CMT 223:

Construction Materials
and Testing

This is a property of
PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY STATE UNIVERSITY
NOT FOR SALE

PREPARED BY: ENGR. MA. THEREZA R. VICHO 1

CMT 223 – Construction Materials and Testing
First Edition, 2021

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Borrowed materials included in this module are owned by their respective copyright
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claim ownership over them.

Learning Module Development Team

Assigned Title Author/s

Chapter/Lesson
Chapter/Lesson 1: Introduction to Construction Ma. Thereza R. Vicho
Materials and Testing
Chapter/Lesson 2: Familiarization with apparatus
and equipment used in testing Ma. Thereza R. Vicho
of materials
Chapter/Lesson 3: General Properties of Materials Ma. Thereza R. Vicho
Chapter/Lesson 4: Aggregates Ma. Thereza R. Vicho
Chapter/Lesson 5: Concrete Ma. Thereza R. Vicho
Chapter/Lesson 6: Cement Ma. Thereza R. Vicho
Chapter/Lesson 7: Universal Testing Machine Ma. Thereza R. Vicho
Chapter/Lesson 8: Wood
Chapter/Lesson 9: Hollow Blocks
Chapter/Lesson 10: Steel Bars
Chapter/Lesson 11: Field Tests of Construction
Materials

Evaluators:

Marlon James A. Dedicatoria, CoE Dean

Ferdinand D. Tabligan, Mechanical Engineering Program Chair

PREPARED BY: ENGR. MA. THEREZA R. VICHO 2

Course Overview

Introduction
This module focuses on the classifications and the technical standards,
characteristics of their building materials and their status in construction
engineering.

Table of Contents
Chapter/Lesson 1: Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
Chapter/Lesson 2: Familiarization with apparatus and equipment used in
testing of materials
Chapter/Lesson 3: General Properties of Materials
Chapter/Lesson 4: Aggregates
Chapter/Lesson 5: Concrete
Chapter/Lesson 6: Cement
Chapter/Lesson 7: Universal Testing Machine
Chapter/Lesson 8: Wood
Chapter/Lesson 9: Hollow Blocks
Chapter/Lesson 10: Steel Bars
Chapter/Lesson 11: Field Tests of Construction Materials

PREPARED BY: ENGR. MA. THEREZA R. VICHO 3

 Construction Materials and Testing

Chapter 1

Introduction to
Construction Materials and
Testing

PREPARED BY: ENGR. MA. THEREZA R. VICHO 4

Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing

Introduction
The purpose of this curriculum is to learn the knowledge about construction materials
related to the architectural design, the structural design, and construction projects,
correctly recognize and reasonably choose the proper construction materials, and master
the information concerning the inspection, transportation and storage of the products in
order to lay a foundation for the future work.
The course mission is to enable students to obtain the basic knowledge and the necessary
theories related to the characteristics and application of construction materials and access
to the essential training skills relevant to the materials experiments.
For the purpose of this module, building materials, construction materials and engineering
materials can be used interchangeably

Specific Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Understand the definitions and classification of construction materials
2. Enumerate characteristics of construction materials and their status in architecture
3. Know the development of construction materials
4. Be familiarized with the construction materials’ technical standards
5. Know the definition of construction materials testing and its importance
6. Understand the tasks and learning methods of construction materials curriculum

Duration
Chapter/Lesson 1: Introduction to Construction = 6 hours
Materials and Testing (5 hours discussion; 1hr
assessment)

PREPARED BY: ENGR. MA. THEREZA R. VICHO 5

LESSON PROPER

1. THE DEFINITIONS AND CLASSIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

In the general environment for humans’ survival, all the materials or products used in
structures or buildings are called construction materials, which are the material
foundation for all the construction engineering. The building materials discussed in this
course are all the materials used in building foundations, bases, floors, walls, beams,
plates, roofs and architectural decoration.

There is a wide variety of construction materials. They are usually classified from
different angles for the sake of study, application and description. The most common
classifications are based on their chemical components and functions.

1) According to the chemical components of construction materials, they can be

classified into inorganic materials, organic materials and composite materials, as
follows:

2) According to the functions of materials, they can be divided into structural materials
and functional materials:
 Structural Materials: mainly used as load-bearing members, such as the materials
used for beams, plates and columns.
 Functional Materials: mainly possessing some special functions in construction,
such as waterproof, ornamental and heat-insulating functions, etc..

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND THEIR STATUS IN

ARCHITECTURE

Construction materials are the material foundation for all the construction engineering.
Construction materials industry, which is one of the important basic industries of national
economy, promotes the development of the construction industry.

Various buildings and structures are constructed by all kinds of construction materials
on the basis of reasonable design. The varieties, specifications and qualities of
construction materials are directly related to the applicability, artistry and durability of
buildings and also to the cost of projects. A large number of high-quality industrial and
civil buildings need to be built for the development of society. Meanwhile, a great deal
of water conservancy projects, traffic engineering and port projects need to be built to
adapt to the rapid development of the national economy. It requires lots of high-quality
construction materials which accords with the application environment of projects.
Therefore, construction materials industry is usually considered as the basic industry for
the construction engineering

Construction materials not only have a large consumption, but also are expensive.
In the total cost of the construction, the cost of construction materials often accounts

PREPARED BY: ENGR. MA. THEREZA R. VICHO 6

 for about 50 percent. Thus, it is significant to properly choose and reasonably utilize
construction materials in the construction for the reduction of costs and the
improvement of investment benefits.

A large number of new construction materials continue to emerge, often promoting

the innovation and development of construction techniques. For example, the
emergence of clay bricks contributes to the brick-timber structure; the reinforced
concrete structure comes from concrete and steel bar; light high-strength materials
promote the development of modem buildings and high-rise buildings; the application
of various functional materials in the construction industry continues to create diversified
comfortable living and production environment and to conserve energy.

In short, the application of construction materials in the projects must possess the
following characteristics: the function required by projects, the durability proper for the
environmental conditions, the rich resources to meet the needs of construction, and
low price.

In the building environment, the ideal construction materials should be light, high-
strength, aesthetic, heat-insulating, sound-absorbing, waterproof, shockproof, fireproof,
non-toxic, and efficient, etc..

3. THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Various construction materials form the living environment of human beings, which
reflects the cultural and scientific features of each era, becoming an important symbol
of humans’ material civilization.

Construction materials develop with the improvement of the productivity and living
standards. In the early age, human beings inhabited “cave dwelling”. After the Iron
Age, they began digging, chipping and logging with simple tools to build shabby
houses by natural materials; and with the use of fire, people learned how to burn bricks,
tiles and limes, in which way construction materials entered the artificial production
stage. In 18th and 19th century, steel, cement, concrete and reinforced concrete
continuously emerged with the rise of capitalism, the rapid development and the
improve of traffic, which pushed construction materials into a new stage of
development.

Since the 20th century, the formation and development of material science and
engineering had contributed to not only the improvement of construction materials in
function and quality, but also the varieties. Some new construction materials with
special functions came into being, such as heat-insulating materials, sound-absorbing
materials, ornamental materials, heat-resistant and waterproof materials, impermeable
materials and wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and explosion-proof, and anti-radiation
materials, etc. In the second half of the 20th century, construction materials evolved
towards light, high- strength and functional direction.

PREPARED BY: ENGR. MA. THEREZA R. VICHO 7

 In the new century, as humans’ awareness of environmental protection has been
strengthened, non-toxic and pollution-free “Green Construction materials” are
recommended increasingly and human beings can build their own “Green Home” with
new construction materials.

4. INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS’ TECHNICAL STANDARDS

The implementing standards should be established for the various techniques of

material products because of the scientific management of the modem material
production.

Product Standards are the standards established for products to meet some or all
the requirements in order to guarantee the applicability of products. They generally
includes product specifications, classifications, technical functions, testing methods,
rules of inspection and acceptance, packaging, storage, transport and others. For
example, cement, ceramic and steel have their own product standards.

Building Material Standards are the technical foundations for the inspection of
product quality and the bases for the acceptance of product quality referred to by
both sides of supply and demand. The structure designs and construction techniques
can be standardized accordingly by the reasonable selection of materials in the
construction engineering, which will accelerate the construction and maximize the
benefit of the engineering practice.

The mandatory standards indicate that any technique (or product) should not fall
below the requirements; the recommendatory standards indicate that other standards
are allowed to be followed, but the recommendatory standards will become the
mandatory standards once they are adopted by mandatory standards; the technical
requirements regulated in regional standards or enterprise standards should be above
national standards.

International standards can be broadly classified into the following categories:

1) The “ISO’ international standards adopted in the whole world.
2) The standards of the worldwide influential communities and companies, such as
the ASTM (named American Society for Testing and Materials) Standards.
3) Regional Standards. They refer to the standards of industrialized countries, such as
the DIN Standards of Germany, the BS Standards of the United Kingdom and the
JIS Standards of Japan.

5. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TESTING (CMT) AND ITS IMPORTANCE

Construction Materials Testing (CMT) is the testing of materials used to build new
projects, add to existing projects, or amend existing construction projects. The services

PREPARED BY: ENGR. MA. THEREZA R. VICHO 8

involved in a comprehensive CMT process greatly depends on the project, the land,
and the scope of services.

Testing services can generally be divided into two areas: Field Testing and
Laboratory Testing.

Field Testing:
Field testing CMT services take place at the site. Roadways, airports, utility projects,
building developments: All typically involve CMT processes carried out by certified
professionals.

In the field, construction materials testing can involve:

Soils
Concrete/Asphalt
Steel
Masonry
Timber

What does Field Testing look for? Compaction, moisture, air content, and more, most
of which is evaluated through visual inspection and/or non-destructive techniques.
Steel structures, retaining walls, and soil foundations are prime examples of construction
that are evaluated during Field Testing.

In instances where Field Testing is inconclusive or exploratory in nature, samples of

various materials may be sent off for further lab testing.

Laboratory Testing:
When Field Testing indicates further study is needed, Lab Testing is then recommended
as the next phase of a comprehensive CMT regimen. Laboratory testing is usually
performed on an as-needed basis. Common lab-tested construction materials include:

Soil – Modified/Standard Proctor, Bearing Ratios, Classification Tests, Swell

Testing,Compressive Strength Testing, pH Testing, Chloride/Sulfide Testing,
Hydraulic Conductivity, Consolidation, Permeability Testing, Shear Testing, and
more.
Asphalt – Mix Evaluation, Stability, Flow, Bulk Specific Gravity, Gradation,
Density (Marshall), and more.
Masonry/Concrete – Flexural Strength Testing, Compression Strength Testing,
Unit Weight, Tensile Testing, Absorption, Efflorescence Testing, Mix Design,
Structural Masonry Testing, and more.

IMPORTANCE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Mechanical testing of engineering materials may be carried out for a number of

reasons: The tests may simulate the service conditions of a material, so that the test
results may be used to predict its service performance. Mechanical testing may
PREPARED BY: ENGR. MA. THEREZA R. VICHO 9
 also be conducted in order to provide engineering design data, as well as
acceptability, the main purpose of which is to check whether the material meets the
specification.

It is critical for the viability and safety of a construction project. CMT can reveal any
number of issues related to construction quality. It can highlight future risks, help classify
a building site, and assist with engineering decisions. Without CMT, engineers and
builders may not know if the quality of the construction meets the requirements.
Construction Materials Testing is also a regulatory requirement for most large-scale
projects.

6. TASKS AND LEARNING METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS CURRICULUM

The course mission is to enable students to obtain the basic knowledge and the
necessary theories related to the characteristics and application of construction
materials and access to the essential training skills relevant to the materials experiments.

Building materials course is very practical and applicable. Of the learning methods,
the first one is to focus on the major content, that is, the construction function and
reasonable application of the materials. The other contents are all concerned with this
focus. It is incorrect to change the construction function into an invariable concept. The
more important thing is to know the inherent factors and their mutual relationships. For
the various materials of the same category, not only should their similarities be learned
but also their respective
characteristics. For example, the six common kinds of cement have many similarities
and many specialties. They are used in the according conditions just based on their own
features.

Experimental course is the important part of the teaching. Its task is to verify the basic
theories, learn the experimental methods, and foster a scientific research capacity and
the strict scientific attitude. In the experiments, it is necessary to be careful and serious,
even the simple ones. It is necessary to know the influence of testing results on the testing
conditions and make the correct analysis and judgment on the results.

References/Additional Resources/Readings

1. Zhang, Haimei. 2011. Building materials in civil engineering. Woodhead Publishing

Limited and Science Press.
2. Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TxfNnyV5Z8
3. Construction Material and Testing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLnEHBfEK_8&t=2s

PREPARED BY: ENGR. MA. THEREZA R. VICHO 10