Faculty of Environment and

Technology
Academic Year: 12/13
Examination Period: Summer

Module Leader: Ghassan Nounu

Module No: UBGMXU-15-1
Title of Module: Engineering and Environmental Materials

Duration of Examination: 2 Hours

Instructions to Candidates:

Answer 3 questions from Section A and 3 questions from Section B.

Each section is to be answered in a separate answer book
Total number of questions to be answered is 6. Each question carries 20 marks.
Show your method of calculations in support of any answer.

Materials supplied to the student will be:

Number of Examination Booklets (+ any continuation booklets as required) per

2
Examination
Number of sheets of Graph Paper size G3 (Normal) 0

Additional Instruction to Invigilators:

Calculators May be used subject to University regulations Yes

Students allowed to keep Examination Question Paper Yes

Material supplied by student allowed (must be collected with answer booklet)
No
please specify: NONE

Additional Specialised Material :

Treasury tags will be supplied as standard

UBGMXU-15-1 Page 1 of 8
SECTION A: Answer 3 questions out of 5
Question 1 - Concrete (20 marks)

Describe how the water-cement ratio and the degree of hydration affect the strength
and porosity of hydrated cement paste. With the aid of a sketch graph show how the
strength of concrete varies with age and explain how this is related to the hydration
process.

Question 2 - Timber (20 marks)

By considering
i) Raw material availability
ii) Extraction
iii) Energy used in manufacture
iv) Health and Safety Hazards
v) Waste Disposal/Recyclability

comment on the environmental implications of using timber in construction. Suggest

measures to reduce this impact.

Question 3 - Metals (20 marks)

With the aid of diagrams, describe the processes of atmospheric and electrolytic
corrosion. Hence explain how a steel bridge could be protected from corrosion by
i) galvanising
ii) painting
iii) good detailing

Question 4 - Masonry (20 marks)

By considering the process of vitrification of clay, explain why the strength, water
absorption and density of a brick are related to each other. Describe how these
properties can be measured in laboratory tests.

Question 5 - Bitumens (20 marks)

Explain the fundamental differences between asphalts and macadams in terms of

their load bearing structure, composition and bitumen type. Hence, comment
on the advantages and disadvantages of using each type in the surface
course of ‘flexible’ pavement construction.

UBGMXU-15-1 Page 2 of 8
SECTION B: Answer 3 questions out of 5

Question 6 (20 marks)

The frame ABCDEFG of Figure Q6 has pinned supports at A and G, a pin at D and
has rigid joints at B and F. Calculate the reactions at A and G.

Figure Q6

UBGMXU-15-1 Page 3 of 8
Question 7 (20 marks)

The beam ABCDE in Figure Q7 has a pinned support at E, is on roller supports at A

and D, and has a pin at C. The vertical reactions at support A and E is 2.5kN. Draw
the shearing force and bending moment diagrams.

Figure Q7

Question 8 (20 marks)

A beam is fabricated by bending and welding a 6mm thick plate to form a hollow
rectangular box section 100mm overall width and 160mm overall depth. If the safe
permissible bending stress is 165 N/mm2, calculate the moment of resistance of the
section.

Question 9 (20 marks)

A 400 x 250 mm column supports a vertical load of 150kN as shown in Figure Q9.
Determine the maximum and minimum stresses in the section.

Figure Q9

UBGMXU-15-1 Page 4 of 8
Question 10 (20 marks)
A steel bracket, as shown in Figure Q10, supports a load of 60kN. If the allowable
shear stress in each bolt is 80 N/mm2, calculate the minimum diameter of bolt
required and select a bolt size from available diameters of 16, 20, 24 and 30mm.

Figure Q10

END OF QUESTION PAPER

UBGMXU-15-1 Page 5 of 8
 FORMULAE & DATA

GENERAL g = 9.81m/s2 1 tonne = 1000 kg 1bar = 105 N/m2

Weight W = mg Density  = mass / volume = m / V
Density of mercury = 13600 kg/m3 Density of water = 1000 kg/m3
Area of a circle = r2 = d2 / 4 Volume of a cylinder = r2L = d2 L/ 4
STATICS

Force Components

V or F y = Fsin


H or Fx = Fcos

Conditions for Static Equilibrium

The resultant turning moment about any point is zero M = 0
The resultant horizontal force is zero H = 0 or Fx = 0
The resultant vertical force is zero V = 0 or Fy = 0

Centre of Area
y = Ay) / A
Centre of Gravity
x =Wx) / W
Friction
Maximum friction force = coefficient of friction x normal reaction force = RN

Direct Stress & Strain & Young’s Modulus

load F
Stress   
area normal to load A
Extension x
Strain  = 
Original length L
Stress
Modulus of Elasticity or Young's Modulus E = =/
Strain

UBGMXU-15-1 Page 6 of 8
 Maximum load in tensile test
Ultimate tensile stress =
Original area normal to load
Ultimate tensile stress
Factor of safety 
Actual operating stress
Shear Force & Bending Moment Sign Convention

x x

X X

Positive SF (upward on the left) Negative SF (downward on the left)

X X

X X
Positive BM (clockwise on the left) Negative BM (anti-clockwise on the left)

Bending theory

UBGMXU-15-1 Page 7 of 8
Shear stress

Torsional stress

For solid circular sections

Composite sections

UBGMXU-15-1 Page 8 of 8