INTRODUCTION TO

CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS & TESTING
 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
2. Steel Reinforcement
3. Cement
4. Concrete
5. Bitumen
 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
 STEEL
REINFORCEMENT

Steel reinforcement are steel bars that

are provided in combination with plain
cement concrete to make it reinforced
concrete.
 CEMENT

Cement is a finely milled mineral

powder, usually grey in colour. Mixed
with water, cement serves as an
adhesive to bind sand, gravel, and hard
rock in concrete.
 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.
 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

• Sieve Analysis
• Water Absorption
• Aggregate Impact Value
• Aggregate Abrasion Value
• Aggregate Crushing Value
 BITUMEN

• Determining bitumen content

• Determining flash and fire point of bitumen
• Determining penetration of bitumen
• Determining softening point of bitumen
• Determining specific gravity of bitumen
• Determining ductility of bitumen
• Determining marshal stability of bitumen
 CEMENT

• Fineness Test
• Soundness Test
• Consistency Test
• Setting Time Test
 CONCRETE

• Test of Fresh Concrete • Test of Hardened Concrete

o Slump Test • Compression Strength Test
o Compacting Factor Test • Flexural Strength Test
o VeBe Test • Rebound Hammer Test
o K-Slump Test • Ultrasonic Pulse velocity Test
 STEEL REINFORCEMENT

• Tensile Strength Test

• Bend Test
• Re-bend Test
• Shear Test
• Brinell Hardness Test
• Impact Test
• Torsion Test
STANDARD-SETTING AGENCIES
 ASTM

• 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

• The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is a

standards 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