CE 2155 Structural Mechanics and Materials

Part I Civil Engineering Materials

Problems
(from The Science and Technology of Civil Engineering Materials by Young,
Mindess, Gray, and Bentur)
P255, (See last page of the chapter)
11.1. Why is gypsum always interground with cement clinker during the final stages of
Portland cement manufacture?
11.2. Classfy the following cements according ot the most appropriate ASTM
classification.
(a) C3S=55%, C2S=23%, C3A=11%, C4AF=9%
(b) C3S=43%, C2S=40%, C3A=1%, C4AF=10%
(c) C3S=50%, C2S=28%, C3A=7%, C4AF=11%
(d) C3S=60%, C2S=15%, C3A=13%, C4AF=8%
11.3. Which ASTM cement type is most appropriate for the following applications? What
blended cement could be substituted for the original choice? Give reasons for your
choices.
(a) Two foot thick foundation mat for a high rise building,
(b) Construction of a concrete foundation in late fall,
(c) Slip forming of a highway pavement,
(d) Construction of a sea-wall on the gulf coast.

(From Concrete 2nd edition by Mindess, Young, and Darwin)

- Cement:
4.5. Compare the properties of C-S-H and CH, and their roles in determining the
properties of hardened cement paste.
4.8. Describe the classification of porosity in hardened cement paste.
- Mineral admixtures:
5.1. What are the important differences between silica fume and Class F fly ash?
5.3. Describe the difference between the pozzolanic reaction and slag reaction.
5.7 What class of blended cements would you specify for the following applications?
(a) mass concrete,
(b) moderate sulphate resistant,

(d) protection of reinforcing steel from corrosion,

(e) high sulphate resistant.
- Aggregate:
7.3. A sand sample has the following % passing the fine sieves. Calculate the fineness
modulus of the sand.
4.75 mm = 97%, 2.36 mm = 95%, 1.18 mm = 92%, 600 m = 85%, 300 m = 30%, 150
m = 5%.
7.5. A 1000-g sample of coarse aggregate in the SSD condition weighed 633 g when
immersed in water. Calculate the bulk specific gravity (SSD) of the aggregate.
7.6. A 1000-g sample from a stock pile of the same aggregate as in Problem 7.5. weighed
637 g when immersed in water. Calculate the moisture content of the aggregate in the
stockpile.
7.7. A 500-g sample of sand in the SSD condition was placed in a jar, which was then
filled with water. The combined weight was 1697 g. The weight of the jar filled with the
water only was 1390 g. Calculate the bulk specific gravity (SSD) of the sand.
7.8. A 500-g sample of the same sand as in Problem 7.7 from the stockpile weighed 1691
g when placed in the jar and topped up with water. Calculate the moisture content of the
sand in the stockpile.
7.9. The sample of coarse aggregate in Problem 7.5 weighed only 985 g after drying at
105 oC overnight. Calculate the absorption capacity of the aggregate.
7.10. A 1000-g sample of coarse aggregate from the same stockpile as in Problem 7.6
weighed 992 g when dried at 105 oC overnight. Calculate the effective absorption on an
OD basis.
7.13. A mixture of 1080 g of gravel with an effective absorption of 0.90% and 720 g of
sand with a surface moisture of 2.51% was added to a concrete mix. Compute the
adjustment that must be made to the added water to maintain a constant w/c ratio.
7.15. What would be the consequence of using oven-dry aggregate in a concrete mix?
- Fresh Concrete:
9.3. What is slump loss and what factors affect it?
9.4. Without changing water content, what other strategies could you use to change the
workability of concrete?

9.5. What are the practical consequences of bleeding?

5.5. Describe the benefits of using fly ash to improve the properties of fresh concrete.
- Mix Proportioning:
10.1. What are the criteria that must be used when designing a concrete mix?
10.4 Design a non air entrained concrete mix using a maximum aggregate size of 27mm
to be used for an interior beam having a 28-day compressive strength of 35 MPa
(specified strength based on cylinder). The material properties are as follows:
Cement: All types have a specific gravity of 3.15
Coarse aggregate: Bulk specific gravity (SSD) = 2.9, absorption capacity = 0.5%,
effective absorption = 0.3%, and dry-rodded unit weight = 1700 kg/m3
Fine aggregate: Bulk specific gravity (SSD) = 2.75, absorption capacity = 1.0%, surface
moisture = 2.8%, and fineness modulus = 2.8
Use the upper value of the recommended slump range. Present the results based on given
moisture contents.

- Strengths, elastic modulus:

13.8. Discuss the effect of moisture content and the amount and nature of aggregate on
the modulus of elasticity of concrete.
13.10. Describe the failure process in concrete subjected to compressive loading.
13.13. Discuss the reasons for the nonlinearty of the concrete stress-strain curve.
13.14. What is the effect of aggregate on the failure of concrete?
13.20. What factors other than w/c ratio affect the strength of concrete?
14.6. How loading direction of specimens affect concrete strength
- parallel to the casting direction
- perpendicular to the casting direction
Durability of concrete:
18.1. What is the effect of permeability on durability?
18.6. What strategies can be used to prevent sulphate attack?
18.16. What problems are caused by the cracking of concrete?

(from Materials for Civil and Construction Engineers by Mamlouk and

Zaniewski)
Structure of steel
3.1. What is the chemical composition of steel? What is the effect of carbon on the
mechanical properties of steel?
3.8. Draw a typical stress-strain relationship for steel subjected to tension. On the graph
show the modulus of elasticity, yield strength, ultimate stress, and rupture stress.
3.19. Briefly define steel corrosion. What are the four elements necessary for corrosion to
occur?
3.20. Discuss the main methods used to protect steel from corrosion.
- Identify the two microconstituents which make up a typical structural steel. How is each
of these microconstituents formed? How does each affect the mechanical properties of
the steel?

Homework submission
Solution of the following problems shall be submitted by Oct 17, 12 pm. A box marked
with CE 2155 homework will be placed in the front counter of CE Dept office.
Problems 5.5, 7.3, 10.4, 18.6 highlighted in yellow in this file.