Construction Materials & Testing

Lesson 1: Introduction

Material testing – Measurement of the characteristics and behavior of materials such as metals,
concrete, ceramics, or plastics under various conditions. The data this obtain can be used in
specifying the suitability of materials for various applications. (e.g. building or aircraft
construction, machinery, and packaging etc.) Examination of material properties with respect to
design and use of end product.
CATEGORIES OF MATERIAL TESTING
1. Mechanical Testing
2. Testing for thermal properties
3. Testing for electrical properties
4. Testing for resistance to corrosion, radiation, and biological deterioration
5. Non-destructive testing

Construction Materials – An item, material or supply consumed or used in a construction project

and incorporated in the constructed building or structure.
TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
1. Aggregates – Aggregate is a broad category of coarse-particulate to medium-grained material
used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, concrete and recycled
geosynthetic aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined materials in the world.
2. Steel Reinforcement – Steel reinforcement are steel bars that are provided in combination with
plain cement concrete to make it reinforced concrete.
3. Cement – Cement is a finely milled mineral powder, usually grey in color. Mixed with water,
cement serves as an adhesive to bind sand, gravel, and hard rock in concrete.
4. Concrete – Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded
together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time.
5. Bitumen – Bitumen is a black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons obtained naturally or as a
residue from petroleum distillation. It is used for road surfacing and roofing.
TEST CARRIED OUT ON DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
AGGREGATES BITUMEN
• Sieve Analysis • Determining bitumen content
• Water Absorption • Determining flash and fire point of bitumen
• Aggregate Impact Value • Determining penetration of bitumen
• Aggregate Abrasion Value • Determining softening point of bitumen
• Aggregate Crushing Value • Determining specific gravity of bitumen
• Determining ductility of bitumen
CEMENT • Determining marshal stability of bitumen
• Fineness Test
• Soundness Test
• Consistency Test
• Setting Time Test

CONCRETE
• Test of Fresh Concrete • Test of Hardened Concrete
o Slump Test o Compression Strength Test
o Compacting Factor Test o Flexural Strength Test
o VeBe Test o Rebound Hammer Test
o K-Slump Test o Ultrasonic Pulse velocity Test

STANDARD-SETTING AGENCIES
• ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) is a private
organization that establishes specifications for materials and methods of construction accepted as
standards throughout the United States. Numerical references to ASTM standards-for example,
ASTM C150 for portland cement, used in making concrete-are found throughout building codes
and construction specifications, where they are used as a precise shorthand for describing the
quality of materials or the requirements of their installation.
• AASHTO or The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is a
standard setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols, and guidelines that are used
in highway design and construction throughout the United States.

IMPORTANCE OF STUDY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

• To know the sources of construction materials
• Identify & know the properties of various construction materials
• To know how the materials are tested as per ASTM standards
• To know how to choose from commercially available construction materials depending on
particular use
• To know common material defects
• To know various precautions to be taken when constructing for better durability