Construction Materials

1. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
AND TESTING

2. MATERIAL PROPERTIES
MATERIAL PROPERTIES – THESE ARE CHARACTERISTICS AND TRAITS OF A MATERIAL THAT IS
SPECIFICALLY OCCURING AT IT. THESE GIVE A MATERIAL FUNCTIONS AND USES TO ANY SPECIFIED
APPLICATION FOR IT.
• PHYSICAL PROPERTIES – Property of a material that can be measured without changing its
composition.
• MECHANICAL PROPERTIES – Property of a material that can be measured when force is being
applied.
• THERMAL PROPERTIES – Property of a material that can be observed when heat is being applied.
• CHEMICAL PROPERTIES – Property of a material that can be observed when chemicals has been
applied on the material or its composition has been altered.
• DURABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY PROPERTIES – Property of a material that could endure the
combined atmospheric effects and other factors.

3. Physical Properties
Density (ρ)– it is the Mass per unit Volume of the material.
– density (kg/cu.m , g/cu.cm)
M – mass (kg, g)
V – volume (cu.m, cu.cm)

4. Physical Properties
Bulk Density ()– it is the Mass per unit Volume of the material in its
natural state (with pores and voids).
M – mass of specimen (kg, g)
V – volume of specimen in its natural state (cu.m, cu.cm)
Take note: Bulk Density is less than Density, but for liquids, they are
practically the same.

5. Physical Properties
Density Index ()– it is the ratio of bulk density to density. This indicates
the degree to which volume of a material is filled with solid matter. It is
usually less than 1.0 because there is no absolutely dense bodies in
nature.

6. Physical Properties
Specific Weight ()– otherwise known as unit weight. It is the weight per
unit volume of a material. In Civil Engineering, it is used to determine
the weight of a structure designed to carry loads while remaining intact
within limits regarding deformation.
– unit weight (KN/cu.m, N/cu.m)
– density (kg/cu.m , g/cu.cm)
– gravity (m/sq. s)
The Unit Weight of water

7. Physical Properties
Specific Gravity ()– it is the ratio of weight / mass of a given volume of
solids to the weight / mass of an equal volume of water.
– unit weight (KN/cu.m, N/cu.m)
– density (kg/cu.m , g/cu.cm)
The Unit Weight of water
The Density of Water 1000

8. Physical Properties
Apparent or Mass Specific Gravity ()– if both permeable and
impermeable voids are included to determine the true volume of
solids, the specific gravity is called apparent or mass specific gravity. it
is the ratio of mass density of fine-grained materials to the mass
density of water
– unit weight (KN/cu.m, N/cu.m)
– density (kg/cu.m , g/cu.cm)
The Unit Weight of water
The Density of Water 1000

9. Physical Properties
Porosity (n) – is the degree to which the volume of the material is
interspersed with pores. It is expressed as the ratio of Volume of pores
to that of the specimen.
Void Ratio (e) – Ratio of volume of voids () to the volume of solids ().
Relationship of porosity with void ratio:

10. Mechanical Properties
Strength (σ)– the ability of the material to resist failure under the
action of stress caused by loads.
– stress / strength (MPa or Psi)
– applied external force (N or lb)
– cross-sectional area. (sq.mm or sq. in)

11. Mechanical Properties
Deformation – a change in outside dimension of an object caused by force.
Strain – the ratio of deformation over the original dimension of an object.
Toughness – the capacity of the material to absorb energy while a force is applied.
Resilience – the ability of the material to recover its original size and shape after
being deformed by an impact load.
Hardness – the ability of a material to resist penetration by a harder body.
Elasticity – is the property of a material that enables it to return to its original size
after a force is removed.
Plasticity – the property that enables a material to change its size and shape and
retain to it even the force has been removed.

12. Thermal Properties
Heat Conductivity – ability of the material to conduct heat.
Thermal Capacities – property of the material to absorb heat described by its
specific heat.
Fire Resistance – the ability of the material to resist the action of high temperature
without any appreciable deformation and substantial loss of strength.
Refractoriness – denotes the ability of the material to withstand prolong action of
high temperature without melting or losing shape.

13. Thermal Properties
Thermal Expansion – the property of the material to change size depending on
the amount of temperature it is exposed with.
It shrinks when the temperature is colder. But it expands when otherwise.
– total change in length (mm or in)
– coefficient of thermal expansion
original length (mm or in)
– change in temperature

14. Chemical Properties
Chemical Resistance – is the ability of the material to withstand the
action of acids, alkalis, sea water and gases.
Iron oxidizes and corrodes when exposed to air and water.
Limestones, marbles and dolomite erodes when exposed to even weak
acids.
Wood has low resistance to acids and alkalis
Bitumen disintegrates under the action of alkali liquors.

15. Durability and Sustainability properties
Weathering Resistance – ability of a material to endure alternate wet
and dry conditions for a long period without considerable deformation
and loss on mechanical strength.
Frost Resistance – denotes the ability of a water-saturated material to
endure repeated freezing and thawing with considerable decrease of
mechanical strength.