UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF STRUCTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION
ENGINEERING

SC 110
BUILDING MATERIALS I
GENERAL PROPERTIES
OF
BUILDING MATERIALS

© Mr. J. Kessy
1.0 Properties of Building Materials
 Building materials, particularly for engineering
applications are selected so as to perform
satisfactorily during their service life.
 Materials are grouped into categories or classes
based on their chemical composition.
 Material selection is determined by the
capabilities and qualities of materials, or their
properties.
 The following slide shows four classes of
materials, their definitions, types of materials
within the class, properties, and examples of
usage.
Materials Definition
Class
Metals Metals are combinations of
one or more "metallic
elements," such as iron,
gold, or lead. Alloys are
metals like steel or bronze
that combine more than
one element, and may
include non-metallic
elements e.g. carbon.
Ceramics Ceramic materials are
inorganic materials with
non-metallic properties
usually processed at high
temperature at some time
during their manufacture
Polymers A polymer contains many
chemically bonded parts or
units that are bonded
together to form a solid.
Composites Composites are two or
more distinct substances
that are combined to
produce a new material
with properties not present
in either individual material.
Examples Properties Applications
Steel, aluminium, Strong, dense, ductile, Electrical wiring,
titanium iron, gold, electrical and heat structures (buildings,
lead, copper, conductors, opaque bridges), automobiles
platinum, brass, (body, springs),
bronze, pewter, airplanes, trains (rails,
solder engine components,
body, wheels), shape
memory materials,
magnets
Structural ceramics, Lower density than metals, Dinnerware, figurines,
refractories, strong, low ductility (brittle), vases, art, bathtubs,
porcelain, glass low thermal conductivity, sinks, electrical and
corrosion resistant thermal insulation,
sewage pipes, floor and
wall tile, dental fillings,
abrasives, glass
windows
Plastics (synthetic, Low density, poor Fabrics, car parts,
nylon, liquid conductors of electricity and packaging materials,
crystals, adhesives, heat, different optical bags, packing materials
elastomers (rubber) properties (Styrofoam*), fasteners
(Velcro*), glue,
containers, telephone
headsets, rubber bands
Fibreglass (glass Properties depend on Golf clubs, tennis
and a polymer), amount and distribution of rackets, bicycle frames,
plywood (layers of each type of material. tires, cars, aerospace
wood and glue), Collective set of properties materials, paint
concrete (cement are more desirable and
and pebbles) possible than with any
individual material.
 To evaluate the performance characteristics of
engineering materials, and to assist an
engineer/architect in the selection of the most
appropriate and economical material for a
particular application, one needs to study the
properties of the materials of construction.
 In general, the common properties of engineering
materials can be mainly grouped as shown in the
next slide;
1.1 Properties engineering materials

• Mechanical properties • Thermal properties

– Stress – Thermal conductivity
– Strain – Coefficient of expansion
– Strength – Melting point
– Elasticity • Physical properties
– Stiffness – Density
– Plasticity – Porosity
– Ductility – Moisture content
– Hardness – Specific gravity
• Chemical properties – Permeability
– Reactivity • Electrical properties
– Combustibility – Conductivity
1.1.1 Physical Properties
 Are those derived from the properties of matter
or attributed to the physical structure. They
include density, porosity, void content, moisture
content, specific gravity, permeability, and
structure (micro or macro). They also include
properties such as texture, color, and shape.
 Physical properties are helpful in evaluating a
material in terms of the appearance, weight,
permeability, and water retention of a structure.
 For example, by knowing the specific gravity, the
density of a material can be established, while
under-standing porosity and moisture content of
materials is essential in assessing the
performance of structures during service.
1.1.2 Mechanical Properties
 These can be specifically defined as the
properties which relate to the behavior of the
material when subjected to acting loads.
 Those properties serve as the language by which
the designer can express his/her needs for a
material and also serve as a basis for comparing
different materials and for comparing the
uniformity of different samples of one material.
 These properties are usually expressed in terms
of quantities that are primarily function of stress
or strain. Occasionally, they are expressed in
terms of other quantities such as time and
temperature.
 The fundamental mechanical properties are;

a)Stress: It is the intensity of the internally

distributed forces that resist a change in the form
of the body. It is ‘a measurement of density of
forces”; defined as force per unit area of cross
section. The SI unit of force is MPa or N/mm2.
b)Strain: It refers to the proportional deformation
produced in a material under the influence of
stress. It is measured as the number of meters of
deformation suffered per meter of original length
and is a numerical ratio.
c) Strength : It is a measure of the externally
applied forces which are necessary to overcome
internal forces of attraction between fundamental
particles within the material. It is a measure of
the resistance of the material to rupture.
Strength is measured by stress at which some
specified limiting conditions develops. The
principle limiting conditions or criteria of failure
are:
i. Termination of elastic action
ii- Rupture
d) Stiffness: It is the property of a material that
enables it to resist elastic deformation.
e) Elasticity : All deformation is removed upon the
load removal.
f) Plasticity: It is the ability of a material to deform
in the inelastic or plastic range without rupture,
or the property that enables a material to
undergo permanent deformation without rupture.
A perfectly plastic material is one which does not
make any recovery of its original dimensions after
stress removal.
g) Ductility: It refers to the degree of extension
which takes place before failure of a material in
tension. All ductile materials are malleable, but
malleable materials are not always necessarily
ductile since a soft material may lack strength
and thus tears apart very easily in tension.
Malleability and Ductility can be taken as a
measure of plasticity.
h) Brittleness: It is the inverse of ductility. It is the
property of the a material which makes it fracture
before any noticeable deformation is observed.
i) Hardness: It is the resistance of the material
surface to scratch, indentation, abrasion and etc.
j) Endurance: It is the property of a material to
withstand repeated application of load. The
endurance limit is the highest repeated stress
that can be applied infinite number of times
without causing failure.
1.1.3 Chemical Properties
 Are those properties pertaining to the composition
and potential reaction of a material. The
compounds of composition, such as oxides and
carbonates, describe the chemical nature of the
material, and the way it would behave in a certain
environment.
 For example, by reviewing the proportions of the
principal compounds in various cements, we will
be able to choose the right type of cement for a
particular application. Knowledge of the chemical
composition of clays is indispensable in
evaluating the characteristics expected in burned
bricks.
1.1.4 Other Properties
 Thermal, electrical, magnetic, acoustical, and
optical properties of materials are also of
relevance in engineering application.
 For example;
 The coefficient of thermal expansion of
concrete, which is a thermal property, is
fundamental in assessing the expansion
potential of concrete slabs. Thermal properties,
customarily, represent the behavior of a
material under heat and temperature.
 Acoustical properties such as sound
transmission and sound reflection are critical in
choosing materials that should offer sound
resistance and function as sound barriers.
 Optical properties such as color, light
transmission, and light reflection are
considered in determining the energy
consumption capacity of a material.
Table 1: Properties of materials
Material Density Young’s modulus Poisson’s Yield Stress MPa Ultimate Stress
Mg/m3 GPa ratio MPa

Brick (compression) 1.8 – 2.4 10 - 24 7 - 70

Concrete 2.4 18 - 30 0.1 – 0.2 230 - 380

Glass 2.6 48 - 83 0.2 – 0.27

Nylon 1.1 2.1 – 2.8 0.4 40 - 70

Stone: Granite 2.6 40 - 70 0.2 – 0.3 70 – 280

(compression)

Stone: Marble 2.8 50 - 100 0.2 – 0.3 50 - 180

(compression)

Wood: Ash 0.6 10 - 11 40 - 70 50 - 100

(Bending)

Wood: Oak 0.7 11 - 12 40 - 60 50 - 100

(Bending)

Wood: Pine 0.6 11 - 14 40 - 60 50 - 100

(Bending)

15
So far we’ve considered
only solid materials

What else is there, and

what characterizes them?
1.2 Basic types of materials:
• Gases
• Liquids
• Solids

These can be distinguished by:

• Molecular behavior
• Types of stresses they
resist
 1.2.1 Stresses and states of
matter
• Gases -- resist only compression

• Liquids -- resist both compression

and tension

• Solids -- resist compression, tension,

and shear
1.3 Factors affecting material
properties
• Temperature:
– Increasing temperature will decrease
- Modulus of Elasticity
- Yield Strength
- Tensile Strength
– Decreasing temperature will:
- Increase ductility
- Reduce brittleness
• Environment:
Sulfites, Chlorine, Oxygen in water, Radiation
1.4. Materials Selection
 Some materials can be selected primarily based
on their physical properties or characteristics.
However, most materials are chosen because of
their mechanical properties and durability.
 For example,
 Lightweight aggregates, such as pumice and
shale, are selected for production of
lightweight concrete floors due to their low
density,
 In high seismic zones, structural steel is
preferred for the columns and beams of high-
rise buildings over reinforced concrete, for its
high tensile strength and ductility.
 Thus, it is essential to understand the
environment and the constraints within which a
particular project is to be developed in order to
select suitable material.
 The goal of engineering design should be to select
the most appropriate material for a particular
project.
 A general knowledge of all relevant properties of
the various materials that are available, and an
appreciation of their performance characteristics,
are fundamental in achieving this goal.
Thank you