BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Building construction is the process of adding structure to real property. The vast majority of building
construction projects are small renovations, such as the addition of a room, or renovation of a
bathroom. Often, the owner of the property acts as a laborer, paymaster, and design team for the
entire project.

 MATERIALS
1.CEMENT
 Can be used for masonary work, plaster, pointing, etc.
 Test for cements durability and effectiveness in construction;
 Fineness test
 Setting test
 Consistency test
 Strength test
 Chemical composition test
 Apparatus used in testing cement;
 Sieve with Pan - used in finding fineness of cement.

2.FINE AGGREGATE
 To fill up canal bank breaches.
 Test for fine aggregate;
 Fineness test
 Sieve analysis test
 Apparatus used in testing fine aggregate;
 Fine aggregate angularity - used to determine the loose
uncompacted void content of aggregate.
3.COARSE AGGREGATE
 Use in soil stabilization process.
 Test for Coarse aggregate;
 Sieve analysis test or gradation test
 Apparatus used in testing Coarse aggregate;
 IS sieve
 Oven
 Tray
 Brush

4.WATER
 Used to combine dry materials such as cement, fine aggregate,
and coarse aggregate.

5.CHEMICAL ADMISTURES
 Used to improve the quality of concrete during mixing,
transporting, placement and curing.
 Test for chemical admixture;
 ASTM test (e.g. time of setting of concrete mixtures by
penetration resistance)
 No apparatus use, just observation.

6.MINERAL ADMIXTURES
 Used to modifies the concrete properties.
 No need to perform a test for this material.
 7.REINFORCING BARS
 Used as a tension device in reinforced concrete.
 Test for reinforcing bars;
 Bend test
 Check for mass per meter run

8.WELDED WIRE FABRIC (WIRE MESH)

 To improve the bonding of the concrete to the mesh and to
minimize the risk of concrete cracking.
 Test for wire mesh;
 Quasi-static test

9.WOOD
 Used in molding the concrete
 Test for wood;
 Flexure test
 Apparatus used in testing wood;
 Bend fixture for flexure test

10.ALIMINUM
 The 6000 aluminum alloy series is often used in large construction
applications, such as those involving the structure of buildings. An
 aluminum alloy that utilizes magnesium and silicon as its primary
alloying elements, aluminum alloy 6061 is highly versatile, strong, and
lightweight.
 Test for Aluminum
 Tensile Test
 Apparatus Used for Testing Aluminum
 A tensile test machine with tensile grips and an extensometer

11.Steel
5 Types of Steel Used in Construction
 Steel rebar.
 Alloy steel.
 Stainless steel.
 Tool steel.
 Mild steel.
 Test for Steel
 Impact Test

12.Plaster
 a pasty composition (as of lime or gypsum, water, and sand)
that hardens on drying and is used for coating walls, ceilings,
and partitions.
 the beams are coated with a mixture of plaster and vermiculite
 Test for plaster
 Pull-off test or the Bond test
 Apparatus
 Pull-off Tester
13.Fiberglass
 fiberglass batting covered with aluminum foil, may then be
wrapped around the beams.
 Test for fiberglass
 Tensile Test
 Apparatus for testing
 Tensile Testing Machine

14.Timber
 Timber is used as a construction material because of its fire resistance, good
structural characteristics, insulating properties and moreover, it is
economically feasible..
 Tests for Timber
- Flexure tests
- tensile tests
- shear tests 
 Apparatus used for testing timber
-Flexure testing machine

- Tensile testing
machine
 - Shear testing machine

15. Marble
 Marbles are mainly used
for monuments, buildings, table tops and new ones.
 Test for Marbles
 Knife Test
 Apparatus for testing
 Knife

16.Limestone
 can be used in the production of cement for use in the building and
construction industry.
 Test for limestone
 Heat test

17.Plastic
 Plastic is used for various applications such as seals, windows and
doors, pipes, cables, floor coverings, and insulation.
 Testing for plastics
 Tensile Test
 Apparatus
  Tensile Testing Machine

18. CABLE AND WIRES

 used for power distribution to transmit electricity from a transformer or
other source to an outlet, appliance, device, cable, switch, distribution
board, socket, and light fitting. 
 Test for Cable and Wires;
 Cable Test
 Apparatus used for testing Cable and Wires;
 Wiretest 3

19. PAINT - is used to decorate, protect and prolong the life of

natural and synthetic materials, and acts as a barrier against
environmental conditions.
 Test for Paint;
 Testing for oil and dirt contamination
 Abrasion resistance test
 Alkali resistance test
 Cass test
 Accelerated aging of paint
 Conditioning test
 Water-resistance test
 Apparatus used for testing Paint;
 Slump test apparatus
 Cylindrical mold
 Graduated beaker
 Graduated cylinder
 Expansion index apparatus

20. FABRICS – used as the external facade, that provides

protection from the environment, as well as the main internal dividing
walls.
 Test for Fabrics;
 Physical Testing
 Apparatus used for testing Fabric;
 Fabric Tensile Tester
 Elongation Test Machine