Course Name: CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

Course Description
The course deals with the physical properties of common construction
materials primarily metals, plastics, wood, concrete, coarse and fine
aggregates, asphalt and synthetic materials; examination of material
properties with respect to design and use of end product, design and control
of aggregates, concrete and asphalt mixtures, principle of testing;
characteristics of test; properties of materials and materials testing
equipment.
Number of Units for Lecture,
Laboratory, Fieldwork and
Tutorial
Lecture 2 units
Laboratory 1 unit
Number of Contact Hours per
week
Lecture 2 hours
Laboratory 3 hours
Prerequisite/Co-requisite Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Course Objectives After completing this course, the student must be able to:
1. Understand the range of various materials for civil engineering
projects;
2. Understand relevant properties of common construction materials;
3. Understand applicable local, international and foreign standards on
materials and materials testing;
4. Perform measuring, testing and evaluating the results;
5. Ability to test, measure, evaluate the best use of building and
construction materials
Course Outline
1. Introduction to Construction Materials & Testing;
2. Familiarization with apparatus & equipment used in testing of
materials;
3. General Properties of Materials;
4. Specific Weight, Water Absorption, Abrasion, Density and Uniformity
of Aggregates;
5. Preparation and Curing of Concrete Test Specimens;
6. Determination of Setting Time of Hydraulic Cement;
7. Familiarization with the Parts and Functions of the Universal Testing
Machine;
8. Testing of Wood: Samples for Bending, Compression, Shear,
Tension, and Water Content;
9. Determine the Compressive Strength of Concrete Hollow Blocks;
10. Determining the Time of Setting of Portland Cement
11. Testing the Tensile Strength of Steel Bars
12. Field Tests of Construction Materials
Laboratory Equipment
Marshall Stability Test
Centrifuge Extraction Test (recommended)
Universal Testing Machine (recommended)
Curing Tank
Oven
Molds for mortar and Concrete Specimens
Vicat Apparatus
Weighing Scales
Suggested References
1. Basic Construction Materials 2002, Theodore W. Marotta
2. Civil Engineering Materials 1992Davis, Troxell & Hawck
3. Construction Materials, Smith
4. Materials of Construction 4Ed 1990 Chandigarah
5. Testing of Engineering Materials 1982 Gildey, Murphy & Bragman
6. Materials Testing Blackowski & Ripling
7. Strength & Structure of Engineering Materials