Module 1 Conmatls Chapter 3
Module 1 Conmatls Chapter 3
Chapter 3
General Properties of 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]
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…]
Physical Properties
a. Bulk density, ρb - is the ratio of material mass to total volume of material including
spaces.
3. Specific gravity, Gs - is the ratio of solid density of material and density of distilled water at a
temperature of 4oC.
4. Porosity, n - is the ratio of the volume of the spaces in the material to the
overall volume.
5. Voids ratio, e - the ratio between the size of the voids to the volume of solid
material.
6. Water absorption, Ww or Wv - denotes the ability of the material to absorb and retain water. It is
expressed as percentage in weight or of volume of dry material.
*Water absorption by volume is always less than 100%, whereas that by weight of
porous material may exceed 100%.
*The properties of building materials are greatly influenced when saturated. The
ratio of compressive strength of material saturated with water to that in dry state is
known as coefficient softening and describes the water resistance of materials. For
materials like clay which is soaked readily, it is zero, whereas for materials like glass
and metals, it is 1. Materials with coefficient softening less than 0.8 should not be
recommended in the situations permanently exposed to the action of moisture.
7. Weathering resistance - It is the ability of a material to endure alternate wet and dry conditions
for a long period without considerable deformation and loss of mechanical strength.
Mechanical Properties
The properties which relate to material behavior under applied forces define as mechanical
properties.
1. Strength - is the ability of the material to resist failure under the action of stresses caused by
loads.
There are several types of stress which depend on types of applied load. These stresses can be
classified as:
a. Compression stress
b. Tension stress
c. Shear stress
d. Bending stress
e. Torsion stress
*When bar is stretched, stresses are tensile (taken as positive). If forces are
reversed, stresses are compressive (negative).
*When bar is elongated, strains are tensile (positive). When bar shortens, strains
are compressive (negative).
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