Holy Angel University

School of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Civil Engineering
Construction Materials and Testing

Chapter 3
General Properties of Materials

Objective
After this chapter, the student should be able to
 Understand the apparatus and equipment used in testing of materials
understand the general properties of materials

Content
This chapter focuses on:
• General Properties of Materials

Related  Schedule of minimum test requirements governing items of work of the

DPWH standard specifications for highways, bridges and airports, 1998,
(volume III). Retrieved from
Readings https://www.gppb.gov.ph/laws/laws/CPESGuidelines2011/Annex11.pdf

References
Sivakugan, N., et al. (2018). Civil engineering materials. Australia:
Cengage Learning

Henderson, P. (2019). Materials for construction: civil engineering

fundamentals. New York: Larsen & Keller

Kultermann, E. (2017). Construction materials, methods, and techniques:

building for a sustainable future (4th ed.). Australia: Cengage Learning
 Chapter 3
General Properties of Materials
General Properties of Engineering Materials

1. Physical properties. A material undergoes transition under the influence of temperature and
pressure, and these changes are physical in nature, because their molecules remain intact. [Density,
specific gravity, porosity, water absorption, etc…]

2. Mechanical properties. It is the property of material which opposes the deformation or breakdown
of material in presence of external forces or load. [tensile strength, compressive strength, rigidity,
hardness, creep, fatigue, etc…]

3. Thermal properties. The properties of a material which is related to its conductivity of heat. These
are the properties which are exhibited by a material when heat is passed through it.

4. Chemical properties. A chemical property is any of a material’s properties that becomes evident
during, or after, a chemical reaction; that is, any quality that can be established only by changing a
substance’s chemical identity. Chemical properties cannot be determined just by viewing or
touching the substance; the substance’s internal structure must be affected greatly for its chemical
properties to be investigated. [resistance to acids, alkaline, brine, and oxidation]

5. Economic characteristics. Cost saving characteristics.

6. Aesthetic properties. The qualities that make a product attractive to look at, or pleasing to
experience. [color, surface smoothness, the reflection of light, etc…]

Physical Properties

1. Density, ρ - is defined as mass per unit volume for a material.

a. Bulk density, ρb - is the ratio of material mass to total volume of material including
spaces.

b. Solid density, ρs - it is the ratio of the mass of solid material to the

volume of solid material without any space.

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 Chapter 3
General Properties of Materials
2. Unit weight, γ - is the ratio of material’s weight to material’s volume.

3. Specific gravity, Gs - is the ratio of solid density of material and density of distilled water at a
temperature of 4oC.

4. Porosity, n - is the ratio of the volume of the spaces in the material to the overall volume.

5. Voids ratio, e - the ratio between the size of the voids to the volume of solid material.

6. Water absorption, Ww or Wv - denotes the ability of the material to absorb and retain water. It is
expressed as percentage in weight or of volume of dry material.

*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
ratio of compressive strength of material saturated with water to that in dry state is
known as coefficient softening and describes the water resistance of materials. For
materials like clay which is soaked readily, it is zero, whereas for materials like glass
and metals, it is 1. Materials with coefficient softening less than 0.8 should not be
recommended in the situations permanently exposed to the action of moisture.

7. Weathering resistance - It is the ability of a material to endure alternate wet and dry conditions
for a long period without considerable deformation and loss of mechanical strength.

8. Water permeability - It is the capacity of a material to allow water to penetrate under pressure.

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 Chapter 3
General Properties of Materials
Materials like glass, steel and bitumen are impervious.
9. Frost resistance - It 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 percent on freezing.

Mechanical Properties
The properties which relate to material behavior under applied forces define as mechanical
properties.

1. Strength - is the ability of the material to resist failure under the action of stresses caused by
loads.

2. Stress, σ - is the applied force P divided by the original area Ao.

There are several types of stress which depend on types of applied load. These stresses can be
classified as:

a. Compression stress
b. Tension stress
c. Shear stress
d. Bending stress
e. Torsion stress

*When bar is stretched, stresses are tensile (taken as positive). If forces are reversed,
stresses are compressive (negative).

3. Strain, ε - is the change in length δ divided by the original length Lo.

*When bar is elongated, strains are tensile (positive). When bar shortens, strains are
compressive (negative).

References:

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 Chapter 3
General Properties of Materials
http://sknlazoce.blogspot.com/2018/08/basic-concepts-in-construction.html
https://www.slideshare.net/engrnaveedhussain1/material-testing-lab-equipments?from_action=save
https://www.azom.com/materials-equipment.aspx?cat=116

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