Building Materials IV

(ARC 445)

C OURSE MEN TORS:

PROF. OLADIPO DARE-ABEL
ARC. ADEKUNLE SOLOMON BABAMBONI

SEME ST E R/ S E S S ION :
F I R S T S E M E S T E R , 2 0 2 2 / 2 0 2 3 A CA D E M I C S E S S I O N
OUTLINE/TOPICS FOR THE SEMESTER (First)
2022/2023 ACADEMIC SESSION
1. Introduction:
Review of Traditional and Modern Building Materials treated
in previous semesters
2. Composite Building Materials/Products
3. Glass
4. Wood/Timber
5. Sustainable Materials
6. Stone (Marble & Granite)

2021/2022 ARC 445 COURSE OUTLINE

 Review of Traditional/Modern Building
Materials Treated In Previous Semesters
What are Traditional Building Materials?
Traditional Building Materials can be defined materials which are
readily available in our immediate environment. i.e. they are natural
building materials that do not need to go through any process or
form of industrialization.

What are Modern Building Materials?

Modern Building Materials can be defined as that which must have
gone through a form of industrialization. They include but are not
limited to the following: Glass, Concrete, Fibre, Steel, Plastic etc.
 What are Composite Building Materials?
COMPOSITE Composite Materials are products made from two or
more constituent materials with significantly different
BUILDING physical or chemical properties. When the two or more
MATERIALS/ materials are combined together, they produce a
material with characteristics different from the individual
PRODUCTS components.

Why Use Composites?

The biggest advantage of modern composite materials is
that they are light as well as strong. Composites also
provide design flexibility because many of them can be
moulded into complex shapes.

Application Areas?
Composite Materials are generally used for buildings,
bridges and other heavy weight structures. It is also
applicable in building sanitary fittings and appliances such
as bath tubs, shower stalls, marble sinks, storage tanks,
counter tops etc.
Contd.
Examples of Typical Engineered Composite Materials
They include:
1. Mortar
2. Concrete
3. Reinforced Concrete
4. Reinforced Plastic such as Fibre, Reinforced Polymer
5. Metal Composites
6. Ceramic Composites etc.

Natural/Early Composites
Natural Composites exist in both Animals and Plants. Wood is a composite made from long cellulose fibre (a polymer). The
bones in our body is also another example of composite made from hard but little material called hydroxyappetite
(mainly calcium phosphate) and a soft/flexible material called collagen (proteinous substance).

Another early example of composite material is mud bricks. Mud bricks which is made from clay can be dried out into a
brick shape to give a building material and it is usually strong if you try to squash it. It has a good compressive strength but
breaks quite easily if you try to bend it (poor tensile strength).

Another ancient composite is concrete.

CONCRETE AS A COMPOSITE……………………….. NEXT CLASS!!!

CONCRETE CONCRETE AS A COMPOSITE BUILDING MATERIAL
AS A Concrete is a composite material, one of the oldest man-
COMPOSITE made composites used more than any other man-made
material in the world. It is a composite made of Portland
MATERIAL Cement, Sand, Aggregate (Coarse or Fine), Water in
varying proportions depending on the task.

The ingredients are mixed together into a paste. The

concrete is then poured into a frame and left to cure. The
water reacts with the cement which bonds the other
components together to eventually create a strong stone-
like material.

Concrete is the most widely used composite material on

earth with several billion cubic meters of it made each
year.

They are used to make pavements, pipes, foundations,

motor ways, bridges, multi-story parking, walls, footings,
poles, boats , etc.
Contd.
Few Examples of Ancient Structures Made Purely of Concrete Include:

1. The Pantheon in Rome

The Dome on the Roman Hadrian Pantheon still remains the world’s
largest UNREINFORCED solid concrete dome with a diameter of 43.4m
Contd.
2. Boston City Hall

The Boston City Hall though completed in1968 was constructed largely
of Concrete both in precast and cast in-situ
Contd.

Lately, there are several waterproofing admixtures that are added during the concrete batching process
to give a high waterproofing quality to the concrete especially in terraces, foundation walls, concrete septic
tanks, swimming pool walls etc. Products from ACT i.e. Advanced Concrete Technologies, Dr. Fixit etc. are
widely available in various ranges.

Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension. For some purposes, it needs to be reinforced with
steel rods.
 REINFORCED CONCRETE AS A COMPOSITE
REINFORCED
CONCRETE AS A Reinforced Concrete is a composite material made of
concrete and steel. It has resistance to pressure and to
COMPOSITE all bending forces. Reinforced Concrete Buildings can
MATERIAL be made to link all parts such as the foundations, walls,
floors and roof together. The reinforcing material has a
greater tensile strength than concrete has.
Galvanizing the steel saves it from rusting and
corrosion. Reinforced Concrete is usually stronger than
the normal concrete.
Bamboo is a sustainable material that also have the
potential of being used as reinforcement in concrete. It
is already being put to use in low-rise buildings in
developed parts of the world and further researches
are currently ongoing for its use in high-rise structures.
Contd.
Few Pictures Showing Bamboo as Reinforcement in Buildings:

Bamboo being a sustainable building material is

being used as reinforcement in Concrete. It is
already being put to use in low-rise buildings in
developed parts of the world.
 CARBON FIBRE REINFORCED PLASTIC (CFRP, CRP) AS A
CARBON FIBRE COMPOSITE

REINFORCED PLASTIC CFRP/CRP is a very strong, light and expensive composite material.
It could also be called fiber reinforced plastic.
(CFRP, CRP) AS A
COMPOSITE APPLICATION AREAS OF CFRP
1. Aerospace and automobile fields
MATERIAL 2. Sailboats
3. Modern bicycles and motorcycles
4. Laptop computers
5. Paintball equipments
6. Stringed instrument bodies
7. Drum shells etc.

BENEFITS OF CFRP
Composites are extremely versatile products. Their benefits include:
1. High strength to weight ratio
2. Light weight
3. Fire resistance
4. Electrical Resistance
5. Chemical and Weathering Resistance
6. Colour
7. Translucency

GLASS……………………….. NEXT CLASS!!!

GLASS AS A
What do you understand by Glass as a building material?
Glass is a building material used in building mainly as a flat glass
and for products such as lenses, glass fibre & foamed/cellular glass.

BUILDING The Theory and Evolution of Glass in Buildings?

The history of glass dates back to 3500BC. In an ancient kiln in
MATERIAL Mesopotamia via an accidental discovery the very first glass was
formed. Later, civilization from all over the world adopted the
method and put it to their use.

Mies Van Der Rohe, famous for saying “less is more” was one of the
preeminent modernist Architect, well known for pioneering the
extensive use of glass in buildings. His works introduced a new level
of simplicity and transparency and his buildings were often referred
to as “skin-and-bones” architecture for their emphasis on steel
structure and glass enclosure.

In addition, glass was a major influence for many architects of the

modernist movement and reshaped the way we think about and
define space. Today, glass has become one of the most used
building materials, but its early architectural expression is perhaps
best exemplified in the works of Mies.

To Mies, glass was an expression of the current age of industrialism

as he believed a building should be “a clear and true statement of
its times”
Contd.
Few Pictures Showing Some of Mies Van Der Rohe Buildings:

Nature of Glass
Glass is a hard substance which may be transparent or Varieties of Glass
translucent and brittle in nature. It is usually 1. Frosted Glass 6. Toughened/Tempered Glass
manufactured by fusion process. In this process, sand is
fused with lime, soda and some other admixtures and 2. Etched Glass 7. Laminated Glass
then cooled rapidly. 3. Smoked Glass 8. Tinted Glass
Earlier times, glass was a fragile material with very
limited use but with the advent of technology, glass is 4. Wired Glass 9. Spandrel Glass
now available ether is toughened, reinforced or limited 5. Annealed Glass 10. Curtain Wall Glazing
versions which helped fulfill the safety requirements of its
use in buildings
Frosted Glass
This is a glass with a frosted appearance produced by sandblasting or acid etching of clear sheet glass. They are widely
used as vision panels in Front Doors, Pantry Doors, Interior Doors. It can also be used as Windows, Shower Doors, Divider,
Tables etc.
Etched Glass
This is obtained by creating art on the glass surface by applying acidic, caustic or abrasive substances. This glass is mainly
used for decorative purposes. Its use is mostly seen in Churches (Catholic, Roman Catholic), Museums. It is also seen in wall
hung light glass fittings and filaments.
Smoked Glass
It is held in the smoke of a candle flame such that one surface of the sheet of glass is covered in a layer of smoke residue.
The glass is mostly used in the manufacture of scientific lab instruments. The effect of smoked glass can also be
incorporated into glass manufacture by adding darkening materials, such that the light passing through the glass is
decreased in brightness.
They can be used aesthetically (for example) in the manufacture of coffee tables with smoked glass tops.
Wired Glass
This is a type of glass into which a wire mesh is embedded during production. The wire mesh is usually a metal lattice of
12.5mm square embedded in its center. This composite construction produces characteristics beneficial to security as the
wire holds the fragments together should be glass be broken, thus reducing the chance of injury caused by falling glass
only.
Annealed Glass
It is the most common glass used in windows. Annealed glass is also known as a standard sheet of float glass. Anealling is
actually a process of slowly cooling glass to relieve internal stresses after it is formed.
Pics Showing Frosted Glass
Pics Showing
Etched Glass
Pics Showing
Smoked Glass
Pics Showing Wired Glass
Pics Showing Annealed
Glass
Contd.
Toughened/Tempered Glass
This is a type of safety glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength
compared with normal glass. Tempering puts the outer surfaces into compression and the interior into tension.
Such stresses cause the glass, when broken to crumble into smaller granular chunks instead of splintering into sharp,
jagged shards as plate glass (e.g. annealed glass) does. These chunks are less likely to cause injury.
As a result of its safety and strength, they are used in a variety of demanding applications such as:
Passenger vehicle windows, Shower doors, Architectural glass doors & tables, Refrigerator trays, Swimming pools,
Exhibition areas and displays etc. Toughened glass is used where strength and safety are important considerations.

Laminated Glass
It is also another type of safety glass that holds together when shattered. In the event of breaking, it is held in place
by an interlayer. The interlayer keeps the layers of glass bonded even when broken, and its high strength prevents
the glass from breaking up into large sharp pieces. They are usually used when there is a possibility of human
impact or where the glass could fall. Skylight glazing and Automobile windshields are typical examples. They are
also used to increase sound insulation.

Tinted Glass
They are usually available in a number of tints which absorb a portion of the solar heat and block daylight. Tinting
changes the color of the glass and can increase visual privacy. The primary uses are reducing glare from the bright
outdoors and reducing the amount of solar energy transmitted through the glass.
the most common colors are neutral grey, bronze and blue-green. It is made by altering the chemical formulation
of the glass with specific additives and are common in commercial windows than in residential windows.
Pics Showing
Tempered/Toughened Glass
Pics Showing Laminated Glass
Pics Showing Tinted Glass
Contd.
Spandrel Panel
Unlike vision glass, which is meant to be transparent, they are designed to be opaque in order to help hide features
between floors of a building, including vents, wires, slab ends and mechanical equipment.
The purpose of this is to create tinted or colored glass panels that seamlessly blend with the other parts of a building
façade.

Curtain Wall Glazing

This can be defined as a thin, usually aluminum-framed wall, containing in-fills of glass, metal panels or thin stone. The
framing is attached to the building structure and does not carry the floor or roof loads of the building.
When glass is used as curtain wall, an advantage is that natural light can penetrate deeper within the building. The
curtain wall method of glazing allows glass to be used in large uninterrupted areas creating consistent attractive facades.

GENERAL GLASS USES

Glass is an unlimited and innovative material that has plenty of applications. It is also an essential component that we
use everyday, most often without noticing it. Their application areas include (but are not limited to the following:
- Packaging (jars for food, bottles for drinks, pharmaceuticals)
- Tableware (drinking glasses, plate, cups, bowls)
- Housing/Buildings (windows, facades, insulation)
- Interior design & furnitures (mirrors, partitions, balustrades, tables, shelves, lightings)
- Appliances & Electronics (oven doors, cook tops, TV, computer screens, smart phones)
- Automotive & Transport 9windscreens, backlights, aircrafts, ships)
- Medical technology
- Renewable energy (solar energy glass, wind turbines)
- Radiation protection from X-rays (radiology) and gamma-rays (nuclear)
- Fiber optic cables
Pics Showing Spandrel Glass
Pics Showing
Curtain Wall
Glass
INTRODUCTION TO What do you understand by the term Wood/Timber?
WOOD/TIMBER Wood can be defined or referred to the substance that
makes up the tree whereas Timber can be defined as
the wood at any stage after the tree has been felled.

Wood is direct from the garden, bush, forest etc. which

includes sticks, branches and prunings. Whereas,
Timber is processed wood.

Timber, being a natural product available in

abundance is used for construction of doors, windows,
roofs, partitions, posts, cupboards, shelves etc.

Classification of Wood
Wood can be classified under two broad headings
namely:
1. Hardwood and
2. Softwood
Hardwood
Hardwoods have broad leaves which are usually shed during
the dry season. They are generally dense and have a narrow
and well defined annular rings.
They are usually heavy, strong, hard and dark in colour.
Hardwoods are also capable of resisting all stresses equally as
well.

Softwood

Softwoods have needle-like leaves which remain green all year

round .

They possess a long and narrow pointed leaves and are

characterized by distinct angular rings, more uniform texture
and light colour.

CLASSIFICATION OF WOOD
WOOD PROCESSING
& COMMON SIZES

Conversion of Wood to Timber

Basically, trees are felled and cut into logs and sizes convenient to seasoning and marketing. These are
manageable sizes transported from the farm to the sawmills where the trees are converted into
marketable sizes and uses such as planks, battens etc.

Major Conversion Types

Timber conversion is the process of turning a log into a pile of usable planks or boards. They include:
1. Ordinary Sawing 2. Tangential Sawing
3. Radial Sawing 4. Quarter Sawing

Common Sizes of Wood

1. 1” X 12” 2. 2” X 2” 3. 2” X 6”
4. 1” X 2” 5. 3” X 4” 6. 4” X 4”
QUALITIES & CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD TIMBER
Qualities
In general, the quality of a good timber depends on the following factors:
1. Environmental conditions of the locality 2. Maturity of the tree 3. Method of seasoning
4. Nature of the soil 5. Process of persecution 6. Time of felling
Characteristics
Below are some of the characteristics of a good timber:

1. Appearance
2. Colour
3. Defect
4. Durability
5. Elasticity
6. Weather Resistance
7. Strength
8. Fire Resistance
9. Toughness and Abrasion
10. Hardness
SEASONING OF TIMBER
When a tree is newly fallen, it contains about 50% or more of its own dry weight as water. This water
is in the form of sap and moisture. The water is to be removed before the timber can be used for any
purpose (be it engineering, decorative etc.) In other words, the timber is to be dried. This process of
drying of timber is known as seasoning of timber.

It can also be defined as the method whereby the rough timber is dried to bring the moisture content
of the wood into the same range as that of the anticipated service conditions i.e. about 15%. This is
the stage that follows conversion and is carried out because of the following reasons:
1. To reduce transport cost through savings in weight
2. To prepare it for the application of finishes such as painting
3. To make it immune to attacks from rots, fungi and other insects
4. To render the timber as stable as possible so that movement will be negligible when used for
construction
5. To increase its strength, durability and workability
Categories of Seasoning
Timber can be seasoned naturally or artificially. The first rudiment for seasoning of timber is to remove
the back to stop water from going into the tree. The categories include:
1. Natural or Air Seasoning
2. Artificial Seasoning

Natural or Air Seasoning

The log of wood is sawn into planks of convenient sizes and stacked under a covered shed in a cross-wise
direction in alternate layers so as to permit free circulation of air. The duration for drying depends upon
the type of wood and the sizes of planks. The rate of drying is however very slow. Air seasoning reduces
the moisture content of wood by about 12-15%.

Artificial Seasoning
The prevalent methods include:
1. Kiln Seasoning: This is an oven where heat is produced and air is blown through hot temperature.
2. Water Seasoning: This involves totally immersing timber in water in a running stream soon after felling
for a month. The sap in the timber is then washed by water. It is later taken out and carefully dried.
3. Boiling Seasoning: This is when you expose the wood to an action of steam spray. Its usually quick but
an expensive way of seasoning.

METHODS OF WOOD SEASONING

 THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
& LISTENING !!!

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