Kandahar University

Engineering Faculty
Civil Department

Construction Materials & Method

Lecture 2 [Introduction]

Athiqullah Hayat

April, 2022

Outlines

► Introduction
► Why Study Materials Science?
► Why we build?
► What do we use?
► Origin of Construction Materials
► Factors Determining the Choice of Materials
► Determining Properties of Materials
► Sustainability of Materials
► Conclusion
► Recommendations
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Introduction

▬ Any material which is used in

construction of any structure
is known as construction
material

▬ Appropriate material for

each construction

▬ A sound product is possible

only with sound materials

▬ Materials are the key to

everything
Figure 1: Construction Materials
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Why Study Materials Science?

1 2 3

To able to select a
To understand the To be able to create a
material for a given
limits of materials and new material that will
used based on
the change of their have some desirable
considerations of cost
properties with use properties
and performance

All engineering disciplines need to know about materials

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Source: (Dugal, 2008)

Why we build?

─ Most human activities cannot take place outdoors

─ Shelter from sun, wind, rain, and snow

─ Dry, level platforms for our activities

─ Need desirable atmosphere

─ Need for services (energy, water & disposals)

So, we gather materials and assemble them into the constructions we call
buildings in an attempt to satisfy these needs (Shackelford, 2008).
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What do we use?

Sand Timber

▬ Vast quantities of the earth’s

Stones Metal
resources

Others Soil

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Source: Adapted from Domone (2002)
Origin of Construction Materials

Three
Types
Naturally Available Materials
Soil, wood, timber, sand, rock

Artificial Materials
cement, brick, steel, tiles, ceramic, paints,
glass, plastic, crush gravel & etc.

Factories Wastes

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Source: Adapted from Domone (2002)

Origin of Construction Materials (Cont’d.)

Figure 2: Naturally Available Materials

Origin of Construction Materials (Cont’d.)

Figure 3: Artificial Materials 9

Origin of Construction Materials (Cont’d.)

Coal fly ash is an industrial byproduct that results Silica plastic blocks (strong,
from the burning of coal dust for electricity lightweight) building material
generation made of factory waste/dust and
mixed plastic waste.
A supplementary cementitious material,
Composed of 80% recycled sand
contributes to the properties of the hardened
waste/foundry dust and 20% mixed
concrete
plastic waste

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Figure 4: Factories Waste Figure 5: Factories Waste
Factors Determining the Choices of Materials

1. Type and Function of the Structure

2. Availability of Resources

ü Cost & Time

3. Cultural Acceptability

4. Strength, rigidity & durability Requirements

ü Permanent Loading (Creep Strength)

ü Repeated Loading (Fatigue Strength)
ü Impact Loading (Toughness & Resilience)
ü Surface Loading (Hardness & Resistance to abrasion)
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Factors Determining the Choices of Materials

(Cont’d.)

5. Environmental Requirements

ü Temperature change
ü Moisture movement (permeability)
ü Chemical effects

6. Economy: Choose the cheaper and available materials

considering

ü Original investment
ü Frequency and maintenance
ü Cost of maintenance
ü Salvage value
ü Etc. 12

Source: (Callister, 2006)

Factors Determining the Choices of Materials
(Cont’d.)

Example: Comparison of concrete pavement vs. asphalt

pavement for economy

Concrete Asphalt

Initial Cost - +
Useful Life + -
Frequency of Repair + -
Cost of Repair - +
Salvage Value + +

Table 1: Comparison of Concrete Vs. Asphalt 13

Properties of Materials

Strength, elasticity, plasticity, ductility, malleability, toughness,

Mechanical hardness, brittleness, etc.

Density, specific gravity, specific weight, porosity, permeability,

Physical moisture content, surface texture, void ratio, water absorption, etc.

Chemical Oxide content, carbonate content, acidity, alkalinity, resistance to

Composition corrosion

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Source: MICHAEL S. & MAMLOUK (2018)

Determining Properties of Materials

▬ Choosing the correct quality of construction materials can sometimes

prove to be difficult

▬ Critical construction materials like cement, steel, concrete etc. need to be

of the highest quality as these are the essential “backbone” of any
construction (Allen, 2015).

▬ The suitability of these materials for construction purposes can be

established through testing

▬ Proper testing can be carried out only when standards and guidelines are
available which can be followed

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Determining Properties of Materials (Cont’d.)

─ Properties are determined by:

1 Obtaining test speci. & number of spe.
Laboratory testing and field 2 Size and shape of the specimen
testing
3 Preparation of specimen for testing

─ To avoid inconsistences in test 4 Temp. & moisture during prep. & testing
results, STANDARDS are devised
to which describe the test 5 Type of machinery
apparatus and the procedure
6 Rate of loading

─ Items that are usually 7 Interpretation of test results

standardized in test are: 8 Writing a report

Source: (Callister, 2006) 16

Sustainability of Materials

▬ Sustainability: meeting our own needs of the present generation

without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
needs (Brundtland, 1987)

▬ In constructing and occupying buildings,

ü We expend vast quantities of the earth’s resources

ü Generate a significant portion of the earth’s environmental pollution

▬ Buildings account for 30 to 40 percent of the world’s energy use and

associated greenhouse gas emissions (U.S. Green Building Council,
2008)
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Sustainability of Materials (Cont’d.)

Building construction and operation cause

Many forms of environmental degradation that place an increasing

burden on the earth’s resources

▬ If we systematically reduce the various forms of pollution, we keep the

future environment cleaner (Patil, 2017).

▬ Example: If we reduce building energy usage and utilize sunlight

and wind as energy sources, we reduce depletion of fossil fuels

▬ One model for sustainable design is nature itself

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Sustainability of Materials (Cont’d.)

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Figure 6: Sustainable building life cycle

Conclusion

Ø The demand of building materials has been continuously rising with

the
ü increasing need for housing
ü other types of construction

Ø Relevant Standards and Guidelines for the maintenance of the quality

of construction materials are in place

Ø Contractors and Engineers must be competent and well aware of the

standards and guidelines

Ø Ifthe proper and innovative building materials are used in

construction we can save money and energy
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Recommendations

▬ When planning and designing a building, it is best to seek the advice

of professional engineers

▬ BETTER to have planning for using proper materials for each part of the
structure

▬ Necessary tests should be carried out on the construction materials so

that the quality of the materials is known before use

▬ In order to continuously determine the quality of a structure materials,

we must use advanced equipment for tests

▬ It would be better to do some research to compare the specifications

of building materials with international standards 21

Thank You !

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