Civil Engineering

Construction Materials

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Construction Materials
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Edition: 2021

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Contents
Construction Materials

Chapter 1 1.7.7 Fineness Test..................................................................22

1.7.8 Heat of Hydration Test...............................................24
Cement ............................................................ 1
1.7.9 Specific Gravity Test....................................................25
1.1 Introduction.................................................................................. 1
Objective Brain Teasers................................................26
1.2 Cement and Lime........................................................................ 1
1.3 Manufacturing of Cement........................................................ 2 Chapter 2
1.3.1 Composition of Cement Clinker............................... 5
Mortar and Lime.............................................. 27
1.3.2 Functions of Various Cement Ingredients............ 8
2.1 Bulking of Sand..........................................................................27
1.4 Hydration of Cement.................................................................. 9
2.2 Mortars..........................................................................................27
1.5 Type of Cements........................................................................11
2.2.1 Type of Binding Material...........................................28
1.5.1 Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)..........................11
2.2.2 Special Mortars.............................................................28
1.5.2 Rapid Hardening Cement (RHC).............................12
2.2.3 Properties of a Good Mortar....................................29
1.5.3 Extra Rapid Hardening Cement (ERHC)...............12
2.2.4 Uses of Mortar...............................................................29
1.5.4 Low Heat Cement (LHC)............................................12
2.2.5 Functions of Sand in Mortar....................................30
1.5.5 Portland Blast Furnace Slag Cement....................13
2.3 Tests for Mortars.........................................................................30
1.5.6 Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC).........................13
2.3.1 Adhesiveness to Building Units .............................30
1.5.7 Acid Resistant Cement (ARC)...................................14
2.3.2 Crushing Strength.......................................................30
1.5.8 Sulphate Resisting Cement (SRC)..........................14
2.3.3 Tensile Strength...........................................................30
1.5.9 Coloured Cement (White Cement)........................14
2.3.4 Lime..................................................................................30
1.5.10 High Alumina Cement (HAC)...................................15
2.4 Some Basic Definitions............................................................30
1.5.11 Quick Setting Portland Cement.............................15
2.5 Classification of Lime................................................................31
1.5.12 Masonry Cement (IS: 3466)......................................15
2.5.1 Fat Lime...........................................................................31
1.5.13 Super Sulphated Cement (SSC)..............................15
2.5.2 Hydraulic Lime..............................................................32
1.5.14 Air Entraining Cement (AEC)...................................16
2.5.3 Poor Lime........................................................................32
1.5.15 Hydrophobic Cement................................................16
2.6 Impurities in Limestones........................................................32
1.6 Field Tests for Cements............................................................17
2.6.1 Magnesium Carbonate .............................................32
1.7 Laboratory Tests for Cements................................................17
2.6.2 Clay...................................................................................33
1.7.1 Chemical Composition Test.....................................17
2.6.3 Silica..................................................................................33
1.7.2 Normal Consistency Test...........................................17
2.6.4 Iron Compounds..........................................................33
1.7.3 Initial Setting Time Test.............................................19
2.6.5 Sulphates........................................................................33
1.7.4 Final Setting Time Test..............................................19
2.6.6 Alkalies............................................................................33
1.7.5 Soundness Test.............................................................19
2.6.7 Classification of Mortar on Strength Basis..........33
1.7.6 Strength Test.................................................................21
Objective Brain Teasers................................................34

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Chapter 3 3.20 Types of Admixtures.................................................................60
3.20.1 Plasticizers (Water-reducers)...................................61
Concrete .......................................................... 35
3.20.2 Superplasti cizers.........................................................62
3.1 Properties of Cement Concrete............................................35
3.20.3 Air entrainers.................................................................62
3.2 Classification of Concrete.......................................................35
3.3 Manufacturing of Concrete....................................................36 3.20.4 Accelerators...................................................................63

3.4 Materials Used in RCC work...................................................40 3.20.5 Retarders.........................................................................63

3.5 Different Methods of Proportioning Concrete...............40 3.20.6 Water Proofer................................................................63

3.5.1 IS Code Method of Concrete Mix Design............41 3.20.7 Pozzolanas......................................................................64

3.6 Steps for Concrete Mix Design as per IS Code Method.... 42 3.20.8 Estimating Yield of Concrete...................................64
3.6.1 Fineness Modulus of Aggregate............................44 3.20.9 Water-proof Cement Concrete...............................65
3.6.2 Fineness Modulus........................................................45 3.20.10 Causes of Corrosion in Steel in Concrete...........67
3.7 Durability of Concrete..............................................................45 3.20.11 Effect of Corrosion.....................................................67
3.8 Defects in Concrete...................................................................46 3.21 Guniting........................................................................................67
3.9 Physical Proportions of Concrete.........................................46 Objective Brain Teasers..............................................................74
3.10 Water-cement Ratio..................................................................47
3.11 Workability of Concrete...........................................................47 Chapter 4
3.12 Factors Affecting Workability................................................47 Bricks and Brick Masonry................................ 76
3.12.1 Water Content/Water Cement Ratio.....................48 4.1 Composition of Good Brick Earth........................................76
3.12.2 Mix Proportions/Aggregate Cement Ratio.........49 4.1.1 Harmful Ingredients in Brick Earth........................77
3.12.3 Size of Aggregate.........................................................49 4.1.2 Classification of Brick Earth......................................77
3.12.4 Shape of Aggregate....................................................49 4.2 Manufacture of Bricks..............................................................77
3.12.5 Surface Texture.............................................................49
4.2.1 Preparation of Clay......................................................78
3.12.6 Grading of Aggregates..............................................50
4.2.2 Moulding........................................................................78
3.13 Tests for workability..................................................................50
4.2.3 Drying..............................................................................79
3.13.1 Slump Test......................................................................50
4.2.4 Burning............................................................................80
3.13.2 Procedure.......................................................................50
4.3 Qualities of Good Bricks..........................................................84
3.13.3 Compaction Factor Test.............................................51
4.3.1 Strength of Bricks........................................................85
3.13.4 Vee-Bee Test/Vee-Bee Consistometer Test.........53
4.4 Tests for Bricks.............................................................................85
3.13.5 Flow Test.........................................................................53
4.4.1 Classification of Bricks................................................86
3.13.6 Kelly Ball Test.................................................................54
4.4.2 Unburnt Bricks..............................................................86
3.14 Strength Test on Concrete......................................................55
3.15 Compressive Strength Test.....................................................55 4.4.3 Burnt Bricks....................................................................86

3.16 Flexural Tensile Strength Test 4.4.4 Colours of Bricks...........................................................87

(Modulus of Rupture Test)......................................................56 4.4.5 Size and Weight of Bricks..........................................87

3.17 Split Tensile Strength Test ......................................................56 4.6 Fire-Clay........................................................................................89

3.18 Non Destructive Test................................................................57 4.6.1 Fire Bricks........................................................................89
3.19 Rheological Behaviour of Concrete....................................59 4.7 Brick Masonry.............................................................................90

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4.8 Bonds in Brick-Work..................................................................92 Chapter 6
4.8.1 English Bond.................................................................92
Structural Steel & Other
4.8.2 Flemish Bond.................................................................92
Construction Materials.................................. 117
4.8.3 Double Flemish Bond.................................................92
6.1 Introduction............................................................................. 117
4.9 Comparative Merits and Demerits
6.2 Ferrous Metal........................................................................... 117
of English and Flemish Bond.................................................92
6.2.1 Iron................................................................................. 117
4.10 Other Types of Bonds...............................................................93
6.2.2 Pig Iron......................................................................... 118
4.10.1 Eccentricity of Loading .............................................94
6.2.3 Cast Iron....................................................................... 118
4.10.2 Shape Factor..................................................................94
6.3 Wrought Iron............................................................................ 121
Objective Brain Teasers................................................95
6.3.1 Properties of Wrought Iron................................... 121
Chapter 5 6.3.2 Uses of Wrought Iron............................................... 121

Timber .......................................................... 98 6.4 Steel ......................................................................................... 121

5.1 Classification of Trees ..............................................................98 6.4.1 Properties and Uses of Various Types of Steel......122

5.2 Structure of a Tree.....................................................................99 6.5 Heat Treatment of Steel........................................................ 122

5.2.1 Felling of Trees........................................................... 100 6.5.1 Types of Heat Treatment........................................ 122

5.3 Defects in Timber.................................................................... 100 6.6 Rolled Steel Sections............................................................. 123

5.4 Preservation of Timber......................................................... 105 6.7 Reinforcing Steel Bars........................................................... 123

5.4.1 Requirements of a Good Preservative.............. 105 6.7.1 Types of Reinforcing Steel Bars............................ 124

5.4.2 Types of Preservatives............................................. 105 6.8 Alloy Steel.................................................................................. 125

5.4.3 Methods for Preservation...................................... 107 6.9 Other Construction Materials............................................. 125

5.5 Fire Resistance of Timber..................................................... 108 6.9.1 Stone............................................................................. 125

5.6 Seasoning of Timber.............................................................. 108 6.9.2 Glass.............................................................................. 130

5.6.1 Objects of Seasoning.............................................. 109 6.9.3 Plastics.......................................................................... 130

5.6.2 Methods of Seasoning............................................ 109 6.9.4 FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymer)........................... 132

5.6.3 Conversion of Timber ............................................. 110 6.9.5 Ceramics....................................................................... 133

5.7 Market forms of Timber........................................................ 111 6.9.6 Aluminium.................................................................. 135

5.7.1 Industrial Timber....................................................... 112 6.9.7 Fly Ash........................................................................... 136

5.8 Qualities of Good Timber..................................................... 114 6.9.8 Other Admixtures..................................................... 139

5.9 Important Indian Timber Trees.......................................... 115 Objective Brain Teasers............................................. 145

Objective Brain Teasers........................................................... 116

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