MODULE NO: 186-17-C CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TESTING

UNIT C17.1 APPLYING PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL SCIENCE

Nominal Duration: HOURS

General Learning Outcome: Apply principles of construction material science

Learning Outcomes: On completion of this unit, the trainee will be able to:

1. State the characteristics and properties of construction

materials.
2. Classify construction materials
3. Outline uses of construction materials

Conditions: The trainee must have access to:

 Materials testing laboratory

 Samples of construction materials
 Standard specifications and procedures
 Protective wear
 Library
 internet

Attitudes/values:
 Sober Minded
 Safety conscious
 Good communication
 Patience
 Minimum supervision
 Neatness
 Confidentiality

Learning Activities: The Trainer must ensure that the learning activities for the trainee
include the following:

 Stating properties of construction materials

 Identify different types of construction materials
o Metals
 Atomic structure of iron and aluminium
 Alloys of iron and aluminium
 Crystalline structure of metals
  Soils
 Structure of soils
 Formation and sampling of soils
 Bulk properties
 Bituminous products
 Bitumen- sources(natural, petroleum) , types,
 Asphalt- its constituents, Hot mix, cold mix
 Timber
 Structure of wood
 Properties and use of timber
 Concrete
 Mixture of cement, aggregate and water
 Admixtures
 Masonry
 Distinguish between blocks and bricks
 Polymers
 Explanation of polymerization
 Types of polymers (thermosetting and
thermoplastic)
 Uses e.g. dust arrester, soil stabilization, prevent
setting of cold asphalt

 Characteristics and properties of construction materials.

o Metals
 Mechanical properties (tensile strength)
 ductility
 softness
 young’s modulus

 Soils
 shrinkage
 swelling
 density, specific gravity
 resilience modulus
 stabilisation

 Bituminous products
 Viscosity
 Penetration
 Softening point

 Timber
  weight
 thermo conductivity
 Concrete
 Compressive strength
 soundness
 Masonry
 Compressive strength
 Water absorption
 Polymers
 Viscosity
 temperature

 Test the strength of construction materials.

o Metals
 Tensile tests
 diameter

 Soils
 Atterberg limits
 Density, (laboratory and field)
 California Bearing Ratio
 Unconfined Compression stress

 Bituminous products
 Viscosity (saybolt, Brookfield)
 Penetration
 Softening point
 Binder extraction

 Timber
 Moisture content
 Weight
 Tensile strength

 Concrete
 Destructive tests (compressive strength)
 Non – destructive tests (Schmidt hummer)
 Slump test

 Masonry
 Compressive strength
 Water absorption
  Polymers
 Viscosity
 Temperature

 Explain the production of construction materials.

 bitumen
 asphalt
 slurry
 Concrete
 Classes of concrete and their different units e.g.
C25
 Water cement ratio

 Masonry
 Bricks
 Raw materials
 Manufacture by heating and stabilisation
 Standards

 Blocks
 Raw materials
 Standards
 Classifying construction materials
 Classifying different types of steel
o mild
o High tensile steel

 classifying different types of soil

o Gravel
o Sand
o Silt
o Clay

 classifying different types of bitumen

 emulsions
 penetration grade

 classifying different types of timber

 softwood
 hardwood

 classify different types of concrete

  structural concrete
 lean concrete

 Outlining uses of construction materials

 State the usage of steel
o Reinforcement in e.g. beams, columns, slabs,
foundations.
o Metal fabrication

 State the appropriate soil to use

 Gravel
 Roads
 Foundation
 Clay
 bricks
 Sand
 Mortar
 Making blocks
 plaster

 State the appropriate type of bitumen to use

 Emulsions
1. Slurry
2. Priming
3. Sprays eg fog spray
 penetration grade
1. asphalt
2. roof seals

 State the appropriate timber to use

 softwood
1. Roof
2. Doors
3. Scaffolding
4. Electric poles
5. Ceiling
6. Formwork

 hardwood
1. rail line sleepers
2. furniture
3. flooring

 State the use of different types of concrete

  Lean concrete
 Floors
 kerbs
 Structural concrete
 Beams
 Suspended slabs
 Columns
 beams

Assessment Criteria

o Characteristics and properties of construction materials correctly stated.

o Construction materials correctly classified.
o Uses of construction materials correctly outlined.

Assessment Methods: To achieve the above assessment the trainee will be given

 Individual/group assignment
 Class tests
 Exercises
 Practical
Recommended Books:
 Civil Engineering Materials 5th Edition, Neil Jackson and
Ravindrd K. Dhir.
 Elements of soil mechanics, &7th edition, G.N. Smith
 Soil mechanics, Robert craig
 Solving problems in Soil mechanics, B.H.C. Sutton
 Strength of materials and structures, John Case and A.H.
Chilver
 Concise handbook of Civil Engineering V.N. Vazirani, S.P
Chandula
 Soil mechanics by smith

MODULE NO: 186-17-C CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TESTING

UNIT C17.2 CARRYING OUT CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL SAMPLING

Nominal Duration: HOURS

General Learning Outcome: To carry out construction material sampling.

Learning Outcomes: On completion of this unit, the trainee will be able to:

1. Apply sampling procedures for different materials.

2. Receive samples
3. Handle samples
4. Store samples
5. Prepare samples for testing

Conditions: The trainee must have access to:

 Materials testing laboratory

 Samples of construction materials
 Standard specifications and procedures
 Protective wear
 Library
 Internet

Attitudes/values

 Sober Minded
 Safety conscious
 Good communication
 Patience
 Minimum supervision
 Neatness
 Confidentiality
Learning Activities: The Trainer must ensure that the learning activities for the trainee
include the following:
Apply sampling procedures for different materials
 Definition of sampling
 Identification of appropriate standard methods for sampling. e.g. BS 1377
 Sampling procedures for;
 Steel
Procedure
o Random sampling
 Soil
Procedure
 Rifling
 Quartering
Equipment and tools, e.g.
 hand auger
 boring
 Rifle Box
  Bituminous products
 Procedure: Random sampling

 Timber
 Procedure: Random sampling

 Concrete
 Random sampling from from fresh concrete
 Masonry
 Procedure: Random sampling
blocks and bricks

Receiving samples
 Capture details of the client and the sample
 Labelling

 Handling and storing samples

 Steel
 Moisture free environment
 soil
 disturbed samples
 undisturbed
 Bituminous products
 Asphalt
 Tight containers
 Away from heat sources
 bitumen
 Tight containers
 Away from heat sources
 Timber
 Moisture free environment

 Concrete
 Fresh concrete
 Prepare cubes
 cubes
 water bath
 curing
 Masonry
 Blocks
 curing
 Bricks
  Curing
 Preparing steel samples for testing
 Cutting

 Preparing soil samples for testing

 Drying
 Quartering and rifling
 Washing
 Soaking
 weighing
 Preparing Bitumen samples for testing
o Weighing
o Heating
o Cooling

 Preparing Timber samples for testing.

o Cutting
o weighing

 Preparing Concrete samples for

testing
 Fresh concrete
o Cubes
o weighing

 Hardened concrete
o Core
o weighing

 Preparing Masonry samples for testing

o weighing

Assessment Criteria:

1. Sampling procedures correctly applied for different

materials.
2. Samples correctly received.
3. Samples correctly handled.
4. Samples correctly stored.
5. Samples correctly prepared for testing.
Assessment Methods: To achieve the above assessment the trainee will be given

 Individual/group assignment
 Class tests
 Exercises
 Practical
Recommended Books:
 Civil Engineering Materials 5th Edition, Neil Jackson and
Ravindrd K. Dhir.
 Elements of soil mechanics, &7th edition, G.N. Smith
 Soil mechanics, Robert craig
 Solving problems in Soil mechanics, B.H.C. Sutton
 Strength of materials and structures, John Case and A.H.
Chilver
 Concise handbook of Civil Engineering V.N. Vazirani, S.P
Chandula
 Soil mechanics by smith

MODULE NO: 186-17-C CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TESTING

UNIT C17.3 CONDUCTING LABORATORY TESTS ON CONSTRUCTION

MATERIALS

Nominal Duration: HOURS

General Outcome: Conduct laboratory tests on construction materials.

Learning Outcomes: On completion of this unit, the trainee will be able to:

1. Identify appropriate testing methods and equipment.

2. Conduct tests on materials.
3. Prepare test results.

Conditions: The trainee must have access to:

 Materials testing laboratory

 Construction Samples for testing
 Standard specifications and procedures
 Protective wear
 Library
 internet

Attitudes/values:
 Sober Minded
 Safety conscious
 Good communication
 Patience
 Minimum supervision
 Neatness
 Confidentiality

Learning Activities: The Trainer must ensure that the learning activities for the trainee
include the following:

 Identify appropriate testing methods and equipment

 identifying testing methods and equipment for steel
o test
 tensile stress
o Equipment
 Tensometer
 identifying testing methods and equipment for soil
o tests
 Density of soil particles
 Moisture content
 Particle size distribution
 Atterberg Limits
 Compaction
 California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
 Density by Sand replacement
 Unconfined compression test
  Equipment
o Pyknonmeter
o Oven
o Balance
o Sieves
o Sieve shaker
o Desiccators
o Glass plate
o Casagrande
o Cone Penetrometer
o Shrinkage moulds
o Moulds
o Compaction rammers
o Core cutter extruder
o CBR machine
o Water Bath
o Sand Cone
o Nuclear gauge
 Identifying testing methods and
equipment for Bitumen
o Tests
 Penetration
 Softening Point
 Marshall stability
 Extraction
 Say bolt
 Binder content
o Equipment
 Bitumen penetrometer
 Ring and Ball
 Water bath
 Thermometers
 Marshall machine
 Saybolt Viscometer
 Hot plate
 Asphalt centrifuge extractors
 Reflux extractor
 Core drilling machine

 identifying testing methods and equipment for Timber

 tests
 Moisture content
 Density
 Equipment
 Oven
 Balance
  identifying testing methods and equipment for Concrete and
aggregates
 tests
 Density of aggregates
 Water absorption
 Sieve analysis
 Soundness Sodium Sulphate
 Flakiness
 Elongation
 Aggregate crushing value
 Ten percent fines value
 Loss Angeles abrasion
 Slump
 Compressive strength
 Equipment
 Balance
 Tamping rods
 Slump cone sets
 Moulds
 Compression machine
 Hammer
 Flakiness gauge
 Elongation gauge
 Loss angeles abrasion machine
 identifying testing methods and equipment for Masonry
 tests
 Compressive strength
 Water absorption
 Equipment
 Compression machine
 Balance
 Water bath
 Conducting tests on materials

 Carry out the following tests on steel

 tensile stress

• Carry out the following tests on soil

 Density of soil particles

 Moisture content
 Particle size distribution
 Atterberg Limits
 Compaction
  California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
 Density by Sand replacement
 Unconfined compression test
 Density by Sand replacement

 Carry out the following tests on Bitumen

 Penetration
 Softening Point
 Marshall stability
 Extraction
 Say bolt
 Binder content

• Compressive strength

 Carry out the following tests on Timber

 Moisture content
 Density
 Carry out the following tests on Concrete

 Density of aggregates
 Water absorption
 Sieve analysis
 Soundness Sodium Sulphate
 Flakiness
 Elongation
 Aggregate crushing value
 Ten percent fines value
 Loss Angeles abrasion
 Slump
 Compressive strength

 Carry out the following tests on Masonry

 Compressive strength
 Water absorption

 Preparing test results

 Recording of experiment results
 Calculation record forms
 Computer data input

 Analysing test results

  Basic Calculations
 Plotting
 Computer applications and analysis of data

 Reporting test results

 Contents of the test report/certificates
 Produce test reports
 Produce test certificates

 Handle test results
 Confidentiality
 Filing
 Storage of

Assessment Criteria:

1. Identify appropriate testing methods and equipment.

2. Conduct tests on materials.
3. Prepare test results.

Assessment Methods: To achieve the above assessment the trainee will be given

 Individual/group assignment
 Class tests
 Exercises
 Practical

Recommended Books:
 Civil Engineering Materials 5th Edition, Neil Jackson and
Ravindrd K. Dhir.
 Elements of soil mechanics, &7th edition, G.N. Smith
 Soil mechanics, Robert craig
 Solving problems in Soil mechanics, B.H.C. Sutton
 Strength of materials and structures, John Case and A.H.
Chilver
 Concise handbook of Civil Engineering V.N. Vazirani, S.P
Chandula
 Soil mechanics by smith
 standards