B.

Arch_Building Construction

Building Construction Materials:

A construction building material is any substance used in building a structure. Following is a
list of Construction Materials used:

1. Bricks
• Bricks are the most used construction material. Bricks are prepared by
moulding clay in rectangular blocks of uniform size. The standard size of a
brick is 19cm X 9cm X 9cm.
• Clay is still one of the main brick materials, but other common materials are
sand and lime, concrete, and fly ash.
• Brick Masonry is the methodical arrangement of bricks with mortar between
them to form a cohesive, solid mass.
• Applications: Masonry can be used for both non-structural and structural
purposes. Walls, columns, beams, foundations, load bearing curved opening
such as arches, and other elements are examples of structural uses.

2. Stones
• A stone is a solid, naturally occurring mineral substance that is utilized in
construction. Stone is obtained from rocks and the process of taking out
stones from natural rock beds is known as quarrying.
• There are three types of rocks from which stones are obtained: Igneous,
Sedimentary & Metamorphic
• The most used stones in construction are basalt, granite, and sandstone out
of which Granite is the most popular and it occurs primarily in Igneous rocks.
• Applications: Stones are used in the construction of foundations, walls,
lintels, columns, arches, dams, retaining walls.

3. Cement
• Cement is defined as a binding agent that is used to bind various construction
materials. Given its adhesive and cohesive properties, it is an essential
ingredient of concrete and mortar.
• The ideal condition to store cement is in a moisture-proof, elevated area.
• Cement Mortar: Building blocks, such as bricks or stones, are frequently
joined together in construction using cement mortar, which is a mixture of
cement, sand, and water.
• Concrete: Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand and stone aggregate.
4. Timber
• Timber is wood that has undergone processing to produce planks and beams.
• Properties: It's safe to handle, simple to cut and shape, has excellent thermal
properties, is high-strength and is also extremely durable.
• Some of the timber examples are Teak, Mahogany, Rosewood, Bamboo and
oak. Teak is the most used timber in India.
• Application/uses: Construction of residential houses and buildings, Furniture
making, Flooring material, crafting veneers and plywood, Wood carvings and
sculptures.

5. Metals
• Metals are solid material that are generally hard, shiny, malleable, fusible,
ductile, and have good electrical and thermal conductivity.
• Properties: Metals are commonly used in the construction industry due to
their durability and strength.
• The four most often utilized metals in construction are copper, iron, steel, and
aluminium.
• Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon most frequently used in Construction due
to its high strength, durability and relatively low cost.
• Application of Steel: A wide range of projects call for the use of steel,
including the construction of buildings, bridges, contemporary skyscraper
architecture, airports, and residential buildings.
• RCC Reinforced Cement Concrete: is a versatile and widely used construction
material that is made of Cement, Aggregates and Reinforcement bars or
mesh.
6. Glass
• Glass is a solid substance that’s made by heating normal sand until it turns
into a liquid and then left to cool.
• Properties: It may be transparent or translucent and brittle.
• Application: When used as a construction material, glass is employed as a
transparent glazing element in the building envelope. This includes windows
in external walls and internal partitions.
• Most common types of glass used are Float glass, Shatterproof glass, tinted
glass, Laminated glass, glass block and fiberglass.
• Fiberglass is often used for thermal insulation in cavity walls.
 7. Paint
• Paints are essential to many building projects and operations. Paint, as we all
know, is the final but most crucial step in building when it comes to giving a
structure a beautiful finish. It offers a protective covering to the building's
subsurface in addition to improving its aesthetic appeal.
• Types of paints used are: Aluminium paints, Asbestos paint, oil paints, anti-
corrosive paint etc.

Common Building Components:

1. Foundation:
• Any building structure's base is its foundation. It evenly distributes the weight
of the structure to the ground and keeps moisture and groundwater away
from the structure. There are several sorts of foundations, and each kind is
appropriate for a particular kind of construction project.
• Types of foundations are: Shallow Foundations, Isolated Spread or Individual
Footing, Wall Footings or Strip Footing, Combined Footings etc.

2. Wall:
• Walls are vertical members of the building. The purposes of walls in buildings
are to support roofs, floors and ceilings; to enclose a space as part of the
building envelope along with a roof to give buildings form; and to provide
shelter and security.
• The different types of walls are Load Bearing Walls, Non-Load Bearing Walls,
Cavity Walls, Shear Walls, Partition Walls and Panel Walls.

3. Window:
• A window is an opening in a wall that has been vented to let air and light into the
building while also providing a view of the outside world.
• Windows further enhance a building's aesthetic appeal.
• The different types of Windows are: Fixed windows, sliding window,
Glazed/Sashed window, Bay Windows and Louvered windows.

4. Door
• A door is a structural barrier that slides, pivots, or hinges open in a wall
opening. It is attached to a frame.
• The 'doorway', or door opening, facilitates entry and exit from structures as
well as passageways, chambers, and rooms.
5. Column
In structural engineering and architecture, a column or pillar is a structural member
that transfers the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below
by compression. But otherwise, a column functions as a compression member.

6. Beam
• Beams are generally sloping or horizontal members that distribute the weight
placed on them by spanning across two or more supports.
• Beams provide horizontal structural support.
• Their major job is to transfer applied loads to the supports in order to keep
the structure balanced and from collapsing due to external pressures or its
own weight.

7. Lintel
The primary function of a lintel is to bear the weight from above, distributing it
evenly to the sides of an opening. Lintels also provide structural support and prevent
deformation of the masonry work or framing around doors, windows, or other
architectural openings.

8. Arch
• Arch is a supporting element in a curved opening and supports loads from above.
• When it comes to the history of arches, the Romans popularized semi-circular arches.
• Some of the examples of arches are: Segmental, semi-circular, flat, horse-shoe arches
and stilted arches.

9. Roof
• A building's roof is its uppermost layer, made up of all the components and
structures required to support it off the walls or uprights while shielding the
structure from wind, rain, snow, sunlight, and temperature extremes.
• Some of the types of roofs are Gable roof, Flat roof, Butterfly roof, M-shaped roof
etc.