump, meanwhile, rise the cylinder by
software without any loading. The oil cycles for a
moment and the air will be out.
b. Check the joint of oil pipe is permeate the oil. If it
permeates, fasten it firmly or change washers.
2. Oil leakage in tubing joint. Methods for eliminating:
Make the piston go back to the bottom of the cylinder,
and then turn off the oil pump and power supply. If oil
leakage remains after tightening the connector, you
should change combination sealing ring or o-shape seal
ring.