Building Materials CE 415

3-0-0 (3)
By. Mohammed Ataullah Khan

Brooklyn Bridge (New York)

• Constructed: 1883
• Second busiest bridge in New York
city – 1,44,000 vehicles crossing
the bridge every day
• The first suspension bridge to use
steel for its cable wire
• The longest suspension bridge in
the world (3460 ft.) at the time it
was built

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 Burj Khalifa (UAE)
• Constructed: 2010
• Standing at 828 m, the tower is currently
the tallest building and the tallest free
standing structure in the world
• 163 floors are habitable, covering a floor
area of 3.3 million square feet
• The building can withstand wind speeds
of 160 km/hr

Chenab River Railway Bridge

Expected to be complete by 2019 (jammu kashmir)

Role of a Civil Engineer
• The one who improves the quality of life through production of safe,
functional, elegant, economically sound infrastructure
o Buildings, bridges and other structures
o Dams
o Highways
o Water treatments plants, waste disposal
• The one who make sure that the wise utilization of resources –
Sustainable development
• The one who makes our human habitat is livable
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Role of a Civil Engineer

• Town and city planning
• Build suitable structures for the rural and urban areas for various utilities
• Build tanks, dams to exploit water resources
• Purify the water and supply water to needy areas
• Provide good drainage system and purification plants
• Provide and maintain communication systems like roads, railways, harbours
and airports
• Monitor land, water and air pollution and take measures to control them

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Different Fields for Civil Engineers
• Structural Engineering
• Building Materials
• Construction Technology
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Architecture & Town Planning
• Environmental Engineering
• Hydraulics, Water Resource & Irrigation Engineering
• Transportation Engineering
• Surveying
• Remote Sensing & GIS

Typical Civil Engineering Programme

• Explain the behavior of materials (steel, concrete, soil, water, water-waste,
timber, glass, masonry units etc.) under the action of external loads.
• Identify fundamental modes of load transfer and failure mechanisms
• Analyze field variables (stress, strain, deformation, force resultants etc) governing
the design (of the reinforced concrete and steel structures, pavements).
• Design individual and integrated structural members of the civil infrastructure
(beams, columns, joints, slabs, roads, runways etc) using relevant standards.
• Execute a real-life civil infrastructure project in a multi-disciplinary environment.

Building Materials Course

• To understand the physical, mechanical, chemical and aesthetical
properties of building materials.
• To analyze the influence of raw materials or composition on the
properties of building materials.
• To understand the limitations of building materials for the chosen
application.
• To apply the knowledge of properties of building materials in making
decisions to achieve a set of functional requirements.

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Module 3: Flooring and Roofing
• Floors – types – floor finishes
• Roofs – types – materials used – steel, aluminum, asbestos, GI sheets
– light weight roofing materials
• Glass – types and uses
• Wood – types and uses – defects – preservative treatments – wood
composites

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Module 4: Modern Materials

• Modern materials – Neoprene, thermocole, decorative panels and
laminates, architectural glass and ceramics, ferrocement, PVC,
polymer base materials, fibre-reinforced plastics, etc

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Module 5: Construction Components
• Principles of construction - Masonry – brick, stone and block masonry
• Surface finishes – pointing and plastering – materials - Paints and
varnishes – types and uses
• Damp proof course (DPC) – anti-termite measures and treatments
• Construction joints – need and materials used
• Scaffolding and centering

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Reference Books
• Building material Gambhir and Jhamwal
• Engineering materials by S.C. Rangwala
• Building materials and Construction by Sahu and Jena
• Concrete Technology by Shetty, M.S
• Building materials by S. K. Duggal

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Grade Assessment
• Minor exam 1: 20 + Minor exam 2: 20
• Major: 40
• Internal Assessment: 20 ( 2 quiz (5 marks each) + Assignments: 10
Marks

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 Introduction to Building Materials
Module 1

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Introduction to Building Materials

• The function of a building is to provide a desired (may be controlled
or uncontrolled) spatial environment within it continuously, for a
given human activity
• The building, therefore, provides a safe and comfortable internal
environment against the external and unwanted internal conditions
• The building must accomplish the same economically

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Function of building is to provide a desired spatial environment within it continuously for

a given human activity. This space may be controlled or uncontrolled. Controlled example is an
air conditioned building where the temperature, the relative humidity, etc., are controlled. Safety
is the first requirement. It should be safe against all kind of natural forces and also from man-
made forces. So, this space, that we are talking of, that is, the building, must be safe and
comfortable. It must withstand these loads for its designed life. Unwanted internal conditions are
noise, ventilation, moisture promotes microbial growth.
 Interaction of Building with Environment
• What are the ambient Humidity Lightening Sunlight
conditions building
(envelope) generally Rainfall, Fire Air motion
interacts with? Snowfall Accident

Solar Noise
radiation

Pollution
Air Temp.

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Now, some of these factors are desirable. The building must act like a filter. It should allow for
some of those desirable aspect of the environment to come in. For example, in a school, you like
to provide some amount of natural light along with natural ventilation and air movement. You
may be interested in controlling the amount of heat that enters into the building. Say, in a
summer condition in a tropical location, the building envelope should provide a kind of a filter
such that the heat radiation does not enter into the room. The sunlight that enters should be
diffused sunlight, which does not create glare to the eye, so that you can comfortably see things.

Note: Envelope is the exterior surface of the building like wall, roof, cladding etc.,

Functional Requirements of Building

• Fire safety-Building bye-laws, sprinkler system
• Occupancy type, circulation of residents and furniture
• Low noise level-Acoustic design, noise insulation
• Aesthetically appealing-painting and flooring, facade
• Low cost, locally available materials
• Good air circulation- fenestration design
Low-energy
• Ample lighting without glare- fenestration design consumption
• Thermal comfort-desirable air and radiant temp.(next slide)

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Fire protection comes under building services: zoning, providing setbacks to give access to fire
safety personals with fire extinguishers, smart system to be installed.

Building bylaws: Now, when we are doing functional

The microclimates of a region are
design of building, certain restrictions are required to
defined by the moisture,
be put by controlling agencies so that it does not
temperature, and winds of the
adversely affect our surroundings. For example, the
atmosphere near the ground, the
microclimatic modification occurring due to
vegetation, soil, and the latitude,
construction.
elevation, and season.

Similarly, one must leave certain space around the building for fire fighting vehicle to move
around or placements of ladder and so on. Such controls are provided through various bylaws.
Local municipal authorities of such bodies, put certain restriction on construction depending
upon their ability and necessity because one person, if he builds structure, a building
independently, he might disturb the airflow of the house of another person or possibly, obstruct
the light entering into the house of another person.

Zoning (dividing the town/city into industrial and residential zones) and land use control. Zoning
is required for firefighting, noise control requirement, then unobstructed air movements and
sunlight. Control of microclimate and site climate, firefighting provisions, protection against
earthquake, in some cases this is required because if you are in extreme zone you cannot
construct anything anyway you like.
For example, earthquake zone 5 is the most critical zone. If you construct a 50 storey building
there and soil condition is not good, then it might be susceptible to seismic calamities. So, that is
why, sometime restrictions are put by the local authorities based on the seismic requirements,
protection against the earthquake.

Based on the occupancy type and furniture, circulation space required is decided. For example,
in a school, you need classroom for so many classes, say class nursery, for preprimary section,
nursery, K.G etc. Sometimes height is important, like auditorium, you see, the minimum height is
supposed to be so and so for given type of performance. Another important factor we needed to
account for is ‘proximity of spaces’ i.e., which space should be close to the next space. For
example, if it is a classroom it cannot tolerate noise, so it should not have workshop nearby. And
then, site condition is an important issue. If the site is of the given shape, the building can only
follow that shape.

Fenestration is a terminology used for areas that is deliberately designed opening spaces, like
windows and ventilator, so that they air and light to enter.

Glass, few types of wood and even brick provides good sound insulation.
 Low conductive material
Internal wall
External wall
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Thermal flow through proper choice of orientation, envelope and fenestration design. If the
surfaces are very hot, then it would tend to radiate heat into the person. Through proper choice
of orientation of the building, design of the envelope and fenestration design, we take care of
thermal comfort.

Functional Requirement?

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 Functional Requirements/ loading ?

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Functional requirement of a bridge is to allow safe and smooth passage of traffic over it. Loads,
Vibration damping, Strength,

Functional requirement / loading?

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Function of a dam is to provide safe storage and distribution of water. Hydrostatic pressure, self
weight, ground conditions/ geology
Loading
• Dead weight

• live load- prediction ?

• Fatigue, creep, impact

• Temperature

• Hydrostatic and soil pressure

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Loading
• Wind load: Meteorological data

• Earthquake load: Z1 to Z5, Low to high

intensity

• Load Combinations:
o D.L. + L.L. + W.L. + E.L.

• IS 875 part 1 to part 5, IS 1893

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Role of Materials
Two aspects need to be considered: Overall dimension = F (Functional
requirements, Site conditions)
• Functional requirement
o Over all dimensions, plan, width
o Non-structural members like false ceiling, insulation walls, finishing
• Structural safety
o Governs the details of structural components, thickness of members
o The system is idealized to fit in a mathematical framework. Ex: plane section
remains plane after bending. Relevant standards.

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what is the role of material when you are looking at the safety of the structure? For example, in
a framed building, the load simply maybe carried by the columns and the beams and the walls
may not be load bearing. Then, size of the member for the material used must be able to resist
the design load. So, design force, that has come on to it from the design load, which I have taken,
load may not directly onto the column.

In a slab-beam-column system i.e. a frame system, the load will first come onto the slab, then
from that slab it will be transferred to the beam and then to the column. So, the amount of load,
that is coming to the column, that we try to compute through structural analysis, and then find
out the size of the column, which is sufficient to withstand the load for the kind of material I am
using the column. What material I am using will dictate the size of column.

Role of Materials (Safety)

• Axial and shear stresses are encountered. Bending moments?
Torsion?

• Axial, shear and flexural strength are needed

• Massiveness could also play role. Ex: ?

• Adequate stiffness is needed. Stiffness vs Modulus ?

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The material should have adequate strength against axial loading and bending and must have
good shear strength, since it is likely to face axial stress, that is, either tension or compression
along with shear. The flexural strength of a beam or a column is the combination of strength in
tension and compression.
Role of Materials (safety)
• Post elastic ductility: Adequate warning through deformation
• Endurance limit at infinite cycles
• Impact toughness
• Abrasion resistance
• Damping properties

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Timeline of Building Materials

• 400,000BC Earth and stone - First earth and stone built shelters Stone age

• 7,000BC Stone and concrete – First fortifications build. Materials included

stone concrete with reinforcement. Industrial
• 2,800BC The first dam - Egyptian civil engineering across the Garawi Valley with revolution
a masonry shell filled with earth and rubble. It didn't last long.
• 100AD Suspension bridge - Chinese development with vines, ropes and chains. Advanced
• 1867 Reinforced concrete - The revolutionary structural construction material. manufacturing
techniques-3D
• 1963 Computer aided design (CAD) printing
• 2001 Self cleaning window
• 2001 Self healing materials

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 Classification of Building Materials Matrix

• Based on the purpose to which they use

o Structural materials: steel, concrete, brick, RCC, etc. Fibre
o Aesthetic materials: marble, plaster, paints, floor tiles, etc.
o Special materials: pipes, fittings, sanitary fixtures, wash basins, etc.

FRP jacket for repair 31

PVC pipes

Steel pipes HDPE pipes

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GFRP pipes

PVC pipes in range of 1 Mpa, Steel pipes upto 400 MPa

 Classification of Building Materials
• Based on their existence/occurrence
o Natural materials: clay, stones, wood, marbles, etc.
o Artificial materials: cement, lime, polymers, plastics, etc.
• Based on metallurgy
o Metals: Ferrous and non-ferrous metals (aluminum, copper, gold, silver, etc.)
o Non-metals: stones, bricks, wood, ceramics, etc.
• Based on composition of the materials
o Metals and alloys
o Ceramics
o Composites

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Selection of Materials
• Physical considerations: Weight, thermal properties, permeability,
durability, fire resistance, heat ventilation

• Appropriateness: Material compatibility with climate, cultural and

aesthetic conditions, suitability of material to occupancy and size of
building, environmental impact

• Structural/Architectural considerations: Compressive/tensile strength,

mass and thickness, physical density, texture, colour, temperature,
fabrication, craftsmanship, weathering

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US navy ships almost 200 collapsed in the second world war due to unexpected brittle behavior
of steel in a new geographical location.
 Physical Properties
• Bulk density: mass per unit volume.
• Chemical resistance: Non-corrosive, Chlorides and sulphates of calcium and
magnesium (offshore). Can easily corrodes/deteriorates the properties of
the structure like strength.
• Coefficient of softening: The ratio of compressive strength of material
saturated with water to that of dry state
• Fire resistance: avoids deterioration under the action of fire
• Frost resistance: avoids deterioration in the presence of ice.
• Hygroscopicity: Ability to absorb water from atmosphere.
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Some fine grades of cement and even lime can absorb water from atmosphere and sets.

Physical properties
• Porosity: ratio of volume of voids to volume of solids.
• Refractoriness: Ability to sustain prolong action of high temperatures.
• Specific heat: Amount of heat required to raise the temperature by 10C
• Thermal capacity, Thermal conductivity
• Water absorption
• Water permeability
• Durability / Weathering resistance

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Ceramic bricks are good refractory materials. Used in factories in kilns. Oxides of aluminum,
Even ceramic. Efficiency of a process is increased at high temperatures, so if you can increase
the materials operating temperature, then you can save millions.
 What is it?

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Examples

Porous Bricks Porous Concrete

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Porosity influences water absorption, permeability, density, strength. Also an indication of

weathered / low quality material.
Mechanical properties
• Strength: Ability of the material to resist failure under the action of
loads caused by compression, tension, bending and impact.
• Hardness: Ability of the material to resist indentation/scratching
• Elasticity: Ability of material to regain its original shape after removal
of load. Modulus of elasticity: within elastic limit, it is the ratio of
stress to strain or the slope of stress-strain curve before the yield
point.
• Plasticity: ability of the material to change its shape under the load
and to retain this shape after the load is removed.

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Mechanical Properties
Mild Steel

Stress-Strain curve mild steel 40

Mechanical Properties
Mild Steel

Cast Iron

Strain Concrete

Stress
Stress-Strain curve (not to scale)
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Mechanical Properties
• Ductility: It is the measure of degree of plastic deformation that has been sustained at
fracture.
• Brittleness: It is the property of material by the virtue of which it can resist no plastic
deformation before failure.
• Stiffness: is the property of material to resist elastic deformation or deflection. Stiff
materials have a high modulus of elasticity. Stiffness has both material and geometry
contribution.
• Flexibility: is the property by the virtue of which it can bend considerably without Failure.
Materials with low elastic limit and low stiffness. Example: plywood, rubber, plastic
• Toughness: is the measure of energy absorbed by the material before the failure.
• Malleability: The ability of material to be flatted into sheets without rupture. Example
ductile materials like copper, tin etc.,
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Additional properties
• Biological properties: Should be free of organic matter
• Durability: Property by the virtue of which the materials sustains
longer life under the action of weathering agents and internal forces.
• Compatibility: A material should not have delirious effect on the
performance of other material.
• Reliability: it is the property by the virtue of which different material
batches reproduce same of level of performance.
• Economical: simply cheap!

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