Topic 1
wanted elements from unwanted materials for
Why is it important to test materials in construction site?
1. Meeting requirements of regulatory agencies.
2. Selecting appropriate materials and treatments
for an application, and
3. Evaluating product design or improvement
specifications.
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Department of Public Works and Highways together with
the Provincial Engineering Office, Local Government Units
and Department of Labor and Employment are some of
the regulatory bodies that set compliance and
requirements for construction industry. Contractors must
adhere and follow to the standards and requirements
being set by the bodies for compliance of the project and
for the project to commence work.
MATERIAL AND TRATMENT SELECTION
Materials are tested by the manufacturing companies to
ensure quality products being sell and distributed. Steel
bars, I beam, rivets and fasteners are tested by the
manufacturing company. In construction site some
materials being deliver are being treated and a sample is
taken to be tested in actual by the contractors to ensure
the quality of the delivered products, it is to ensure that
the delivered materials was in accordance with the specs
being ordered in the manufacturing company.
PRODUCT DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT
Testing materials also leads to an improvement of a new
quality product. Improving materials quality, strength
capacity, mechanical and physical properties give
innovation to the design of structures. It may lead to
stronger structure or either cheaper structure without
compromising the quality and its standards. Research and
development on the materials, such as concrete, steel bars
are now trend for construction innovation and
improvement.
“Quality materials and workmanship in construction site
equals, standard and safe structure”
APPARATUSES USED IN CONSTRUCTION FOR MATERIALS
TESTING
Sieve Set — A sieve, or sifter, is a device for separating
characterizing the particle size distribution of a sample
(aggregates, sand, gavel, and other soil particles).
Characterizing, and determining the particle size
distribution of the coarse and fine aggregates is called
sieve analysis.
(check table sa ppt)
Balance – use in measuring the massor weight of the
sample.
Graduated Beaker and Cylinder – use to measure the
volume of samples. (sand, liquid, small part of soil and
etc.)
Calculator – use to compute especially the data recorded
during the testing of materials. (e.g.,density, moisture
content, void ratio, degree of saturation)
Slump Cone – A metal mold in a form of truncated cone
with a top diameter of 4” (102 mm) a bottom diameter of
8” (203 mm), and a height of 12” (305 mm), used to
fabricate the specimen for the slump test. Slump Test is an
empirical test that measures the workability of fresh
concrete. More specifically, it tests the consistency of the
concrete in that specific batch.
Tamping Rod – Tamping rods are dimensionally accurate
rods used to tamp fresh concrete into cylinder molds and
slump cones to eliminate voids and excess air.
Various Molds – use as a mold of the sample for the
testing of concrete mixtures.
There are three types of concrete Molds.
• Cube molds
1. Sizes of cube molds:
 150 mm x 150 mmx 150 mm
 100 mm x 100mm x 100mm
 70.6 mm x 70.6 mm x 70.6 mm
• Cylinder Molds
1. Sizes of cylinder mold:
 6 in x 12 in (15.2cm x 30.5 cm)
 4 in x 8 in (10 cm x 20 cm)
• Beam Molds
1. Sizes of beam molds:
 100 mm x 100mm x 400mm
 100 mm x 100mm x 500 mm
 150 mm x 150 mm x 600 mm
Hydrometer – is an instrument used to measure the
specific gravity (or relative density) of liquids; that is, the
ratio of the density of the liquid to the density of Water. B. Load Measuring Unit – a pendulum
Hydrometer is usually made of glass and consists of a dynamometer unit that has a small cylinder with
cylindrical stem and a bulb weighted with mercury or lead a piston which moves with the non-pulsating oil
shot to make it float upright. flow. The pendulum is connected to the piston
by a pivot lever. The pivot lever deflects based
Laser Infrared Thermometer – aninstrument for on the load applied to the specimen. This
measuring and indicating temperature, typically one deflection is converted to the load pointer and
consisting of a narrow, hermetically sealed glass tube displays as the load on the dial. Load measuring
marked with graduation and having at one end a bulb units ranges from 0 – 100 kN; 0 – 250 kN; 0 –
containing mercury or alcohol which extends along the 500 kN and 0 – 1000 kN.
tube as it expands. C. Control Device – can be electric or hydraulic.
Electric control device makes use of switches to
Concrete Mixers – a device that homogeneously combines move the crossheads and switch on/off the unit.
cement, aggregate such as sand and gravel and water to A hydraulic control device consists of two valves,
form concrete. A typical concrete mixer uses a revolving right control valve and left control valve or
drum to mix the components. release valve. A right control valve is used to
apply load ton the specimen. The left control
Universal Testing Machine – A machine, designed that is valve is used to release the load application.
capable of exerting a tensile, compressive or traverse
stress on a sample specimen under test. The machine has (picture, check sa ppt)
been named so because of the wide range of tests it can
perform over different kind of materials. Different tests
like peel test, flexural test, tension test, bend test, friction
test, spring test etc. can be performed with the help of Function of the Universal Testing Machine
UTM. The main function of UTM is to test the mechanical
properties of materials.
1. Tensile test
2. Compression Test
Two Main Parts of the Universal Testing Machine 3. Bending/ Flexural Test
1. Loading Unit

A. Load Frame – made either by single support or

by double support. Consist of a table (where the
specimen is placed for the compression test),
upper crosshead and lower crosshead. Topic 2
B. Upper and Lower Crosshead – used to clamp
one end of the test specimen. The lower GENERAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS
crosshead in the load frame is the movable
1.
2. Physical
Mechanical Properties
Properties
crosshead whose screw can be loosened for 3. Chemical Properties
height adjustment and tightened. Both the 4. Electrical Properties
5. Magnetic Properties
crossheads have a tapered slot at the center.
This slot has a pair of racked jaws that is
intended to grip and hold the tensile test
specimen. 1. Physical Properties: Properties of materials that are
C. Elongation Scale – the relative movement of the checked and tested based on the quality and condition of
lower and upper table is measured by an the materials without any external force.
elongation scale which is provided along with
 Bulk density - is the ratio of mass to the volume
the loading unit.
of the materials in its natural state that is
including voids and pores. It is expressed in
kg/m3. Bulk Density influences the mechanical
2. Control Unit properties of materials like strength, heat and
conductivity etc.
A. Hydraulic Power Unit – consist of oil pump that  Porosity - gives the volume of the material
provides non-pulsating oil flow into the main occupied by pores. It is the ratio of volume of
cylinder of the load unit. This flow helps in the pores to the volume of material Porosity
smooth application of load on the specimen. The influences many properties like thermal
oil pump in a hydraulic power unit is run by an conductivity, strength, bulk density durability
electric motor and pump. and etc.
  Density - is the ratio of mass to the volume of
the materials in homogeneous state. Almost all
the physical properties of materials are
influenced by its density values.
 Specific Gravity - the ratio of mass of given
substance to the mass of water at 4ºC for the
equal volumes.
 Fire Resistance - The ability to withstand against
fire without changing its shape and other
properties. Fire resistance of a material is tested
by the combined actions of water and fire
 Frost Resistance - The ability of a material to
resist freezing or thawing is called frost
resistance. It is depending upon the density and
bulk density of material. Denser materials will
have more frost resistance. Moist material have
low frost resistance and they lose their strength
in freezing and become brittle.
 Weathering Resistance - The property of a
material to withstand against all atmospheric
actions without losing its strength and shape.
Weathering effects the durability of material.
e.g., corrosion of iron caused by weathering.
 Water Absorption - The capacity of a material to
absorb and retain water. It is expressed in % of
weight of dry material. It depends up on the size,
shape and number of pores of material.
 Water Permeability - The ability of a material to
permit water through it.
 Hygroscopicity - Is the property of a material to
absorb water vapor from the air. It depends on
the relative humidity, porosity, air temperature
etc.
 Coefficient of Softening - a material is the ration
of compressive strength of a saturated material
to its compressive strength in dry state. It affects
the strength of water absorbent materials like
soil.
 Refractoriness - The property of a material
which cannot melts or lose its shape at
prolonged high temperatures (1580 C or more).
Physical Properties Testing
Sample representation on how to check the physical
property of a certain sample: (Soil Physical Properties)
The following relation can be made from the figure as
shown:
Total weight of soil (W) = Ww + Ws
Volume of voids (Vv) = Va + Vw
Total volume (V) = Vs + Vv
VOID RATIO (e) - is the ratio between the volumes of voids
to the volume of solids of a solid mass. It is usually express
in percent. Note 0 < e < infinity
e = Vv/Vs
POROSITY (n) - is the ratio between the volumes of voids
to the total volume of a soil mass. It is usually expressed in
percent. Note 0 < n < 1
n = Vv/V
Relationship between void ratio (e) and porosity (n)
n = e/(1+e) and e = n/(1-n)
WATER CONTENT (w) OR MOISTURE CONTENT (MC) - is
the ratio of the weight of water to the weight of the solid
particles. Note 0 < MC < infinity
MC or w = (Ww/Ws) x 100%
DEGREE OF SATURATION (S) - is the ratio of water to the
volume of voids.
S = (Vw/Vv) x 100%
Degree of saturation varies from S=0 for completely dry
soil and S=100% for totally saturated soil.
Relationship between Specific Gravity (G), Moisture
Content (MC), Degree of Saturation (S) and Void Ratio (e).
G x MC = S x e
UNIT WEIGHT OR (BULK UNIT WEIGHT) OF SOIL MASS (γm)
γm = W/V
γm = (G+Se)/(1+e)
or γw
γm = (G+GMC)/(1+e) γw
2. Mechanical Properties: Mechanical properties of the
materials are found out by applying external forces on
them. These are very important properties which are
responsible for behavior of a material in its job.
 Plasticity - When the load is applied on the
material, if it will undergo permanent
deformation without cracking and retain this
shape after the removal of load then it is said to
be plastic material.
 Hardness - The property of a materials to resist
scratching by a harder body. MOHS scale is used
to determine the hardness of a materials.
  Elasticity - The capacity of a material to regain its material. For example, wood have great electric resistance
initial shape and size after removal of load. and stainless steel is a good conductor of electricity.
 Strength - The capacity of a material to resist
failure caused by loads acting on it. The load may 5. Electrical and Magnetic
be compressive, tensile or bending. It is
determined by dividing the ultimate load taken Properties
by the material with its cross-sectional area.
 Brittleness - When the material is subjected to Magnetic Properties of Building Materials
load, if it fails suddenly without causing any
The magnetic properties of materials like permeability,
deformation then it is called brittle material.
hysteresis etc. are required in the case of generators etc.
 Fatigue - If a material is subjected to repeated
iron is magnetic material and aluminum is non-magnetic
loads, then the failure occurs at some point
material.
which is lower than the failure point caused by
steady loads.
(check ppt please)
 Toughness of Material - If a material is subjected
to sudden loads and it will undergo some
deformation without causing rupture is known
as its impact strength. Topic 3
 Abrasion Resistance - The loss of material due to
rubbing of particles while working is called What is concrete?
abrasion. The abrasion resistance for a material Concrete is a composite materials composed of fine
makes it durable and provided long life. aggregates (sand), coarse aggregates (gravel), cement
 Creep - the deformation caused by constant (binder) and water.
loads for long periods. It is time dependent and
occurs at very slow rate. It is almost negligible in
normal conditions. But at high temperature
conditions creep occur rapidly. Composition of Concrete
Aggregates - Fine and coarse aggregates make up the bulk
(check ppt) of concrete mixture. Sand and gravel make the most of
volume in the concrete mixture (60%-75%). The size
distribution of the aggregates determines how much
binder is required. Combination of fine and coarse
3. Chemical Properties: The properties of materials against aggregates in concrete makes it more stronger and fill
the chemical actions or chemical combinations voids on the mixture. Also, it makes the concrete cement
much cheaper.
Chemical resistance:
The ability of a construction materials to resist the effects Fine and Coarse Aggregates:
by chemicals like acids, salts and alkalis is known as Fine aggregates generally consist of natural sand or
chemical resistance. Underground installations, crushed stone with most particles passing through a 3/8-
constructions near sea etc. should be built with great inch sieve.
chemical resistance. Coarse aggregates are any particles greater than 0.19 inch,
Corrosion resistance: but generally range between 3/8 and 1.5 inches in
diameter.
Formation of rust (iron oxide) in metals, when they are
subjected to atmosphere is called as corrosion. So, the
metals should be corrosive resistant. To increase the Cement - Portland cement is the most common type of
corrosion resistance proper measures should be cement in general usage. It is a basic ingredient of
considered. Otherwise, it will damage the whole structure. concrete, mortar, and many plasters.
Types of Cement

1. Rapid Hardening or high early strength Cement

2. Quick Settling Cement
3. High Alumnina Cement
4. Electrical and Magnetic 4. Portland Slag Cement
5. Low Heat Cement
Properties: 6. Air Entraining Cement
Electrical Properties of Building Materials 7. White Cement
The properties of a material to conduct or to resist 8. Colored Cement
9. Portland Pozzolona Cement
electricity through them are electrical properties of
Water - Combining water with a cementitious material
forms a cement paste by the process of hydration. The
cement paste glues the aggregate together, fills voids
within it, and makes it flow more freely.
Admixture - Admixtures are materials in the form of
powder or fluids that are added to the concrete to give it
certain characteristics not obtainable with plain concrete
mixes
.
(check ppt)
The common types of admixtures are as follows:
Corrosion inhibitors can be used as a defensive
strategy for concrete structures, such as marine
facilities, highway bridges, and parking garages,
that will be exposed to high concentrations of
chloride. Other specialty admixtures include
shrinkage - reducing admixtures and alkali-silica
reactivity inhibitors. The shrinkage reducers are
used to control drying shrinkage and minimize
cracking, while ASR inhibitors control durability
problems associated with alkali-silica reactivity.

1. Water-reducing admixtures - Water-reducing

admixtures usually reduce the required water
content for a concrete mixture by about 5 to 10
percent. Consequently, concrete containing a
waterreducing admixture needs less water to
reach a required slump than untreated concrete.
The treated concrete can have a lower water-
cement ratio. This usually indicates that a higher
strength concrete can be produced without
increasing the amount of cement.
2. Retarding Admixture - Retarding Admixture slow
the setting rate of concrete, are used to
counteract the accelerating effect of hot
weather on concrete setting. High temperatures
often cause an increased rate of hardening
which makes placing and finishing difficult.
Retarders keep concrete workable during
placement and delay the initial set of concrete.
Most retarders also function as water reducers
and may entrain some air in concrete.
3. Accelerating Admixture - Accelerating
admixtures increase the rate of early strength
development, reduce the time required for
proper curing and protection, and speed up the
start of finishing operations. Accelerating
admixtures are especially useful for modifying
the properties of concrete in cold weather.
4. Superplasticizers - Superplasticizers, also known
as plasticizers or high-range water reducers
(HRWR), reduce water content by 12 to 30
percent and can be added to concrete with a
low-to-normal slump and water-cement ratio to
make high-slump flowing concrete. Flowing
concrete is a highly fluid but workable concrete
that can be placed with little or no vibration or
compaction. The effect of superplasticizers lasts
only 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the brand
and dosage rate, and is followed by a rapid loss
in workability. As a result of the slump loss,
superplasticizers are usually added to concrete
at the jobsite.
5. Corrosion-inhibiting Admixture - Corrosion-
inhibiting admixtures fall into the specialty
admixture category and are used to slow
corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete.