Construction Materials and Testing

CONMATLS
MODULE 1
 Holy Angel University
School of Engineering and Architecture
Department of Civil Engineering
Construction Materials and Testing

Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction
Materials and Testing

After this chapter, the student should be able to

Objective ➢ Define different construction materials and testing

This chapter focuses on:

Content • Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
o Classification of Engineering Material
o General Properties of Engineering Materials
o Importance of The Study of Construction Materials
o Materials Used in Construction

➢ Schedule of minimum test requirements governing items of work of the

Related DPWH standard specifications for highways, bridges and airports, 1998,
(volume III). Retrieved from

Readings https://www.gppb.gov.ph/laws/laws/CPESGuidelines2011/Annex11.pdf

Sivakugan, N., et al. (2018). Civil engineering materials. Australia: Cengage

References Learning

Henderson, P. (2019). Materials for construction: civil engineering

fundamentals. New York: Larsen & Keller

Kultermann, E. (2017). Construction materials, methods, and techniques:

building for a sustainable future (4th ed.). Australia: Cengage Learning

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
The course of Construction Materials and Testing is a vital subject in Civil Engineering although it
doesn’t require much computations. Getting to know the basic and the more advanced characteristics and
properties of the materials used in construction will help students analyze the principles lying behind the
design of structures.

Engineering structures are composed of materials. These materials are known as engineering materials
or materials of construction. It is necessary for the civil engineer to become conversant with the properties
of such materials.

The service conditions of buildings demand a wide range of materials and various properties such as
water resistance, strength, durability, temperature resistance, appearance, permeability, etc. They are to be
properly studied before making final selection of any building material for a particular use.

Classification of Engineering Material

The factors which form the basis of various systems of classifications of materials in material science
and engineering are:

✓ The chemical composition of the material;

✓ The mode of occurrence of the material in nature;

✓ The refining and manufacturing processes to which the material was subjected prior to the
acquisition of the required properties;

✓ The atomic and crystalline structure of material; and

✓ The industrial and technical use of the material

Common engineering materials that fall within the scope of material science and engineering may be
classified into one of the following five groups:
1. Metals (ferrous and non-ferrous) and alloys

2. Ceramics - Structural, pipes, including bricks, roof tiles & floor.

3. Polymers - a substance that has a molecular structure consisting chiefly or entirely of a large number
of similar units bonded together, e.g., many synthetic organic materials used as plastics and resins.

4. Composites - Concrete is a composite of aggregate, cement, additives and water. Disc brake pads are
composites of hard ceramic particles embedded in soft metal. The polymer binds the reinforcement
& particulate together. Polymer matrix composites are lighter than steel, aluminum, concrete and
brick.

5. Advanced materials

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
General Properties of Engineering Materials

1. Physical properties. A material undergoes transition under the influence of temperature and pressure,
and these changes are physical in nature, because their molecules remain intact. [Density, specific
gravity, porosity, water absorption, etc…]

2. Mechanical properties. It is the property of material which opposes the deformation or breakdown
of material in presence of external forces or load. [tensile strength, compressive strength, rigidity,
hardness, creep, fatigue, etc…]

3. 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.

4. 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]

5. Economic characteristics. Cost saving characteristics.

6. Aesthetic properties. The qualities that make a product attractive to look at, or pleasing to experience.
[color, surface smoothness, the reflection of light, etc…]

▪ Properties of materials are determined by Laboratory Testing and Field Testing.

▪ 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)
✓ U.S. - American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
✓ Europe - European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
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.

Materials Used in Construction

1. Wood - 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.

2. 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
way it’s plasticity.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
6. 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:

a. Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) - Is the most widely used type of cement which is
suitable for all general concrete construction, most widely produced and used type of cement
around the world with annual global production of around 3.8 million cubic meters per year,
and is suitable for all type of concrete construction.

b. Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) - This cement has high resistance to various chemical
attacks on concrete compared with ordinary Portland cement and thus it is widely used. It is
used in marine structures, sewage works, sewage works and for laying concrete under water
such as bridges, piers, dams and mass concrete works etc.

c. Rapid Hardening Cement - attains high strength in early days it is used in concrete where
formworks are removed at an early stage and is similar to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC).
This cement has increased lime content and contains higher c3s content and finer grinding
which gives greater strength development than OPC at an early stage. The strength of rapid
hardening cement at the 3 days is similar to 7 days’ strength of OPC with the same water-
cement ratio. Thus, 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.
Rapid hardening cement is used in prefabricated concrete construction, road works, etc.

d. Quick setting cement - The difference between the quick setting cement and rapid hardening
cement is that quick setting cement sets earlier while rate of gain of strength is similar to
Ordinary Portland Cement, while rapid hardening cement gains strength quickly. Formworks
in both cases can be removed earlier. Quick setting cement is used where works is to be
completed in very short period and for concreting in static or running water.

e. Low Heat Cement - Low heat cement is prepared by maintaining the percentage of tricalcium
aluminate below 6% by increasing the proportion of C2S. This makes the concrete to 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. This cement has increased
power against sulfates and is less reactive and initial setting time is greater than OPC.

f. Sulphates Resisting Cement - is used to reduce the risk of sulfate attack on concrete and thus
is used in construction of foundations where soil has high sulfate content. This cement 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.

g. Blast Furnace Slag Cement - Blast furnace slag cement is obtained by grinding the clinkers
with about 60% slag and resembles more or less in properties of Portland cement. It can be

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
used for works economic considerations is predominant.

h. High Alumina Cement - is 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 5 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.

i. Air Entraining Cement - is 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.

j. 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.

k. Hydrographic cement - is 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.

7. 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.

8. Sand – can be classified as screened sand or vibro sand.

9. 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 Bearing

10. 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.

References:

http://sknlazoce.blogspot.com/2018/08/basic-concepts-in-construction.html

https://procivilengineer.com/materials-used-in-construction/

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