Construction Materials: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
Construction Materials
1. – What must we take into account to choose a construction material?
To choose a construction material, we must pay attention to:
– The weather of the place where the building is going to be set.
– The effort that each element of the structure has to support.
– The cost of the material.
– Esthetical condition.
2. – Which groups of construction materials do you know?
Stone, cement, mortar, concrete, plaster. Ceramic,
Read MoreThe History and Evolution of Cement: From Natural Cements to Modern Portland Cement
History of Cement
Early Developments
Apparently unaware of Smeaton’s work, the same principle was identified by Frenchman Louis Vicat in the first decade of the nineteenth century. Vicat went on to devise a method of combining chalk and clay into an intimate mixture, and, burning this, produced an “artificial cement” in 1817[14] considered the “principal forerunner”[3] of Portland cement and “…Edgar Dobbs of Southwark patented a cement of this kind in 1811.”[3]
In Russia, Egor Cheliev created a new
Read MoreConcrete Construction: Properties, Production, and Types
Placement of reinforcing:
Concrete is weak in resistance to tensile forces. Reinforcing is used primarily to resist tension and thus prevent cracking or failure of the concrete member under tension.
Tension may be induced by:
- Shrinkage of concrete as it hardens
- Temperature changes
- Bending and shear forces
To provide protection of reinforcing steel against corrosion and fire, a minimum cover of concrete must be furnished. The engineer will specify the required cover. Recommended cover:
- Slabs/walls not exposed
Concrete Technology: A Comprehensive Guide
Concrete Technology: A Comprehensive Guide
Phase and Chemical Composition of Portland Cement Clinker
THE COMPONENT PHASES OF PORTLAND CEMENT
- •3CaO.SiO2 (C3S alite) 55-65 %
- •2CaO.SiO2 (C2S belite) 15-24 %
- •3CaO.Al2O3 (C3A tricalcium aluminate) 8-12 %
- •4CaO.Al2O3.Fe2O3 (C4AF brownmillerite) 8-12 %
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CEMENTS
CaO 60 ÷ 67 % SiO2 18 ÷25 % Al2O3 2.5 ÷ 8 % Fe2O3 0.5 ÷ 6 % MgO 0,1 ÷ 4 % SO3 1,7 ÷ 4,6 % Na2O+K2O 0,2 ÷ 2 %
Physical and Mechanical Properties of Cement
• Cement
Read MoreUntitled 1
Apparently unaware of Smeaton’s work, the same principle was identified by Frenchman Louis Vicat in the first decade of the nineteenth century. Vicat went on to devise a method of combining chalk and clay into an intimate mixture, and, burning this, produced an “artificial cement” in 1817[14] considered the “principal forerunner”[3] of Portland cement and “…Edgar Dobbs of Southwark patented a cement of this kind in 1811.”[3]
In Russia, Egor Cheliev created a new binder by mixing lime and
Read More