Lesson 01 – intro to construction materials and testing

INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Common engineering materials that fall within the scope of

AND TESTING material science and engineering may be classified into one
of the following five groups:
• The course of Construction Materials and
1. Metals (ferrous and non-ferrous) and alloys
Testing is a vital subject in Civil Engineering
2. Ceramics - structural, pipes, including bricks,
although it doesn't require much computations.
roof tiles & floor.
• Getting to know the basic and the more advanced
3. Polymers - a substance that has a molecular
characteristics and properties of the materials
structure consisting chiefly or entirely of a large
used in construction will help students analyze
number of similar units bonded together, e.g.,
the principles lying behind the design of
many synthetic organic materials used as
structures,
plastics and resins.
• Engineering structures are composed of
4. Composites - concrete is a composite of
materials. These materials are known as
aggregate, cement, additives and water. Disc
engineering materials or materials of
brake pads are composites of hard ceramic
construction. It is necessary for the civil engineer
particles embedded in soft metal. The polymer
to become conversant with the properties of such
binds the reinforcement & particulate together.
materials.
Polymer matrix composites are lighter than
• The service conditions of buildings demand a
steel, aluminum, concrete and brick.
wide range of materials and various properties
5. Advanced materials
such as water resistance, strength, durability
temperature resistance, appearance. GENERAL PROPERTIES OF ENGINEERING
permeability, etc. They are to be properly studied MATERIALS
before making final selection of any building
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
material for a particular us.
• A material undergoes transition under the
CLASSIFICATION OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS
influence of temperature and pressure, and
Factors which form the basis of various systems of these changes are physical in nature, because
classifications of materials in material science their molecules remain intact. [Density, specific
gravity, porosity, water absorption, etc…]
A. The chemical composition of the material
B. The mode of occurrence of the material in MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
nature
• It is the property of material which opposes the
C. The refining and manufacturing processes to
deformation or breakdown of material in
which the material was subjected prior to the
presence of external forces or load. [tensile
acquisition of the required properties
strength, compressive strength, rigidity,
D. The atomic and crystalline structure of material
hardness, creep, fatigue, etc...]
E. The industrial and technical use of the material
Lesson 01 – intro to construction materials and testing
THERMAL PROPERTIES.
• The properties of a material which is related to
its conductivity of heat. These are the properties
which are exhibited by a material when heat is
passed through it
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
• A chemical property is any of a material's
properties that becomes evident during, or after,
a chemical reaction; that is, any quality that can
be established only by changing a substance's
chemical identity. Chemical properties cannot
be determined just by viewing or touching the
substance; the substance's internal structure
must be affected greatly for its chemical
properties to be investigated. [resistance to
acids, alkaline, brine, and oxidation]
ECONOMIC PROPERTIES
• Cost saving characteristics.
AESTHETIC PROPERTIES
• The qualities that make a product attractive to
look at or pleasing to experience. [color, surface
smoothness, the reflection of light, etc...]
o Properties of materials are determined
by Laboratory Testing and Field Testing
o To avoid inconsistencies in test results,
STANDARDS are devised which
describe the test apparatus and the
procedure
ITEMS THAT ARE USUALLY STANDARDIZED IN A
TEST ARE:
• Obtaining test specimens and number of
specimens
• Size and shape of the specimen
• Preparation of specimens for testing
• Temperature & moisture during preparation &
testing
• Type of machinery
• Rate of loading
• Interpretation of test results
• Writing a report
STANDARDIZATION INSTITUTES
• Turkey-Turkish Standards Institute (TSE)
• England-British Standards Institute (BSI)
• Germany-Deutsche Institute Norm (DIN)
• US-Amencan Society for Testing and Materals
ASTM
• Europe-European Committee for
Standardization (CEN)
IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS
1. Know the sources of construction materials.
2. Identify and know the properties of various
construction materials.
3. Know how the materials are tested as per
ASTM standards.
4. Know how to choose proper material from the
commercially available varieties for a particular
purpose of construction.
5. Know common defects in the materials.
6. Know various precautions to be taken while
constructing for better durability.
Lesson 01 – intro to construction materials and testing
MATERIALS USED IN CONSTRUCTION
WOOD - is one of the most natural materials available
not to mention one that can be cost-efficient. It is a
building material that is flexible in all senses- from
having it bent and cured, wood can be molded to suit a
building structure and shape
STEEL - one of the most commonly used materials in
construction, from the skeleton of a building to the
actual materials found within. Security access panels
are also made of steel and can be commonly found in
commercial and industrial spaces. Steel offers many
advantages, for one it can bend or be manipulated
without risking its strength and durability. In areas that
experience extreme winds or are prone to earthquakes,
steel structures are able to withstand the shaking
through its durability and in a
CONCRETE - better known to contractors and builders,
reinforced concrete is composed of steel making it very
strong. Typically used in the structure and foundation of
a building - once it has been applied, it will take
multiple hours before it has settled and hardened.
When it comes to concrete, similar to many building
materials like access panels, windows, and paints,
concrete comes in various types. From high
performance to lightweight concrete and water-
resistant, a contractor will know which is the ideal
concrete to use and recommend on a project
GLASS - can be used as a means of facades from
windows to walls and beams and floors - which would
require exceptional strength and durability. When it
comes to the properties of this unique building material,
some traits include transparency, strength, and
workability
STONE - a common material choice for flooring and
walls. The texture of stone makes it versatile, from a
smooth finish to a textured one-stone can also come in
many different colors. Some examples of stone used in
construction include granite, marble, and sandstone
CEMENT - Is a binding agent that sets and hardens to
adhere to building units such as stones, bricks, tiles,
etc. Cement generally refers to a very fine powdery
substance chiefly made up of limestone (calcium), sand
or clay (silicon), bauxite (aluminum) and iron ore, and
may include shells, chalk, marl, shale, clay, blast
furnace slag, slate. The raw ingredients are processed
in cement manufacturing plants and heated to form a
rock-hard substance, which is then ground into a fine
powder to be sold.
TYPES OF CEMENT
1.1 ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT
• Most widely used type of cement which is
suitable for all general concrete construction.
• Most widely produced and used type of
cement
• Annual global production of 3.8 million cu.m.
per year
• Suitable for all type of concrete construction
1.2 PORTLAND POZZOLANA CEMENT
• High resistance to various chemical attacks
on concrete compared to OPC, thus widely
used
• Used in marine structures, sewage works,
laying concrete under water such as bridges,
piers, dams and mass concrete works, etc.
1.3 RAPID HARDENING CEMENT
• High strength in early days as it is used in
concrete where formworks are removed at
an early stage, and is similar to OPC.
• Increased lime content, contains higher c3s
content & finer grinding = greater strength
than OPC.
• 3 days hardening is same with 7 days
hardening of OPC, with same water ratio
Lesson 01 – intro to construction materials and testing
• advantage of this cement is that formwork
can be removed earlier which increases the
rate of construction and decreases cost of
construction by saving formwork cost.
• used in prefabricated concrete construction,
road works, etc.
1.4 QUICK SETTING CEMENT
• quick setting cement sets earlier while rate of
gain of strength is similar to Ordinary
Portland Cement, while rapid hardening
cement gains strength quickly.
• Used where works is to be completed in very
short period and for concreting in static or
running water
1.5 LOW HEAT CEMENT
• prepared by maintaining the percentage of
tricalcium aluminate below 6% by increasing
the proportion of C2S.
• produce low heat of hydration and thus is
used in mass concrete construction like
gravity dams, as the low heat of hydration
prevents the cracking of concrete due to heat
• has increased power against sulfates and is
less reactive and initial setting time is greater
than OPC.
1.6 SULPHATES RESISTING CEMENT
• used to reduce the risk of sulfate attack on
concrete and thus is used in construction of
foundations where soil has high sulfate
content.
• has reduced contents of C3A and C4AF.
• Sulfate resisting cement is used in
construction exposed to severe sulfate
action by water and soil in places like canals
linings, culverts, retaining walls, siphons etc
1.7 BLAST FURNACE SLAG CEMENT
• obtained by grinding the clinkers with about
60% slag and resembles more or less in
properties of Portland cement. It can be
used for works economic considerations is
predominant.
1.8 HIGH ALUMINA CEMENT
• obtained by melting mixture of bauxite and
lime and grinding with the clinker. It is a
rapid hardening cement with initial and final
setting time of about 3.5 and S hours
respectively.
• The compressive strength of this cement is
very high and more workable than ordinary
Portland cement and is used in works where
concrete is subjected to high temperatures,
frost, and acidic action.
1.9 AIR ENTRAINING CEMENT
• produced by adding indigenous air entraining
agents such as resins, glues, sodium salts of
sulphates etc. during the grinding of clinker.
• This type of cement is especially suited to
improve the workability with smaller water
cement ratio and to improve frost resistance
of concrete.
1.10 EXPANSIVE CEMENT
• expands slightly with time and does not
shrink during and after the time of
hardening. This cement is mainly used for
grouting anchor bolts and pre-stressed
concrete ducts.
1.11 HYDROGRAPHIC CEMENT
• prepared by mixing water repelling
chemicals and has high workability and
strength. It has the property of repelling
water and is unaffected during monsoon or
rains.
• Hydrophobic cement is mainly used for the
construction of water structures such dams,
water tanks, spillways, water retaining
structures etc.
GRAVEL - along with sand, is used for the
manufacture of concrete, as well as for mixing with
asphalt as part of road construction. It can be used as
the base layer for roads before being covered with
tarmac, and is also commonly used to surface
roadways, especially those in rural areas and in icy
conditions. It can also be used to as part of roof
coverings.
Lesson 01 – intro to construction materials and testing

SAND - can be classified as screened sand or vibro

sand

CONCRETE HOLLOW BLOCKS (CHB) - are one of

the most extensively used walling materials in the
Philippines. Some of the reasons for this is their
relative low cost when compared to other materials and
speed of installation by semi-skilled laborers.

a. Load Bearing

b. Non-load Bearin

ASPHALT - a composite material made up of mineral

aggregates and bitumen commonly used for roads,
parking lots and airports. Asphalt is also known as
blacktop.