ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document.

Nanyang Technological University Library

CV1 013/CV2003

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

SEMESTER 2 EXAMINATION 2011-2012

CV1013/CV2003- CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

April- May 2012 Time Allowed: 2% hours

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper contains FOUR (4) questions and comprises FOUR (4) pages.

2. Answer ALL FOUR (4) questions.

3. The marks allocated to each question are as follows:

Question No. 1 20 marks

Question No. 2 25 marks
Question No. 3 25 marks
Question No. 4 30 marks
Total: 100 marks

1. (a) Discuss the important considerations concerning durability of asphalt cement

used in hot-mix asphalt.

(6 marks)

(b) List the principal functions provided by aggregates in an asphalt concrete mix.

Identify three important physical properties of a mineral aggregate used in the

wearing course of a pavement.

(6 marks)

(c) The Marshall Test is a commonly-used method of asphalt concrete mix design.

(i) State the aims of conducting an asphalt concrete mix design.

(ii) Explain what are stability and flow in the Marshall Test.

(iii) A dense-graded asphalt concrete Marshall specimen was made using 1,200
grams of granite aggregate (bulk relative density of 2.65; negligible binder
absorption) and 72.0 grams of binder (relative density of 1.05). The
specimen weighed 732 grams when suspended in water.

Determine, for this specimen, voids in total mix (VTM), and voids in mineral
aggregates (VMA).

(8 marks)

1
 ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library

CV1 013/CV2003

2. (a) One way to strengthen the steel against yielding is by cold-working or strain
hardening. Explain this mechanism and how its microstructure can be changed to
impede the motion of dislocations.
(5 marks)

(b) Explain the meanings of:

• hardening
• annealing
• normalizing
• tempering

Which of these heat treatment processes are used to produce thermo-mechanical

controlled process (TMCP) steel plates?
(5 marks)

(c) Define weldability and how it is measured in practice. How is weldability affected
by increasing the contents of carbon and other alloying elements such as
manganese, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, copper and nickel in the steel?

(5 marks)

(d) Structural steel grade is often designated as a number with a prefix in front and a
suffix behind, for example S275JR. Explain what the number '275'; prefix 'S' and
suffix 'JR' represent, and why they are important in steel design.
(5 marks)

(e) What is the main difference between plywood and glued-laminated timber? List
their advantages over natural sawn timber.
(5 marks)

2
 ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library

CV1 013/CV2003

3. (a) The compounds, C:A and C~F, that are derived from the iron and alumina
content of siliceous raw materials contribute little to the strength of Portland
cement and can lead to problems of durability and abnormal setting behavior. An
engineer therefore suggests to use quartz (a pure silica) to replace iron-bearing
aluminosilicates raw materials in the manufacturing of Portland cement in order to
get a cement with only C3S and C2S. Is this a good idea? Explain your reason(s).

(5 marks)

(b) Draw the water permeability coefficient versus w/c ratio curves of cement paste
and concrete in the same plot. Which one has a higher permeability coefficient for
a given w/c ratio? Explain the cause(s) of higher water permeability in such case.

(5 marks)

(c) What is bleeding? Is bleeding always undesirable and having negative impacts to
concrete properties? Give example(s).

(5 marks)

(d) Compressive strength is the most important property of concrete. List five factors
affecting concrete compressive strength.

(5 marks)

(e) Define the term "NOT" and name four types of NOT.

(5 marks)

3
 ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library

CV1 013/CV2003

4. (a) The definition of the bulk specific gravity of aggregate in the OD condition follows

• BSGoo ~ 00 weight of aggregate • _1_ ~ 00 w

Vol. of SSD aggregate Pw VssoPw

Based on the Archimedes' Principle, please derive the equation so that BSG 00
can be expressed in terms of the mass of OD aggregate (W00), the mass of SSD
aggregate (Wsso) and the mass of aggregates submerged in water (Ww).

(1 0 marks)

(b) Samples of coarse aggregate from a stockpile are brought to the laboratory. The
following information are given,

• Mass of moist aggregate sample as brought to the laboratory: 5,300 grams

• Mass of aggregates submerged in water: 3,300 grams

• Bulk specific gravity of saturated surface dry aggregate: 2. 70

• Absorption of aggregate: 1.80%

Determine the free moisture content of the coarse aggregate in the stockpile.
Given that

(1 0 marks)

(c) An engineer uses the coarse aggregates from the same stockpile in part (b) to
prepare a concrete mix. Based on the DOE method, a total of 1,500 kg of coarse
aggregates and 200 kg of water are needed for preparing 1 m3 of concrete.
Please help the engineer to make adjustment on the coarse aggregate and
mixing water content in the mix design so that the moisture content in the coarse
aggregate is taken into account.

[Hint: In case you cannot find the free moisture content of the aggregate in
part (b), you may assume the free moisture content of the coarse aggregate is
x% and proceed with your calculation]

(1 0 marks)

END OF PAPER

4
ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library
ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library
ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library
 ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library

CV1013 CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

CV2003 CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

Please read the following instructions carefully:

1. Please do not turn over the question paper

until you are told to do so. Disciplinary
action may be taken against you if you do so.

2. You are not allowed to leave the examination hall unless

accompanied by an invigilator. You may raise your hand
if you need to communicate with the invigilator.

3. Please write your Matriculation Number on the front of

the answer book.

4. Please indicate clearly in the answer book (at the

appropriate place) if you are continuing the answer to a
question elsewhere in the book.