Basic construction materials

The course intends to provide basic information on the structure and properties of construction materials to undergraduate students. The contents of the course will focus on a fundamental understanding of the structure of common materials, the types of bonds, and mechanisms of damage and failure in materials. It will then introduce the different materials used in construction, with respect to the approached to their design and use. At the end of the course, the student should be able to link the material choice with the application in construction. INTENDED AUDIENCE :Open to all in construction sectorPREREQUISITES : NoneINDUSTRIES SUPPORT :None – this is a basic UG course

Week 1:Structure and properties of materials
Fundamentals of material structure, from atomic bonding to failure theories; structure-property relationships; general engineering properties of materials Week 2:Structure and properties of materials
Fundamentals of material structure, from atomic bonding to failure theories; structure-property relationships; general engineering properties of materialsWeek 3:Structure and properties of materials
Fundamentals of material structure, from atomic bonding to failure theories; structure-property relationships; general engineering properties of materialsWeek 4:Stone / Brick / Mortar
Properties and application of masonry materials; types of bonding; deterioration processes
Week 5:Cement and Concrete
Cement composition and properties; properties of other ingredients; basic concrete mixture proportioning; Early age and long term properties; construction methods with concreteWeek 6:Cement and Concrete
Cement composition and properties; properties of other ingredients; basic concrete mixture proportioning; Early age and long term properties; construction methods with concreteWeek 7:Cement and Concrete
Cement composition and properties; properties of other ingredients; basic concrete mixture proportioning; Early age and long term properties; construction methods with concreteWeek 8:Steel / Aluminium / Copper
Structure of iron and steel – phase diagrams; properties of reinforcing steel and structural steel; corrosion; properties and applications of Al and Cu
Week 9:Steel / Aluminium / Copper
Structure of iron and steel – phase diagrams; properties of reinforcing steel and structural steel; corrosion; properties and applications of Al and CuWeek 10:Composite materials / FRP / Polymers and Plastics
Particulate and fibre reinforced composites; structure and behaviour of polymers and plasticsWeek 11:Wood / Glass
Structure of wood; processing of timber for construction; defects and deterioration of wood; properties and applications of glassWeek 12:Pavement materials
Basic pavement materials such as WBM and WMM; structure and properties of asphalt; proportioning and application of bituminous concrete for flexible pavements; understanding of rigid pavements – jointed, doweled and continuously reinforced