CE286

Construction Materials
Prof. Dr. A. Samet ARSLAN
Gazi University,
Faculty of Engineering,
Civil Engineering Department
 Objective
The main purpose of this course is to develop the
student’s knowledge of the behaviour, performance
and limitations of construction materials, and to assist
him/her evaluate alternative materials in terms of their
basic properties, behaviour and economy.

The course is designed to provide engineering students

with an appreciation of the properties and design
implications of construction materials.
 Contents
The course is intended to be both an introductory and a practical
course in construction materials.

When designing a structure, first and foremost the most important

item on which the designer has to decide on is the material to be
used for the construction of the structure in question.

The contents of this course are therefore designed to cover as many

of the most popular and useful construction materials as possible.

The laboratory work is designed to give the students a first hand

experience in the properties and usage of construction materials.
 BRIEF COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is a continuation of the basics introduced in the Materials and
Testing subject with an emphasis on construction materials.

It covers the behaviour and performance of the most widely used

construction materials such as concrete, steel, masonry, and timber.

Particular emphasis is placed upon concrete technology, as specified by

Turkish Standards, and its on-site practical applications.

Attention is also given to recognising construction materials and their

selection in various situations.

Assessment is by tutorial spot tests, laboratory report, assignment and

examinations.
 Teaching Strategy
The lectures will provide theoretical and practical understandings of
the content areas.

There are approximately 30 laboratory experiments. Each student will

attent to a lab group and prepare all materials for the specified
experiment.

The laboratory sessions, with a group size of approximately 25 to 30,

will provide students with the opportunity to clarify their own ideas on
the content material, to develop teamwork and necessary problem
solving skills, and to develop written communication skills.

In addition the sessions will assist students to develop competency in

material testing skills and to interpret results of these laboratory
exercises.
 Assessment

2 Mid-
Laboratory Final
semester Essays
report Examination
exam
 Recommended Readings/References

Neville, A.M. & Brooks, J.J., Concrete

Technology, Longman.

Sidney Mindess, J. Francis Young,

Concrete, Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Akman, Süheyl, Yapı Malzemeleri, İTÜ

yayınları.
Contents of Course
Gypsum
Lime
Cement
Aggregates
Concrete
Timber
Polymers
 Contents of Course
• Components of concrete.
• Calcium based materials; gypsum, lime, and cement.
• Portland cement; its manufacturing process, hydration products,
blended cements.
• Aggregates.
• Mixing water.
• Chemical admixtures and mineral additives.
• Production of concrete.
• Properties of fresh concrete.
• Tests on fresh concrete.
• Properties of hardened concrete.
• Strength of concrete,
• Factors affecting the strength of concrete.
• Determination of the strength of concrete.
• The mechanical behavior of concrete under external loading.
• Concrete mix design procedure and mix design examples.
 Why Concrete ?
Low cost
Look alike to
Almost readily
historical
available
homes (caves)
constituents
!...

Plastic
behaviour to Strong
shape it

Fast and Easy

Durable
to produce
 Concrete
Concrete is an example of a large particulate reinforced
composite material.

It is an important structural material that, is used more

than steel in Turkey.

Concrete is basically an aggregate composite material that

is composed of fine and coarse aggregates (60–80%)
embedded in a hard matrix of a cement paste and water.

The compositions can vary considerably.

 Advantages vs Disadvantages
• High compressive strength (~10-15 times greater
than its tensile strength)
• Economic
Advantages of • Durable
concrete
• Fire resistant
• Ability to be fabricated and cast on site
• Aesthetic appearance

• Low tensile strength (TS can be 10-15x lower than CS)

Disadvantages • Low ductility
of concrete • Some shrinkage
• Thermal stresses occur with temperature changes
 S P
R T L V E N I
E R E S E V A N
CONCRETE
Y N T I S R U X
C G I E A Y R P
L F N T W A E
A U C I H L N
B L E L E S
L E R I
E E V
E
Historical Timeline of Concrete
Historical Timeline of Concrete
Historical Timeline of Concrete
Portland cement concrete is composed
of three basic components

Portland Air entraining

Aggregates agents,
cement
Accelerators,
Additives:
Decelerators,
Carbon black, Fly
ash, Puzzolans,
Additives,
silica fume, water-
(to obtain reducing agents,
Water
special superplasticizers
properties)
Aggregate + Water + Cement

+ Additives
Concrete Mixture
Concrete

A dense packing with good

interfacial contact is desired, so
it needs to be mixed well in
order that all particulate
surfaces are covered.

Water is needed for the

bonding reactions of the
cement, however, too much
water will weaken the final
product.
“
In this two-dimensional
schematic we see that
filing the volume of
concrete with aggregate
is aided by a wide
particle-size distribution.

The smaller particles fill

spaces between larger
ones.