Lecture 1&2 (BMC I)

Addis Ababa Science & Technology
College of Architecture and Civil Engineering
BSc. Program in: Architecture
Building Materials and Construction-I
Lecture-1
Properties, composition, production and

standards of construction Materials
By: Temesgen B. & Edengenet S.
1
Building material is any material which is used for
construction purposes in the form of solid, semi-solid or
liquid, processed or unprocessed (raw material).
Basically the building materials are identified into two types;

i.Natural products : such as clay, rocks, sand, and wood, etc
have been used to construct buildings.
ii.Synthetic products: man-made products such as fired bricks
and clay blocks, ceramics, cement, composites, concrete,
thermal and sound insulation, glass, metal, plastics, polymers ,
etc.
2
PRINCIPAL PROPERTIES OF BUILDING
MATERIALS
3
Materials have different properties depending on what
they are used for. Some materials are hard, others are soft.
Physical Properties of Materials
Chemical Properties of Materials
Thermal Properties of Materials
Electrical Properties of Materials
Magnetic Properties of Materials
Optical Properties of Materials
Mechanical Properties of Materials
The basic properties of building materials include physical

property & mechanical property.
4
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
• Bulk density • Water absorption

• Porosity • Water permeability
• Durability • Hygroscopicity
• Density • Coefficient of softening
• Density index • Refractoriness
• Specific gravity • Dimensions.
• Fire resistance
• Frost resistance
• Weathering resistance
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Density(ρ) is the mass of a unit volume of homogeneous material
denoted by
6
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Bulk Density (ρb) is the mass of a unit volume of material in its
natural state (with pores and voids) calculated as
For most materials, bulk density is less than density but for
liquids and materials like glass and dense stone materials, these
parameters are practically the same.
7
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Properties like strength and heat conductivity are greatly

affected by their bulk density.
Bulk densities of some of the building materials are as
follows:
8
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Density Index (ρo) is the ratio,
It indicates the degree to which the volume of a material is

filled with solid matter.
For almost all building materials ρo is less than 1.0 because
there are no absolutely dense bodies in nature.
9
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Specific Weight (g) also known as the unit weight is the weight per unit
volume of material,
determine the weight of a structure designed to carry certain

loads while remaining intact and remaining within limits
regarding deformation.
10
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Specific Gravity (Gs) of solid particles of a material is the ratio
of weight/mass of a given volume of solids to the weight/mass of
an equal volume of water at 4°C.
11
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
True or absolute specific gravity (Ga). If both the permeable
and impermeable voids are excluded to determine the true
volume of solids, the specific gravity is called true or absolute
specific gravity.
12
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Apparent or mass specific gravity (Gm). If both the permeable
and impermeable voids are included to determine the true volume
of solids, the specific gravity is called apparent specific gravity.
It is the ratio of mass density of fine grained material to the
mass density of water.
13
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Porosity (n) is the degree to which volume of the material is
interspersed with pores.
is expressed as a ratio of the volume of pores to that of the
specimen.
14
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Porosity is indicative of other major properties of material, such
as bulk density, heat conductivity, durability, etc.
Dense materials, which have low porosity, are used for
constructions requiring high mechanical.
15
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Void Ratio (e) is defined as the ratio of volume of voids (Vv) to
the volume of solids (Vs).
Following inter relationship exists between void ratio and the

porosity.
16
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
If an aggregate is poured into a container of any sort it will be
observed that not all of the space within the container is filled.
To the vacant spaces between the particles of aggregate the
name voids is applied.
Necessarily, the percentage of voids like the specific weight is
affected by
the compactness of the aggregate and
the amount of moisture which it contains.
17
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
There are two classes of methods commonly employed for measuring
voids, the direct and the indirect.

direct method consists in determining the volume of liquid, generally
water, which is required to fill the voids in a given quantity of material.
indirect method, the solid volume of a known quantity of aggregate is
obtained by pouring the material into a calibrated tank partially filled with
water; the difference between the apparent volume of material and the
volume of water displaced equals the voids.
18
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Hygroscopicity is the property of a material to absorb water
vapour from air.
is influenced by air-temperature and relative humidity; pores
their types, number and size, and by the nature of substance
involved.
19
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Water Absorption denotes the ability of the material to absorb
and retain water.
It is expressed as percentage in weight or of the volume of dry
material:
20
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The properties of building materials are greatly influenced when saturated.
The ratio of compressive strength of material saturated with water to that in
dry state is known as coefficient of softening and describes the water resistance
of materials.
For materials like clay which soak readily it is zero, whereas for materials like
glass and metals it is one.
Materials with coefficient of softening less than 0.8 should not be
recommended in the situations permanently exposed to the action of moisture.
21
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Weathering Resistance is the ability of a material to endure
alternate wet and dry conditions for a long period without
considerable deformation and loss of mechanical strength.
Water Permeability is the capacity of a material to allow water
to penetrate under pressure. Materials like glass, steel and bitumen
are impervious.
22
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Frost Resistance denotes the ability of a water-saturated
material to endure repeated freezing and thawing with
considerable decrease of mechanical strength.
Under such conditions the water contained by the pores
increases in volume even up to 9 per cent on freezing.
The walls of the pores experience considerable stresses and may
even fail.
23
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Heat Conductivity is the ability of a material to conduct heat.
is influenced by nature of material, its structure, porosity,
character of pores and mean temperature at which heat exchange
takes place.
Materials with large size pores have high heat conductivity
because the air inside the pores enhances heat transfer.
Moist materials have a higher heat conductivity than drier ones.
24
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Thermal Capacity is the property of a material to absorb
heat described by its specific heat.

Fire Resistance is the ability of a material to resist the
action of high temperature without any appreciable
deformation and substantial loss of strength.
25
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Refractoriness denotes the ability of a material to

withstand prolonged action of high temperature without
melting or losing shape.
Materials resisting prolonged temperatures of 1580°C or more
are known as refractory.
26
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Chemical Resistance is the ability of a material to withstand the
action of acids, alkalis, sea water and gases.
Durability is the ability of a material to resist the combined
effects of atmospheric and other factors.
27
28
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Strength: is the ability of the material to resist failure under the
action of stresses caused by loads, the most common being

compression, tension, bending and impact.
- Stiffness: is the measure of the ability of the material to resist deformation .
– Elasticity: The ability to regain its original shape and size after the
removal of the loads.
– Coefficient of Softening: The ratio of compressive strength of the
saturated material to the dry state

– Hardness: The ability to resist abrasion, scratching and indentation by
hard material
– Ductility: Ability to elongate permanently under tensile forces.
– Malleability: The ability to permanently extend in all directions when
hammered.
– Brittleness: The tendency to break suddenly when elongated
– Creep: Slow deformation under long term sustained loads.

Elasticity is the ability of a material to restore its initial form
and dimensions after the load is removed.
Within the limits of elasticity of solid bodies, the deformation is
proportional to the stress.
Ratio of unit stress to unit deformation is termed as modulus of
elasticity.
A large value of it represents a material with very small deformation.
31
Plasticity If a body fails to recover its original form, it is said to be
plastic.
Some of the examples of plastic materials are steel, copper and hot
bitumen.
Impact : The resistance of material to the action of External DYNAMIC
forces
32
CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOUR UNDER STRESS
The ductile materials can be drawn out without necking down,
the examples being copper and wrought iron.
Brittle materials have little or no plasticity. They fail suddenly
without warning.
33
Stiff materials have a high modulus of elasticity permitting
small deformation for a given load.
Flexible materials on the other hand have low modulus of
elasticity and bend considerably without breakdown.
Tough materials withstand heavy shocks. Toughness depends
upon strength and flexibility.

34

Malleable materials can be hammered into sheets without
rupture.
depends upon ductility and softness of material.
Copper is the most malleable material.
Hard materials resist scratching and denting, for example cast

iron and chrome steel.
Materials resistant to abrasion such as manganese are also known as
hard materials.
35
Determining the Properties of Construction Materials
 Properties of materials are determined by
• Laboratory testing
• Field testing
 To avoid inconsistencies in test results STANDARDS are devised

which describe the test apparatus and the procedure.
 Standardization is the process of developing standards-based on
compatible technologies and processes within a given industry.
 Standardization requires the quality of materials and

manufactured items to be not below a specific standard level.
Standardization Institutes
 Pakistan- Pakistan Quality Standards and Quality

Control Organization (PQSQCA)
 Turkey - Turkish Standards Institute (TSE)
 England - British Standards Institute (BSI)
 Germany - Deutsche Institute Norm (DIN)
 U.S. - American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM)
 Europe - European Committee for Standardization
(CEN)
 Many More
There are five primary areas that must be evaluated in selecting
appropriate materials and assemblies,
Material compatibility with climatic and cultural conditions
Material compatibility with aesthetic conditions
Construction consideration such as the applicability of material

to occupancy and size of building, including durability,
structural, and fire protection requirements
 Economic factors such as obtaining raw materials, processing
and fabricating ing materials, transportation, material costs
Mechanical and non-mechanical properties of the building
38
materials
OUTLINE
1.2 BUILDING MATERIALS
Building material
What is building ?
A building can be generally considered as a structure consisting of floors, walls

and roofs erected to provide covered space for different uses such as residence,
business, entertainment, workshop, etc.
What is building material?
Is material which is used for construction purposes.

What is construction?
Is a process of constructing something by man for one purpose or another. It may
be a road, bridge, a dam, a dwelling place, an airport, a commercial building, etc.
39
OUTLINE
Building material
What is building ?
A building can be generally considered as a structure consisting of floors, walls

and roofs erected to provide covered space for different uses such as residence,
business, entertainment, workshop, etc. or is an assemblage that is firmly attached
to the ground and that provides shelter
What is building material?
Is material which is used for construction of building.

What is Building construction?
Is the process of assembling materials to form a building based on the building
design. 40
OUTLINE
What is Building design?
Is the process of providing all information necessary for construction of a building that will meet
its owner’s requirements and also satisfy public health, welfare, and safety requirements.
 The main considerations in architectural design of buildings?

 Climate and its effect
 People and their requirements
 Materials for construction and method of construction
 Regulations and building codes
 Requirements which must be satisfied for the construction of a modern house
 A plot of land
 Permission from local authorities
 Materials for building
 Skilled labourers for the erection
 Finance
 Professionals, such as architects and engineers
41
OUTLINE
42
Natural Stone
Used in the construction industry, including those used in
decoration and indoor flooring and walls.
for dams and bridges,
in retaining wall masonry to retain soil,
as road material in road construction,
 as ballast for permanent way in railways.
43
CLASSIFICATION OF STONE
Classified according to the genetic classification of crustal rocks:
44
CLASSIFICATION
A.Sedimentary Rocks
The deposited grains are united
by some cementitious material.
The sedimentary stones are
comparatively weak stones.
They are less compact (porous),
and where exposed to the weather
often not of long durability.
45
CLASSIFICATION
A.Sedimentary Rocks
Whenever sedimentary stones are used for construction

purposes they have to be checked for durability.
The principal stones in this class are sandstone and
limestones.
46
CLASSIFICATION
B.Metamorphic Rocks
are sedimentary or igneous in origin,
but have undergone a change caused by
immense heat and pressure to such an
extent that they assume a new structure
and form new materials.
47
CLASSIFICATION
B.Metamorphic Rocks
The principal stones in this class are
slates (derived from clay),
quartzites (from sandstone) and
marble (from limestone).
Metamorphic stones can be used for:
48
CLASSIFICATION
C.Igneous Rocks:
are formed from cooling magma deep in
Earth’s crust or mantle.
A rock that cools within Earth’s crust will
cool very slowly and form larger crystals and
is called an intrusive igneous rock.
Magma that is ejected to the surface of
Earth a volcanic eruption or at a spreading
centre cools very quickly, contains small
crystals typically and is called an extrusive
igneous rock.
have a very good compressive strength
and are compact.
49
CLASSIFICATION
C.Igneous Rocks:
The principal stones in this class are granites and basalt.
Igneous stones can be used for all water supply related
masonry work like:
50
Selection
If stones are used for local buildings their quality can be
checked at those existing buildings.
Stones used for tank construction should always be tested.
If stones are not used for the local buildings, the collection of
the stones can be done in the following ways:
a)Collecting stones at the surface
b)Breaking (cutting) rocks at the surface
51
Selection
Igneous and sedimentary rocks are widespread and are the
most common building stones used.
Natural stones are to be used for construction work the
durability has to be tested first.
In general the local masons will know the best quality stones
available, and this knowledge should be considered and used.
52
Testing
More detailed testing has to be done by a trained person.
Internal or surface cracks in the stone can with time weaken a
structure.
The quality of the stone can be assessed by striking the stone lightly
with a hammer.
A bell-like high sound indicates good quality, and a dull low sound
bad quality.
This test is very important when using sedimentary rocks.
53
Testing
Another test can be done by laying the stone in water, take it
out after one day, let it dry out, clean it from organic matter and
put it back into the water again.
Continue with this procedure for at least two weeks. If the stone
does not break into pieces or develop cracks, it is considered
adequate for construction purposes.
54
1.2.2 Earth /Clay.

Clay is a finely-grained natural rock or soil material that combines one
or more clay minerals with possible traces of quartz (SiO2 ), metal oxides
(Al2O3 , MgO etc.) and organic matter.
Clay is useful to improve the water-tightness of a spring catchment and
is the most important raw material used for making bricks.
Classification of clay based on:- ( read assignment}
1 origin (Residual and transported clays)
2 resistance to high temperatures (refractory, high melting and low
melting clays.)
properties of clay (Plasticity, tensile strength, texture, shrinkage, porosity,
fusibility and colour)
55
1.2.3 Gravel, Sand and Silt
Sand and gravel are the types of aggregates needed for the
manufacture of concrete, plaster or mortar and Aggregates should
consist of clean, hard, strong and durable particles.
Gravel is Coarse material with size of the particles are 2mm to
60mm and of any shape (round, flat or angular).
Gravel is used for: concrete, permeable, construction,
catchments ,drainage and Levelling 56


The size of Sand particles are 0.06mm to 2mm (this is the smallest grain size that
can be discerned by the naked eye)
Sand grains lack cohesion in the presence of water, and limit swelling and
shrinkage.
It is used with cement to make mortar for masonry work and plaster and for
concrete, mortar, pipe filling, Levelling .
Requirements of sand :- It should be clean and well graded (same particle size),
should be durable
The sand should not contain more than 6% of silt and it should be determined by
“silt content field test”.
57
Physically and chemically the same as sand, only much finer
The size of the particles is 0.002mm to 0.06mm.
 Silt should not be used for concrete or mortar because silt can
interfere with the bond between cement and aggregate, and it
requires more water (large specific surface).
58
Testing of sand and gravel

To guarantee the quality of the structures it is very important to ensure the required
quality of the raw materials.
Sieve analysis (grain size)
The process of dividing a sample of aggregate into fractions of same particle size
and used to determine the grading or size distribution of the aggregate.
A sample of air-dried aggregate is graded by shaking or vibrating a nest of stacked
sieves, with the largest sieve at the top
59
Testing of sand and gravel

B. Hand-test:
The hand filled with the aggregates to be tested is clenched and then
opened again. If the material is clean it should not stick together in a lump.
When the material is rubbed between the hands, the hands should
remain almost clean.
Otherwise the silt and foreign material has to be washed out by thorough
rinsing with water.
60
Testing of sand and gravel C Bottle-test or Jar test:

Take graduated cylinder or jar having a capacity of greater than 100ml
>>Pour 30ml of sand to the cylinder >>Fill approximately 3/4 of the
cylinder with water >>Shake the cylinder vigorously for about a minute
>>Leave the cylinder for about an hour to allow the silt to settle on the
layer of the sand >>Measure the amount of fines forming a separate layer
on the top of the washed sand
According to the Ethiopian Standard, if the silt content of the sand is

more than 6% it shall not be used for construction. 61
1.2.4 Lime
Lime is one of the oldest known cementing material and found in many parts
of the world in its natural form as a rock of varying degree of hardness.
Lime is mainly composed of calcium oxide (CaO) and in its pure form
associates with CO2 to give white CaCo3.
Production of lime
Lime is produced by burning the raw material limestone CaCO3 and The
common lime includes limestone, dolomite, and chalk.
The manufacture of lime consists in burning the limestone in some form of
vertical kilns to a temperature of 10000c.
CaCO3  CaO+CO2
62
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66
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70
1.5 Cement
71
End
Thank you
72

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Addis Ababa Science & Technology

College of Architecture and Civil Engineering

BSc. Program in: Architecture

Building Materials and Construction-I

Properties, composition, production and

Basically the building materials are identified into two types;

The basic properties of building materials include physical

• Bulk density • Water absorption

Bulk Density (ρb) is the mass of a unit volume of material in its

natural state (with pores and voids) calculated as

Properties like strength and heat conductivity are greatly

It indicates the degree to which the volume of a material is

determine the weight of a structure designed to carry certain

Specific Gravity (Gs) of solid particles of a material is the ratio

of weight/mass of a given volume of solids to the weight/mass of

an equal volume of water at 4°C.

True or absolute specific gravity (Ga). If both the permeable

and impermeable voids are excluded to determine the true

volume of solids, the specific gravity is called true or absolute

Porosity is indicative of other major properties of material, such

as bulk density, heat conductivity, durability, etc.

Dense materials, which have low porosity, are used for

constructions requiring high mechanical.

Following inter relationship exists between void ratio and the

voids, the direct and the indirect.

Weathering Resistance is the ability of a material to endure

alternate wet and dry conditions for a long period without

considerable deformation and loss of mechanical strength.

Water Permeability is the capacity of a material to allow water

to penetrate under pressure. Materials like glass, steel and bitumen

Thermal Capacity is the property of a material to absorb

heat described by its specific heat.

Refractoriness denotes the ability of a material to

Chemical Resistance is the ability of a material to withstand the

action of acids, alkalis, sea water and gases.

Durability is the ability of a material to resist the combined

effects of atmospheric and other factors.

Strength: is the ability of the material to resist failure under the

action of stresses caused by loads, the most common being

removal of the loads.

– Coefficient of Softening: The ratio of compressive strength of the

saturated material to the dry state

– Hardness: The ability to resist abrasion, scratching and indentation by

– Ductility: Ability to elongate permanently under tensile forces.

– Malleability: The ability to permanently extend in all directions when

– Brittleness: The tendency to break suddenly when elongated

– Creep: Slow deformation under long term sustained loads.

Impact : The resistance of material to the action of External DYNAMIC

CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOUR UNDER STRESS

The ductile materials can be drawn out without necking down,

the examples being copper and wrought iron.

Brittle materials have little or no plasticity. They fail suddenly

CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOUR UNDER STRESS

Stiff materials have a high modulus of elasticity permitting

small deformation for a given load.

Flexible materials on the other hand have low modulus of

elasticity and bend considerably without breakdown.

Tough materials withstand heavy shocks. Toughness depends

upon strength and flexibility.

CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOUR UNDER STRESS

Hard materials resist scratching and denting, for example cast

 To avoid inconsistencies in test results STANDARDS are devised