Basic Mechanics Lab Manual

Basic Mechanics Lab Manual
Prepared By:
Dayyan Zahid Khan
Regd. No:
2015-CIV-12
Submitted To:
Bilal Anwar
Department of Civil Engineering,

University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore
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JOB#01
Determination of various Construction Materials

BRICKS:
Bricks are blocks made up of clay molded into suitable shape and size dried under sun or
burnt in oven as desired to make them strong, hard and durable.
CLASSIFICATION OF BRICKS:
Bricks can be classified into following groups:
General Classification
IS Classification
General Classification:
General classification is further subdivided into two types.
Sun Dried Bricks

Burnt Bricks
Sun Dried Bricks:

These are the bricks which are dried under the sun and used for temporary and
cheap construction. It is also used for filling works.
Burnt Bricks:
Burnt bricks are burnt in kiln. These bricks have four types.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
First Class Brick

Second Class Brick
Third Class Brick
Over burnt Brick
First Class Brick:

All faces of first class bricks are uniform and smooth. These are free from cracks & are
used for flooring and reinforcement. Compressive Strength of these bricks is about 14
MPa. Water absorption, when immersed for 24 hours, is about 20% of total weight.
Second Class Brick:
These are as hard as First class brick but have irregular shapes. They are used in brick
ballets. Compressive Strength of these bricks is from 7 to 14 MPa. Water absorption
value for these bricks is 22% of total weight.
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Third Class Brick:

They are little un-burnt bricks, yellowish in color, used for temporary construction not
subjected to heavy loads. There Compressive Strength is 3 to 7 MPa. There Water
absorption value, when immersed for 24 hours, should not be greater than 25%.
Over burnt Bricks:
These bricks are close to fire in the kiln. They have very high compressive strength
typically used in foundation.
IS Classification:
This classification is based on compressive strength of bricks.
Composition of Bricks:
Composition of good bricks is as follows:
Clay content should be 20-30% by weight.
Silt content should be 20-35% by weight.
Sand content should be 35-50% by weight.
Qualities of good Brick:
They should be well burnt.

They should be uniform and red in color.
They should have smooth surface and sharp edges.
They should be free from cracks.
They should give clear ringing sound or bell when struck with each other.
On scratching the brick with finger nail, there should be impression left on brick.
Tests on Brick:
Compressive strength test.
Water absorption test.
Efflorescence test.
CONCRETE:
Concrete is formed by the addition of aggregate with the addition of some binding
material which is usually cement and some filler matter like sand with the addition of
water.
Concrete= Aggregate + Binding Material + Filler Matter + Water
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Workability:
The ease with which concrete can be prepared, transported, placed and compacted is
known as workability
Tests on concrete:
Slump value test

Compressive strength in hardened state
Static stability test
Resistance to segregation
Aggregate:
Aggregate are generally the inert materials which are mixed with binding materials such
as cement or lime for manufacturing of mortar or concrete. Aggregates are used as filler
in mortar and concrete. Also reduces the cost of concrete.
Aggregates are divided into two following types:
Coarse aggregate
Fine aggregate
Coarse Aggregate:
Those aggregates which have size greater than 4.75mm or cant pass through sieve#04
are known as coarse aggregates.
Fine Aggregates:
Those aggregates which have size less than 4.75mm or can pass through sieve#04 are
known as fine aggregates.
SAND:
It belongs to type of aggregate which have less size so it is fine aggregate. Its size is less
than 4.76mm and greater than 0.76mm (sieve#200)
Types of sand in Pakistan:

Lawrencepur Sand: This sand is best for preparing concrete and its fineness modulus
is greater than 2.
Chenab Sand: This sand is used for plastering and its fineness modulus is in between 1
and 2.
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Ravi Sand: This sand is usually not used in construction because of high silt %age and
its fineness modulus is less than 1.
Sakhiserver Sand: This sand is used for plastering and concreting and its fineness
modulus is in between 1 and 2.
Silt and Clay:

Material which passes through sieve#200 is called as silt and clay.
CEMENT:
A substance that sets and hardens independently and can bind other materials together
is termed as cement. It is finely grounded grayish powder commonly known as Portland
cement. In markets it is called as ordinary Portland cement.
Uses of cement:
(1) Paste (Cement + water)
(2) Mortar (Cement + water + sand)
(3) Concrete (Cement + water + sand + aggregate )
Types of O.P.C:
According to ASTM standards OPC is divided into 5 types which are:
(1) Type1 O.P.C.
(2) Type2 O.P.C.
(3) Type3 O.P.C.
(4) Type4 O.P.C.
(5) Type5 O.PC.
Tests on Cement:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
Standard consistency test

Setting time test
Soundness test
Fineness test
Strength test
Heat of hydration test
Chemical composition test
STEEL:
Steel is an alloy of iron and other elements, primarily carbon, widely used in
construction and other applications because of its high tensile strength and low cost.
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Types of steel:
On the basis of carbon content steel is divided into three types
Low carbon steel

Medium carbon steel
High carbon steel
Low Carbon steel:
It contains carbon content from 0-0.3%. it is used in making sheets, wires, pipes.
Medium Carbon Steel:
It contains carbon content from 0.3%-0.7%. it is used in making rails, boilers,

plates, axles, structures.
High Carbon Steel:

It contain carbon content from 0.7%-1.5%.it is used in making surgical
instruments, razor blades, cutlery, spring.
WOOD:
The hard fibrous material that forms the main substance of the trunk or branches of a
tree or shrub, used for fuel or timber is called as wood. Wood is an isotropic material
because its properties depend on the direction used.
Its strength is highest when used in parallel to the grains but when used against the
grains it can be split into two pieces.
Seasoning of wood:
The process of reducing the moisture content in the wood by different processes is
known as seasoning of wood
Seasoning is done by following methods:
(a) Artificial method
(b) Natural method
Artificial method:
In this method a kiln is used to dry the wood. Many other machines are also used to
reduce the moisture content like microwave seasoning, progressive seasoning etc.
Artificial seasoning is used frequently because it is more efficient and less time
consuming then natural seasoning.
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Natural method:
In this method wood is placed in the open atmosphere and allowed to dry and reduces
the moisture content. This method is very time taken so not frequently used now days.
Wood used in Pakistan:
Kair
Phulai
Babul
Sheesham
Populur
Aluminum:
Aluminum is a low density, light weight & high strength metal. It is malleable, can be
easily machined, and has excellent corrosion resistance and good thermal and
electrical conductivity. Aluminum can be recycled easily. It is not used as a load carrying
member due to high cost.
Aluminum is used in construction purposes to beautify our structure. Aluminum window
are used and it is used in structural purposes also.
JOB#02
To determine fineness of cement

Significance:
We always prefer fine cement over coarse cement because:
Fine cement has better cohesion property
Fine cement has rapid gain of strength
Fine cement has more strength as compared to coarse
Apparatus:
Weighing balance
Sieve#200
Pan
Procedure:
Clean sieve with help of brush. Weigh the cement (200g) and put in sieve#200. Place
pan under the sieve and cover it. Shake the sieve continuously. Weigh the retained
material on the sieve#200. Find the fineness by following relations:
W1= initial weight
W2= weight retained
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(12)
Fineness=
100
Precautions:
Sieve should be cleaned well
Put sieve cover while doing sieve analysis
Calculation:
W1 = 200g
W2 = 18g
Fineness of given cement= 91%
Results:
The fineness of given cement sample is 91% and this sand is better for the use in
construction because it will take less amount of water.
Job#3
Determination of Fineness Modulus of Sand
Significance:
Objective of this experiment is to estimate the average size of sand particle as quality of
concrete depends on fineness modulus.
Higher fineness modulus of sand, greater will be strength of concrete. According to
ASTM standards fineness modulus of good sand sample is between 2.3 to 3.1
Fineness modulus of sands:
Ravi<1
Chenab<1
Lawrencepur>2
Fineness modulus is inversely proportional to surface area. More is fineness modulus of

sand, lesser will be the surface area and lesser amount of cement and water will be
required to cover the particle. Fineness modulus gives a direct idea about size particles.
More value of fineness modulus larger is the size of particle. Fineness modulus also
gives an idea about grading of particles whether sample is well graded or uniformly
graded or gap graded.
Fineness Modulus:
It is defined as sum of cumulative percentage weight retained on sieve#100
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Apparatus:
Weighing balance
Standard set of sieve
Procedure:
Arrange sieves in proper order from maximum opening size to minimum. Take some
weight of material and place it on top sieve. Shake the sieves and weight the material
retained on each sieve. Performed calculations and determine fineness modulus.
Calculations:Sieve Size
Weight Retained (g)
Percentage weight
Retained (%)
Cumulative %age
weight retained
#4 (4.75mm)
17
3.40
3.40
#8 (2.36mm)
44
8.80
12.20
#16 (1.18mm)
94
18.80
31
#30 (600um)
93
18.60
49.60
#50 (300um)
176
35.20
84.80
#100 (150um)
67
13.40
98.20
Pan
Sum=279.2
Fineness Modulus= (279.2/100)=2.792
Result:
The fineness modulus of given sand is 2.792 and this sand is best for making concrete as
its FM lies in between ASTM range.
Job#4
To determine the efflorescence of brick
Efflorescence:
It the deposition of salts from on surface of bricks as a result evaporation of water in
which they have been dissolved.
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Significance:
The bricks which are subjected to heavy efflorescence are not good for construction as it
harms the plaster point coating and ruins the Aesthetics of a building.
Usually sulphate of Mg and Ca and sulphate and carbonate of Sodium and Potassium are
found in efflorescence. These salts may be traced to bricks itself by sand used in
construction, the foundation soil and ground water. As the solution evaporates from
exposed surface, the salts are left behind as deposit.
The intensity of efflorescence bricks depends on amount of salt present in bricks.
Apparatus:
Tub with distilled water
Procedure:
Filled up a tub with distilled water and put the bricks immersed in water such that there
is at least 25mm of water above bricks. Take out the bricks after 7 days and note down
the Efflorescence.
Result of efflorescence:
You have nil Effloresce

Slight Efflorescence (less than 30% area is covered)
Medium Efflorescence (35-50% area is covered)
Heavy Efflorescence (more than 50% area is covered)
Serious Efflorescence (Almost 100% area is covered)
Remedies:
Sand should be tested for its salt contents

Proper DPC should be provided in the building
Efflorescence can be removed by dry brushing and washing
Job # 5
To determine the compressive strength of bricks
Significance:
The basic purpose of bricks in different structures is to resist the compressive load being
applied on it. And it the most important thing in selecting bricks while we are going to
construct any kind of structure. In all classes of bricks only First class brick has the
highest compressive strength and it is usually recommended for construction purposes.
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Apparatus:
Compression testing machine

Scale for measuring the dimensions of brick
Cap bricks
Capping:
A process in which filling of specimen with the help of cement or plaster of Paris is done
is known as Capping. It should be done for 24 hours before testing the specimen. The
basic purpose is to make the surface of brick smooth and plane, so that we may avoid
point load
Compressive strength=
Procedure:
By adopting the following way we can find out the compressive strength of bricks. First
find out the length and width of both the paces of bricks, then by using this find out the
area of brick. Now place the brick in and start applying load gradually. Note down the
maximum load value that the Compression testing machine gives. Then divide this load
by resisting area to get the compressive stre0ngth of brick. Repeat the same procedure
to get compressive strength of different bricks.
Observations & Calculations

Face 1
Sr.
No.
Load
Compressive Strength
Tons.
kN
Lbs.
MPa
Psi
8.9
4.3
2.9
34
333.1
74936
13.5
1958.1
8.9
4.3
2.9
72
705.4 158688
28.6
4146.5
8.9
4.3
2.9
44
431.0
17.4
2534
96976
Job # 6
Determination of water absorption of bricks
Significance:
It is an important test for checking the quality of brick during the construction of a
structure. It tells about how porous the material is. If the bricks have more water
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absorption then it will cause a lot of damage. Also damage the appearance of building.
So by performing this job we come to know that how much is the water absorption
capacity of material is.
Water Absorption:
It is the amount of water absorbed by the brick w.r.t its dry weight expressed in %age.
Water absorption of bricks depends upon chemical composition of soil and also porosity
of brick. Water absorption should vary from 10-25% according to the porosity (how
much porous is your brick).
Water absorption of First class brick should not be more than 20%. For Second class
brick it should not be more than 22%. And for Third class brick it should not be more
than 25%.
Apparatus:
Oven dried brick

Water tub
Weighing balance
Procedure:
First of all take a sample brick which is oven dried and place it in water for
16 to 24 hours. After the time just take out the brick clean its surface carefully with the
help of cloth and then weigh the brick again. Now calculate the change in weight (before
and after placing in water) and find out the water absorption of brick.
W1=oven dry weight
W2=wet weight (after cleaning the surface)
. % =
21
1
*100
More value of W.A% lesser will be the compressive strength of material
Observations & Calculations

Sr. No.
Dry Weight (g)
Wet Weight (g)
W.A. (%)
3015
3342
10.84
2952
3261
10.47
2916
3240
11.11
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