SUNYANI TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
MATERIALS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

END OF SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION, 2021/2022

PROGRAMME : Materials Engineering

COURSE CODE AND TITLE : Engineering Materials (MET 214)
TIME ALLOWED : 3 Hours
EXAMINER : Andrews Nsiah Ashong
INSTRUCTIONS : Answer all questions

(a) Describe the process of manufacturing cement?

7marks

(b) Portland cement is a common construction material. Name three types of Portland cement.

3marks

(c) List two applications for each of the following building materials.
i. Reinforced concrete

2marks

ii. Aluminum

2marks

iii. Brass

2marks

(d) What are engineered wood products?

2marks

(e) Give two advantages Engineered Wood Products (EWPs ) have over conventional wood.

2marks
 20marks

(a) Define a composite material.

1mark

(b) State four advantages of a composite material

4marks

(c) Name three types of composites structures for aerospace application.

3marks

(d) Mention five mechanical properties of composite materials.

5marks
(e) Give the engineering benefit of using a composite material compared to the original material

3marks

(f) Tabulate four differences between composite and alloys.

Alloys Composites

4marks

20marks
3

(a) Briefly describe the following glass types used in construction

i tempered glass

4marks

ii. laminated glass

4marks

(b) Define the following terms:

i. Bituminous material

2marks
ii. Pitch

2marks

iii. Glasphalt

2marks

iv. Bitumen

2marks

(c) Give two uses of the flash point test

4marks
20marks
 SUNYANI TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
MATERIALS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

MARKING SCHEME

(a) Describe the process of manufacturing cement. 7marks

Ans: Cement is manufactured by crushing, milling and proportioning lime, silica, alumina, iron,
and gypsum. The materials without gypsum are proportioned to produce a mixture with desired
chemical composition. This mixture is then ground and blended by the wet or dry process. The
materials are then put into a kiln at 1426℃ to produce greyish black pellets known as clinker. The
clinker is cooled and pulverized, and gypsum added to regulate setting time. It is then further
ground to produce cement.

(b) Portland cement is a common construction material. Name three types of Portland cement.

Ans: Ordinary Portland cement, modified cement, Rapid hardening Portland cement, Low heat
Portland cement, Sulphate resisting Portland cement-type 3marks

(c) List two applications for each of the following building materials.

i. Reinforced concrete: used for making slabs, walls, beams, columns, foundations, frames
2marks
ii. Aluminum: used for making mullions for windows, doors and trims, flashing 2marks
iii. Brass: used for making window and door hardware, trim, grilles and railings
2marks

(d) What are engineered wood products? 2marks

Ans: They are composite or man-made wood.

(e) Give two advantages Engineered Wood Products (EWPs ) have over conventional wood.
2marks
Ans:
i. The typical anisotropic effects of solid wood can be eliminated or reduced.
ii. Two-dimensional elements with relatively big and variable dimensions like plates and panels
can be produced.
iii. Poor quality or recycled wood can be used for production
iv. The influence of defects such as knots grain deviation is decreased

20marks
2
(a) Define a composite material. 1mark

Ans: A composite material is a combination of two materials with different physical and
chemical properties.

(b) State four advantages of a composite material 4marks

Ans:
i Corrosion resistance
ii. Design flexibility
iii. Durable
iv. High performance at elevated temperatures

(c) Name three types of composites structures for aerospace application 3marks
Ans:
i. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP)
ii. Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP)
iii. Metal Matrix Composites (MMC)

(d) Mention five mechanical properties of composite materials 5marks

Ans:
i. Light-weight due to high specific strength and stiffness
ii. Fatigue and corrosion resistance
iii. High flexural modulus
iv. High impact strength

(e) Give the engineering benefit of using a composite material compared to the original material

Ans: Composite materials improve the properties of their base materials and are applicable in
many situations 3marks

(f) Tabulate four differences between composite and alloys 4marks

Alloys Composites

An alloy can either be a homogeneous or a A composite is always a heterogeneous

heterogeneous mixture.
An Alloy is a mixture of one or more metals
with other elements.
Alloys are lustrous due to the presence of
metals in their composition.
mixture.
Composites are also a mixture of two or more
elements, but it does not contain metals.
Composites are lustrous as they do not
contain metals in their composition
 Most alloys can conduct electricity. Composites do not conduct electricity except
for polymeric composites.
Alloys always contain metal Composites do not contain metals

20marks

(a) Briefly describe the following glass types used in construction

i. Tempered glass: Tempered glass is developed by the heating annealed glass to near its melting
point, then chilling it rapidly. This creates high compression on the exterior surfaces and high
tension internally, making the piece of glass three to five times as strong as annealed glass.
Tempered glass can be broken, but it shatters into small, pebble-like pieces rather than sharp
slivers. Tempered glass must be ordered to the exact size needed before tempering, because it
cannot be cut, drilled, or ground after it has been tempered. 4marks

ii. Laminated glass consists of a layer of vinyl between sheets of glass. The layers are bonded
together with heat and pressure. This glass can be broken, but the plastic layers hold the small,
sharp pieces in place. 4marks

(b) Define the following terms:

i. Bituminous material: The term bituminous materials are generally used to denote substances
in which bitumen is present or from which it can be derived. 2marks

ii. Pitch: Pitch is formed when tar is partially distilled so that the volatile constituents have
evaporated off from it. 2marks

iii. Glasphalt: Asphalt in which the aggregate includes recycled glass. 2marks

iv. Bitumen: An organic binder, composed of low melting point polymers and oils, for asphalt.
(2marks)

(c) Give two uses of the flash point test

i. The flash point test determines the temperature to which asphalt can be safely heated in the
presence of an open flame 2marks
ii. Flash point tests can be used to detect contaminating materials such as gasoline or kerosene in
asphalt cement. 2marks

20marks
 COURSE CONTENT

1.0 General Properties

1.1 Strength and durability
1.2 Thermal, moisture temperature movements
1.3 Deterioration i.e., chemical, biological, and mechanical factors.

2.0 Natural Resources Materials;

2.1Timber
o Selection and Utilisation
o Constructional characteristics
o Mechanical properties
o Durability and preservation; treatment; seasoning
o Stress grading
o Defects and deterioration.
o Timber products including plywood and laminated woods

2.2 Stones
o Classification and Composition
o Blocks and Bricks, Sandcrete, landcrete and clay bricks
o Sand and Gravels
o Crushed aggregates ‘all –in-aggregates’, river and pits and, coastal sand
o Mining of Materials for building operations
o Quarrying and mining of natural sand soil materials
o Impact of mining materials on vegetation and the atmospheric environment.
o Disposal of building debris and produces of building materials from manufacturing
factories and environmental pollution.

3.0 Processed Materials

3.1 Cement, Limes and Concrete
o Classification and composition
o Manufacture of cement and limes
o Type and characteristics of cement

3.2 Manufacture and type and i.e. Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
o Structural characteristics of metals, structural steel, reinforcing steel (mild, high and yield).
o Corrosion and protective coating of metals

3.3 Asbestos Products

o Asbestos Silica Cement
o Lime Products.

3.4 Bituminous Products

o Bitumen
o Coal tar
o Pitch
o Asphalt

3.5 Glass
o Characteristics and strength properties
o Types and manufacture
o Glass products i.e., Glass-fibre reinforcements, glass wool.

3.6 Plastics and Rubbers

o Thermoplastics
o Thermosetting plastics
o Characteristics and types