Building Materials

1. Unit 2:
Building Materials

2. The illustration
shown on the right
represents the
essential elements
of a modern
Building.

3. 1.Foundations:
This is a structure (
made, mainly, of
cement, iron
and gravel ) that
transfers loads to
the earth. The
primary design
concerns are
settlement and
bearing capacity

4. 1.Foundations:
A foundation is always wider than the element
(e.g. wall or column) which it is supporting.
This is so that the load is spread over a
greater area.

5. Strip foundation: the lower portion of the strip
is stretched (tension) as the foundation
bends under loading. Placing steel
reinforcement in the foundation counteracts
this and ensures the foundation remains
stable.
1.Foundations:

6. 2.Structure
Is comprised of
pillars, beams and tie-
beams made of reinforced
concrete or iron.
The structural system of
every house is required to
support and transmit
various loads. These
Loads can be classed as
static or dynamic.

7. Static Loads:
Loads that are applied
slowly to a structure and do not
change quickly. Examples of
static loads include: Loads
associated with the building
weight and any elements
permanently attached to it
Dynamic Loads.
Loads that are applied
suddenly to a structure, often
with rapid changes in
magnitude and point of
application. Examples of
dynamic loads include: wind
loads and earthquake loads
2.Structure

8. 3.Floors and ceiling
The primary functions of
the floor are to support
the imposed loads and to
provide a level surface
for the activities that are
carried out in the home.

9. 3.Floors and ceiling.
Hollow tile are placed between two tie-beams, later it
is covered by a layer of concrete. Floors are finished
with floor tiles or floorboard.

10. 4.Exteriors walls
These are usually
made by two brick
walls and an
insulator layer ( to
avoid the heat loss).

11. 4.Exteriors walls
The primary functions of the external walls of a house
are to support the loads generated ( only in case of a
no-columns structure ) and to create a comfortable
living space.

12. 4.Exteriors walls
The most common method
used for housing is the cavity
construction. This involves
building a wall that consists of
two separate walls, an inner
wall and an outer wall, with a
small gap ( called a cavity )
between them and another
bigger gap for an insulator.

13. 5.Windows
These provide a visual
link between internal
space and the outside
world. They are very
important to the mental
health of the people in
the house. A small tie-
beam is placed above
the window to bear the
load of all bricks
situated over the
window frame.

14. 5.Windows
Double-glazing is
designed to reduce the
amount of heat lost
through the glass, while
weather stripping is
designed to reduce the
amount of heat lost due to
air infiltration (draughts).
Double-glazing can
significantly reduce the
amount of heat lost
through a typical window.

15. 6. Roof. Its functions
are to protect a
building from the
weather and to retain
the heat generated
inside. It is comprised
of a wood or
iron structure, a
thermal material such
as fiberglass and the
last layer, the tiles or
slates.

16. 6. Roof
Roofs must be designed
to have weather
resistance. Every roof in
the world is sloped to
some extent. Even so-
called flat roofs are
slightly sloped. The
reason we slope roofs is
to dispel rainwater.

17. 7.Internal walls.
The primary function
of internal wall is to
divide the overall
space within the
house into smaller
spaces. They are
made of brick, wood
or plaster.

18. Each one of every part in the building has its own
functions and a good design is crucial.

19. Construction Materials. Ceramics, Glass
and reinforced concrete
Ceramics: All types of bricks used in
construction are ceramic
materials that are modelled and
dried by the action of heat.
In order to get a brick, clay is mixed with additives that give the
ceramic brick different properties. An essential element is feldspar.
Feldspar improves the toughness, strength, and durability of the
ceramic brick.

20. Glass:
The optical and physical
properties of glass make it
suitable for construction
applications such as flat glass for
windows, thermal insulators (glass
wool which fills up the space
between two walls ) internal
glazed partitions, etc

21. Reinforced concrete:
It is concrete in which reinforcement
bars (iron bars ) have been
incorporated to strengthen the
material. Remember that concrete is
good at compression efforts but bad
at tension efforts. Iron has a good
tension efforts value so adding iron
to concrete will lead to a material
good at both compression and
tension.

22. Reinforced concrete:

23. Consolidation: When stress is applied to a soil that causes the
soil particles to pack together more tightly, therefore reducing
its volume. Process by which soils decrease in volume.
Gravel: small stones and pebbles (very small, rounded stone), or
a mixture of these with sand Bearing Capacity: is the capacity of
soil to support the loads applied to the ground.
Hollow tile: A hollow building block of concrete or Terra
cotta used for making exterior walls, floors or roofs. Also known
as hollow block Concrete: is a construction material composed of
cement, sand, water as well as other cement like materials.
Settlement: is defined as downward movement of the soil, or any
structure on it, as a result of soil consolidation, usually caused by
the load applied by the structure.
Clay: a natural earthy material that is plastic when wet, consisting
essentially of hydrated silicates of aluminum: used for making
bricks, pottery, etc
Dictionary:

24. Failure: an act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of
success.
Moisture: wetness caused by water
Masonry: work constructed by a mason, stonework or brickwork
Mason: a person whose trade is building with units of various
construction products, such as stones, bricks, or tiles, usually with the
use of mortar or cement as a bonding agent.
Patterned: a model or form of metal, used for giving the bar an extra
adhesion to the concrete.
Rot: to deteriorate, disintegrate, fall, or become weak due to decay
Slates: 1. A piece of this rock cut for use as roofing. 2. A writing tablet
made of a similar material. Slenderness: thin or slight
Tiles: a thin slab or bent piece of baked clay, sometimes painted or
glazed, used for various purposes, such as to form one of the units of
a roof covering or floor (other shape )
Dictionary:

25. Activity A. In the picture above, identify each component
of structure in the next square. Also, comment
something about that part, as their characteristics,
properties, etc.
Structure
Foundations
Exterior Walls
Windows
Internal Walls
Roof
Floor and ceiling

26. B. Complete the sentences with the following words :
Loads, Roof, Iron, heat, Gravel, cold, good building, smaller, Structure, Wall,
foundation, Clay, internal wall, Plaster
Activity
1. A _________________is the part of a structure that transfers the ______from the
structure to the ground.
2. _________ = Its functions are to protect a building from the weather and to retain
the heat generated inside.
3. The primary function of __________________is to divide the overall space within
the house into ___________spaces.
4. ____________= small stones and pebbles.
5. ______________ a composition, such as one made of lime or gypsum and sand
and water, applied in a pasty form to walls, ceilings, etc.
6. ______________a natural earthy material that is plastic when wet, consisting
essentially of hydrated silicates of aluminum: used for making bricks, pottery, etc
7. The External_________ are usually made by two brick walls and an insulator layer.
8. A _____________ is comprised of pillars, beams and tie-beams made of reinforced
concrete or iron.
9. __________ is a material very useful in buildings.
10. The buildings are built to provide _________in winter and ________in summer.
11. A ______________has a good structure and foundation to avoid static problems

27. Activity
C. True or False. Correct the sentence.
The function of a foundation on a building can be
summarized as follow:
To transmit all building load to the first floor.
To limit settlement and avoid subsidence.
To provide a level bed on which to build.
To fix nearly the structure to the ground.