Course Number CE 121

Course Title Construction Materials

Course Description Engineering properties of common construction materials (aggregates,

concrete, metals, wood and composites); concrete mix design; standard
test methods; non-destructive testing; testing of small-scale structural
elements.

Duration per week 5 hours (2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory)

Course Objective To introduce the students to the properties, behavior, proportioning (when
applicable) and testing of commonly used construction materials.

Instructors Dr. Nathaniel B. Diola

Textbook Derucher, Kenneth N., Materials for Civil and Highway Engineers,
Prentice Hall, New Jersey. (latest edition)

Reference Relevant standards published by the American Society of Testing of

Materials (ASTM)

Other Civil Engineering materials book.

Course Requirements
Long Exams 50%
Attendance and Quizzes 10%
Laboratory Reports 20%
Final Examination 20%

Grading System
95-100 1.00 7580 2.00 5560 3.00*
9095 1.25 7075 2.25 <55 5.00
8590 1.50 6570 2.50
8085 1.75 6065 2.75
* No grade of 4.0 shall be given.

Laboratory Reports
1.0 Format and Content C. Any helpful observations, opinion,
The laboratory report shall consist of the suggestions, etc.
following parts:
A. Title 2.0 Style
B. Objectives The report shall be written on A4
C. Experiment Procedure sheets using a font size of 11 and spacing
-Methodology, Equipment, between lines of 1 for the main text.
Equations used
D. Results/Data 3.0 Submission
E. Discussion Submit your reports before 5 PM of
F. Conclusion/Summary the Friday of the following week. Late
reports will get a maximum grade of 50%.
Include also the following: Failure to submit a report will earn a grade
A. Views on the significance of the test of ZERO.
B. Difficulties encountered (equipment,
procedure, personnel). Suggestions
for further improvement.
Course Outline

1.0 AGGREGATES
Aggregate Type and Processing
Aggregate as Base Course Material
Aggregate for Concrete
Aggregate for Bituminous Mixtures
ASTM Test Specifications for
Aggregates
4.0 METALLIC MATERIALS
Mechanical Behavior of Metals
Testing and Evaluation of Metals
Strengthening Mechanisms
Ferrous Metals
Structural Steel

2.0 CEMENT Manufacture of Steel

Portland Cement Physical Properties
Manufacture and Types of Portland Heat Treatments
`Cement Alloy Steels
Hydration of Cement Welding
Properties of Portland Cement Non-Ferrous Metals
Other Cementing Materials
Hydraulic Cements 5.0 TIMBER
Lime Classes of Trees
Pozzolan Cements Physical Characteristics of Wood
Mechanical Properties of Wood
3.0 CONCRETE Decay, Durability and Preservation of
Concrete Materials Timber
Properties of Concrete
Strength 6.0 ASPHALT CEMENTS
Elastic Properties Asphaltic Cements
Creep and Shrinkage Method of Testing
Concrete Mix Design Modification of Asphalt Cement
Admixtures Road Tars
Transporting and Depositing Concrete Proportioning Asphaltic Mixes
Curing
7.0 SPECIAL TOPICS

Laboratory Report Topics

A-1 Reducing field sample of aggregate to test sample (ASTM C702, D75)
Report 1 A-2 Sieve analysis of coarse aggregate (ASTM C136)
A-3 Sieve analysis of fine aggregate (ASTM C136)
Report 2 A-4 Specific gravity and absorption of coarse aggregate (ASTM C127)
A-5 Specific gravity and absorption of fine aggregate (ASTM C128)
Report 3 A-6 Unit weight and voids in aggregate (ASTM C29, C127, C128)
A-7 Total moisture content and surface moisture content of aggregate (ASTM
C566, C127, C128)
Report 4 A-8 Concrete Mix Design & Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimen
(ASTM C31)
A-9 Lab demo on concrete compressive strength testing and steel tension
testing
A-10 Lab demo on NDT Rebound Hammer, Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Testing