CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS I

ECV 205
Course outline/content

 Inorganic cements types such as Portland cement, pozzolanic cement: manufacture, properties.
Cement additives. Sources of cement in Kenya. Hydration of Portland cement.
 Natural and artificial aggregates: Types; physical, mechanical and chemical properties.
 Concrete technology: introduction to types, concrete-making materials: properties of fresh
concrete: workability segregation, compaction breeding etc: Properties of hardened concrete,
mixing, placing, and curing, mix design, destructive and non-destructive tests, quality control,
durability, and special concrete.
 Masonry: building stone, blocks and brick types; Properties, uses, deterioration, properties of
mortar; Quality control tests on masonry and mortars.
Course assessment

 Exam- 70%
 CATs- 10%
 Practicals- 15%
 Assignment- 5%

Text books

 Neville A.M., Brooks J.J. (2010). Concrete Technology. Pearson education Limited.
 Duggal S.K., (2003). Building Materials. New age international limited, publishers.

1. 0 PRINCIPLE PROPERTIES OF BUILDING MATERIALS

1.1 Introduction
Building materials have an important role to play in this modern age of technology. There are certain general
factors which affect the choice of materials for a particular work. One of the factors is climatic background.
Different materials and forms of construction have been developed in different parts of the world as a result
of climatic differences. Another factor is the economic aspect of the choice of materials. The rapid advance
of construction methods, the increasing introduction of mechanical tools and plants, and changes in the
organization of the building industry may appreciably influence the choice of materials because of its effects
on the economical aspect of use of materials.
Due to the great diversity in the usage of buildings an installations and the various processes of production,
a great variety of requirements are place upon building materials calling for a very wide range of their
properties: strength at low and high temperature, resistance to ordinary water and sea water, acid and alkalis,
e.t.c. Also, materials for interior decoration of residential and public buildings, gardens and parks, e.t.c
should be, by their purpose, pleasant to the eye, durable and strong.
Specific properties of building materials serve as a basis of subdividing them into separate groups. For
example, mineral binding materials are subdivided into air and hydraulic-setting varieties. The principal
properties of materials allow a rational choice of materials for specific service conditions.
1.2 Physical properties
a) Density ( ρ) -is the mass of a unit volume of homogenous material denoted by,

= /

Where M=mass(g) and V=volume (cm3)

b) Bulk density,( )- is the mass of a unit volume of material in its natural state (With pores and
voids) calculated as

= /

Where M=mass(kg) and V=volume (m3)

N.B: Bulk density may be expressed in g/cm3 but this presents some inconveniences, and that is
why it is generally expressed in kg/m3. For example, the bulk density of reinforced cement concrete
is preferably expressed as 2500 kg/m3 rather than 2.5 g/cm3
For most materials, bulk density is less than density but for liquids and materials like glass and
dense stone materials, these parameters are practically the same. Properties like strength and heat
conductivity are greatly affected by their bulk density.

Material Density (g/cm3) Bulk density (kg/m3 )

Brick 2.5-2.8 1600-1800
Granite 2.6-2.9 2500-2700
Portland cement 2.9-3.1
Wood 1.5-1.6 500-600
Steel 7.8-7.9 7850
Sand 1450-1650

c) Density Index ,( )- is the ratio,

= =

It indicates the degree to which the volume of a material is filled with solid matter. For almost all
building materials is less than 1.0 because there are not absolutely dense bodies in nature.
d) Specific Weight (ϒ)- also known as the unit weight, is the unit per unit volume of material.
ϒ= .

Where ϒ=specific weight (KN/m3), =density of the material (kg/m), g=gravity (m/s2)
 Specific weight can be used in civil engineering to determine the weight of a structure design to
carry certain loads while remaining intact and remaining within the limits regarding deformation.
It is also used in fluid dynamics as a property of the fluid (e.g. the specific weight on Earth is 9.80
kN/m3 at 40C)
e) Specific Gravity (Gs) of solid particles of a material is the ratio of weight/mass of a given volume
of solids to the weight/mass of an equal volume of water at 40C
ϒ
= =
ϒ
At 40C ϒ =1 g/cc or 9.8 kN/m3
f) True or absolute specific gravity (Ga), if both the permeable and impermeable voids are excluded
to determine the true volume of solids, the specific gravity is called true or absolute specific gravity
( )
=

g) Apparent or mass specific gravity (Gm), if both the permeably and impermeable voids are
included to determine the true volume of solids, the specific gravity is called apparent specific
gravity. It is the ratio of mass density of fine grained material to the mass density of water.

h) Porosity (n), is the degree to which volume of the material of is interspersed with pores. It is
expressed as a ratio of the volume of pores to that of the specimen.

Porosity is indicative of other major properties of material, such as bulk density, heat conductivity,
durability, e.t.c. Dense materials, which have law porosity, are used for constructions requiring
high mechanical strength on the other hand, Walls of buildings are commonly built of materials,
featuring considerable porosity.
The following inter-relationship exists between void ratio and the porosity.

=
1+
i) Void ratio (e)- is defined as the ratio of volume of voids to the volume of solid ( )

If an aggregate is poured into a container of any sort, it will be observed that not all of the space
within the container is filled. To the vacant spaces between the particles of aggregate the name
voids is applied. Necessarily,
Methods of measuring voids
  Direct- determine the volume of liquid, generally water, which is required to fill the voids
in a given quantity of material. It limitations is that water poured does not expel all the air
between the particles.
 Indirect method-solid volume of a known quantity of aggregate is obtained by pouring
the material in to a calibrated tank partially filled with water: The difference between the
apparent volume of material and the volume of water displaced equals the voids. If very
accurate results are desired void measurements should be corrected for the porosity of the
aggregate and moisture it contains.
j) Hygroscopicity- is the property of a material to absorb water vapour from air. It is influenced by
air-temperature and relative humidity; pores-their types, number and size and by nature of
substance involved.
k) Water Absorption- Denotes the ability of the material to absorb and retain water. It is expressed
as a percentage in weight or of the volume of dry material:
−
= × 100

−
= × 100

Where =mass of saturated material (g), M=mass of dry material (g), V=volume of material
including the pores (mm3)
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 ration of
compressive strength of material saturated with water to that in dry state is known as Coefficient
of softening and describe the water resistance of materials. Materials with coefficient of softening
less than 0.8 should not be recommended in the situations permanently exposed to the action of
moisture.
l) Weathering Resistance is the ability of a material to endure alternated wet and dry conditions for
a long period without considerable deformation and loss of mechanical strength
m) Water permeability is the capacity of a material to allow water to penetrate under pressure.
n) Frost resistance- denotes the ability of a water-saturated material to endure repeated freezing and
thawing with considerable decrease of mechanical strength. Under such conditions the water
contained by the pores increases in volume even up to 9% on freezing. Thus the wall of the pores
experience considerable stresses and may even fail.
o) Heat conductivity- is the ability of a material to conduct heat. It is influenced by nature of material,
its structure, porosity, character of pores and mean temperature at which heat exchange takes place.
Materials with large size of pores have high heat conductivity because the air inside the pores
enhances heat transfer. Most materials have a higher heat conductivity that drier ones. The property
is major concern for materials used in the walls of heated buildings since it will affect dwelling
houses.
p) Thermal capacity-is the property of a material to absorb heat describe by its specific heat. Thermal
capacity is of concern in the calculation of thermal stability of walls of heated building and heating
of material e.g. for concrete laying in winter.
 Fire resistance is the ability of a material to resist the action of high temperature without any
appreciable deformation and substantial loss of strength. Fire resistive materials are those which
char, smoulder and ignite with difficulty when subjected to fire or high temperatures for long period
but continue to burn or smoulder only in presence of flame e.g. wood impregnated with fire
proofing chemicals.
q) Refractoriness- denotes the ability of a material to withstand prolonged action of high temperature
without melting or losing shape.
r) Chemical resistance is the ability of a material to withstand the action of acids, alkalis, sea water
and gases
s) Durability is the ability of a material to resist the combined effects of atmosphere and other factors.

1.3 Mechanical properties

a) Strength- is the ability of the material to resist failure under the action of stresses caused by loads,
the most common being compression, tension, bending and impact. Compressive strength, tensile
strength and bending strength are due to compression, tension and bending forces.
b) Hardness- is the ability of a material to resist penetration by a harder body.
c) Elasticity-is the ability of a material to restore its initial form and dimensions after the load is
removed. Ratio of unit stress to unit deformation is termed as modulus of elasticity.
d) Plasticity-is the ability of a material to change its shape under load without cracking and to retain
this shape after the load is removed.
1.4 CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOR UNDER STRESS
The common characteristics of building material under stress are ductility, brittleness, stiffness,
flexibility, toughness, malleability and hardness.
The ductile materials can be drawn out without necking down. Brittle materials have little or no plasticity.
They fail suddenly without warning. Stiff materials have a high modulus of elasticity permitting small
deformation for a given load. Flexible materials on the other hand have low modulus of elasticity and bend
considerably without breakdown. Tough materials withstand heavy shocks. Toughness depends upon
strength and flexibility. Malleable materials can be hammered into sheets without rupture. It depends upon
ductility and softness of material. Hard materials resist scratching and denting. Materials resistant to
abrasion such as manganese.