American University of Beirut Civil & Env.

Engineering

CIVE 370: Construction Materials and Technologies, Fall 2020-2021

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title : Construction Materials and Technologies

Course Description : Lecture and laboratory based course that aims to acquaint students with
different construction materials, their characteristics, and the relevant
laboratory tests conducted according to international standards.

Credits : 3 credits

Instructor(s) : Dr. Ghassan Chehab and Mr. Helmi El-Khatib

Lab Instructor : Ms. Dima Hassanieh

Office Hours : *Through Communicate with Instructor Forum on Moodle, or online

through Webex by appointment.
*Mr. Khatib. and Ms. Hassanieh: M/W from 10:00 to 11:00 am, Irani Oxy
Engineering Complex Room 110b

Delivery : Recorded Voice over Powerpoint lectures available through Moodle

platform or live sessions during class time through Cisco Webex. Updated
instructions, information, or changes regarding lectures will be
communicated to you through Moodle in due time.
Lab Sessions :
All lab sessions will be online, either live broadcast through Webex or
as pre-recorded videos provided on Moodle. More information on lab
format, delivery, and reports will be conveyed to you through lab
instructor Ms. Dima Hassanieh in due time.

Textbook : “Materials for Civil and Construction Engineers”,

M. Mamlouk and J. Zaniewski, 4th Global Edition
References :
1- “Fundamentals of Building Construction: Material and
Methods”, Edward Allen & Joseph Iano, 1998
2- Construction: Principles, Materials, Methods”, Harold B. Olin,
Walter H. Lewis, Sixth ed., 1994
3- “Civil Engineering Materials”, Second Edition, Shan Somayaji

Course Objective: The objective of this course is to introduce civil engineering students to the usage of
different construction materials, their properties, and applications.
Course Outcomes: After completion of this course:

 Students will be able to measure and/or monitor material properties through standardized
experimental protocols.
 Students will understand the empirical/mechanistic properties and performance of commonly
used construction materials.
 Students will understand the importance of professional and ethical responsibilities in selecting
proper materials and material characteristics on structural safety and performance.
 Students will be able to conduct research on specific issues related to construction materials.
 Students will develop their life-long learning skills by conducting studies and reporting results
in relation to new or innovative construction materials.
 Students will have some practice in performing forensic case studies on structures within a
team environment.

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Exams: There will be two Exams: Midterm and Final, administered online through Moodle and Webex;
additional details will be relayed in due time (30 % each).

Weekly assignments, laboratory reports, and quizzes (25 %)

Term project- Group work (15%)

 Project title: TBD
 Project Objective: TBD
 The performance of students in this project will be evaluated in accordance with several
performance indicators (PIs) as outlined below. The performance indicators are designed to
measure the level of students’ achievement of ABET Program Student Outcome b “An ability to
design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data,”
 The general PIs are as follows:
o PI b.1- Ability (of students) to design an experiment.
o PI b.2- Ability to conduct an experiment, and
o PI b.3- Ability to analyze and interpret data.

COURSE OUTLINE
Topic 1: AGGREGATES
Lecture Part Lab Work
Types of Aggregates Introduction to lab work and projects
Coarse vs. Fine Forming groups
Physical Characteristics of Aggregates
-Size and Gradation (Fineness Modulus)
-Shape and Texture-Flakiness and Elongation
-Absorption and Specific Gravity
-Resistance to Degradation and Abrasion
Topic 2: CONCRETE
Lecture Part Lab Work
Cement Sieve Analysis of Aggregates
-Types of Portland Cements and their uses Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse
Mix Design using ACI tables Aggregate
Workability Bulk Unit Weight and Voids in Aggregate
-The effect of water reducer /on workability. Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
-The effect of water content on workability L.A. Abrasion Test

Additives Acceptance tests on cement:

-Chemical Additives: AEA, retarders, etc. Normal consistency, Time of setting, Soundness,
-Mineral Additives: fly ash, silica fume, etc. Fineness, Strength
Compaction Methods Slump of Freshly Mixed Portland Cement
-Rodding versus Vibration Techniques Concrete
Molding Cylinders/Cubes and Curing Methods Unit Weight and Yield of Freshly Mixed Concrete
-Importance of curing, setting time, effect of Making and Curing Concrete Cylinders and
humidity, temperature and wind, etc.
Beams
Compressive Strength
Capping Cylindrical Concrete
Specimens with capping Compound
Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete
Specimens
Flexural Strength of Concrete

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Topic 3: MASONRY
Lecture Part Lab Work
Definition Rebound Number of Hardened Concrete 518
Stone and brick with binding material Penetration Resistance of Hardened Concrete 520
(mortar). Testing of Concrete Masonry Units 523
Uses in walls
-Interior vs. exterior Test the lab project samples
-Load-bearing vs. non load-bearing
-Solid/hollow vs. framed.
Properties of bricks
-Color, texture, size, density
-Compressive Strength, Tensile Strength
-Thermal Conductivity, Fire Resistance.

Topic 4: STEEL
Lecture Part Lab Work
Stress-Strain Diagram of Steel Tension Test
-Ultimate Strength Different groups may test different bar sizes. The
-Yielding Strength ASTM specs include tensile strength and yield
-Percent Elongation strength for different grades, and minimum percent
-Area Reduction elongation for different bar sizes.
ASTM Specs for Reinforcing Bars Impact test on steel
Corrosion-Corrosion mechanism Hardness test on steel
-Induced problems and failures Working on the lab project
-Mitigation techniques

Topic 5: ASPHALT
Lecture Part Lab Work
Asphalt Grading Penetration Test
Asphalt-Concrete Mix Design Mix Preparation
Road structure and Construction Marshall Test
-Structural Layers: Subgrade, Sub-base, Superpave Test
Base, Asphalt Concrete (AC) Layer
-Mixing, Placement, and Compaction of Asphalt Layer

Topic 6: WOOD
Lecture Part
Structure and Chemical Composition
Types of Wood:-Hardwood—Softwood
Physical and mechanical properties of wood (moisture content, density and strength...)
Defects in Wood
Treatment and Durability

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AUB phone extension is 3246.

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