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:

References Cengage 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.

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
5. Advanced materials

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)

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
 Europe - European Committee for Standardization (CEN)

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,

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
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.

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:

TYPE 1: Normal Portland 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.

TYPE 2: Low Heat

c. 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.

TYPE 3: High Early Strength

d. 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.

e. Quick setting cement - The difference between the quick setting cement and rapid

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
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.

f. 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.

TYPE 4: Extra Low Heat

g. 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.

TYPE 5: Sulphate Resisting Cement

h. 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.

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:

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Construction Materials and Testing
http://sknlazoce.blogspot.com/2018/08/basic-concepts-in-construction.html

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

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