Civil Engineering Materials

Introduction and Laboratory Testing

M. Rashad Islam

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781000759860
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Engineering General
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Civil Engineering Materials: Introduction and Laboratory Testing discusses the properties, characterization procedures, and analysis techniques of primary civil engineering materials. It presents the latest design considerations and uses of engineering materials as well as theories for fully understanding them through numerous worked mathematical examples. The book also includes important laboratory tests which are clearly described in a step-by-step manner and further illustrated by high-quality figures. Also, analysis equations and their applications are presented with appropriate examples and relevant practice problems, including Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) styled questions as well those found on the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Concrete Field Testing Technician - Grade I certification exam.

Features:

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• Includes numerous worked examples to illustrate the theories presented

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• Presents Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination sample questions in each chapter

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• Reviews the ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician - Grade I certification exam

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• Utilizes the latest laboratory testing standards and practices

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• Includes additional resources for instructors teaching related courses

This book is intended for students in civil engineering, construction engineering, civil engineering technology, construction management engineering technology, and construction management programs.

1 Introduction

Chapter 1 is a review of the prior knowledge required to study civil engineering or construction engineering materials, their properties, characterization methods, and standard laboratory methods of testing. Materials used in a structure undergo different types of stresses, such as axial stress, bending stress, shear stress, and torsional stress, due to the applied loads by users, temperature fluctuations, wind, earthquake, rain, snow, and so on. This chapter reviews the knowledge of strength of materials which is required to study this book. The strength of materials is commonly used as prerequisite knowledge for the current subject area.

1.1 Background

Civil engineering or construction engineering is involved with, to some extent, the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and recycling of roads, bridges, tunnels, canals, dams, buildings, airports, pipelines, etc. Different structures are made up of different materials, are exposed to different environments, and must support different loads. In addition, with the increase in materials and manpower cost, satisfying a project with a limited budget has become a challenge in recent years. Therefore, a ‘one-size fits all’ mentality does not work with materials engineering, especially in civil and construction engineering. The knowledge of these materials, including their origin, formation, physical properties, mechanical properties, decay behavior, etc., is crucial for selecting, processing, using, maintaining, and recycling these materials. The selection of materials for any of these projects is the key factor for feasibility, stability, safety, economy, production, services, maintenance, and aesthetics. Some basic civil engineering materials are mentioned below, as well as shown in Figure 1.1:

FIGURE 1.1 Some civil engineering materials. Photos taken in Pueblo, Colorado.

• Aggregates
• Cement
• Cement concrete
• Asphalt binder
• Asphalt concrete
• Steel
• Wood
• Masonry
• Glass
• Composites

In recent years, there has been tremendous growth in the use of innovative, new, and recycled materials in civil engineering. This textbook is an effort to describe the basic civil engineering materials in an organized way for undergraduate students and practicing civil and construction engineers.

1.2 Types of Materials

There are hundreds of materials available for use in civil engineering. Most materials fall into one of four broad classes, based on the atomic bonding forces. These are:

1. a) Metallic
2. b) Ceramic
3. c) Polymeric
4. d) Composite

The first three types are distinct to each other while the fourth one, composite material, is the combination or mixture of any two or all three. Each of the first three types can be further grouped based on their composition and properties.

1.2.1 Metals

Metals are the most abundant materials in the earth, accounting for about two-thirds of all the elements and about 24% of the mass of the earth (Askeland et al. 2011). Metals have a crystalline structure and are bonded by a metallic bond with free electrons that are free to move easily from one atom to another. These free electrons make metallic materials good electrical conductors. Metals have very useful mechanical properties, such as strength, ductility, toughness, high melting points, and thermal and electrical conductivity. Metallic materials can be further classified into the following two categories, considering the presence of ferrous materials or not:

• Ferrous metals and alloys, such as irons, carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, etc.
• Nonferrous metals and alloy...