PANTOMATH

Basic Building Materials

• Basic Building Materials:
  • Aggregates: Classification, properties, soundness, alkali-aggregate reactions, and thermal properties.
  • Bricks: Types, properties, field and laboratory tests, manufacturing, and classifications.
  • Lime: Classification, properties, and construction applications.
• Concrete:
  • Production, properties, tests, and admixtures.
  • Special concretes like lightweight, high-density, and self-compacting concretes.
• Other Materials:
  • Wood, steel, glass, plastic, paint, adhesives, and bitumen.
• Building Constructions:
  • Foundations, masonry, walls, arches, doors, and windows.
• Finishing and Services:
  • Plastering, pointing, stairs, ramps, damp proofing, and fire-resistant constructions.

Frame structure

 1. Building Materials:

• Aggregates:
  • Classified by shape (rounded, angular, flaky) and size (fine, coarse).
  • Properties like soundness, mechanical strength, and thermal behavior are discussed.
  • Specific tests include grading, toughness, hardness, and water absorption.
• Bricks and Masonry Blocks:
  • Varied types like first-class, second-class, and fly ash bricks are explained with quality parameters (size, color, texture, and compressive strength).
  • Lab and field tests (e.g., water absorption, efflorescence, compressive strength) ensure suitability for construction.
• Lime:
  • Covers different forms (quicklime, slaked lime, hydraulic lime) and their applications.
  • Lime is crucial in mortar, soil stabilization, and damp-proofing.
• Wood:
  • Focuses on timber properties, defects, seasoning, and products like plywood and fiberboard.

2. Concrete and Mortar:

• Concrete:
  • Production methods, mix proportions, and tests for strength and durability.
  • Special concretes like high-performance and self-compacting concretes are elaborated.
• Mortar:
  • Details on types of mortars (cement, lime) and testing methods.

3. Additional Materials:

• Metals: Covers properties and uses of steel, aluminum, and copper.
• Glass, Paint, Adhesives, and Bitumen: Explains their types, uses, and testing standards.

4. Construction Techniques:

• Foundation Types:
  • Shallow, deep, pile, and raft foundations, with their uses and advantages.
• Masonry:
  • Details the techniques for brick and stone masonry (e.g., Flemish bond, cavity walls).
• Arches and Openings:
  • Types of arches, doors, and windows with materials and construction methods.

5. Finishing Works:

• Plastering, Pointing, and Painting:
  • Discusses methods, defects, and solutions for durable wall finishes.
• Vertical Communication:
  • Stairs, ramps, and lifts are described with essential requirements.
• Damp-Proofing and Fire Resistance:
  • Techniques to prevent moisture damage and enhance fire resistance.

Testing Standards

Throughout the document, several IS codes (e.g., IS: 2386 for aggregates, IS: 3495 for bricks) are referenced for testing procedures, ensuring students understand the importance of adhering to standards.

Practical Utility

The document emphasizes both theory and practice:

• Lab tests like Los Angeles abrasion test for aggregates or compressive strength test for bricks.
• Field tests for quick evaluations of brick quality (color, hardness, soundness).

1. Basic Building Materials

1.1 Aggregates

• Classification:
  • By Shape: Rounded, angular, flaky, elongated.
  • By Size: Fine aggregate (sand, silt, clay), Coarse aggregate (gravel, cobbles).
• Properties:
  • Physical: Grading, bulk density, voids, porosity, water absorption.
  • Mechanical: Toughness, hardness, and specific gravity.
  • Thermal: Conductivity, specific heat, and expansion.
• Tests:
  • Impact Test: Measures resistance to failure by impact.
  • Abrasion Test: Assesses resistance to wear.
  • Soundness Test: Evaluates weathering resistance.

1.2 Bricks and Masonry Blocks

• Types of Bricks:
  • By Quality: First-class, second-class, third-class.
  • By Manufacturing: Extruded, molded, dry-pressed.
  • By Material: Burnt clay, fly ash, concrete, sand-lime bricks.
• Field Tests: Shape, color, hardness, soundness, structure.
• Lab Tests:
  • Water Absorption: Should not exceed 20% for first-class bricks.
  • Compressive Strength: Minimum 10 N/mm² for first-class bricks.
  • Efflorescence: Evaluates salt deposits on the surface.

1.3 Lime

• Types: Quicklime, slaked lime, fat lime, hydraulic lime.
• Properties:
  • Quicklime reacts violently with water (exothermic).
  • Hydraulic lime sets under water; ideal for damp conditions.
• Applications: Used in mortar, plastering, soil stabilization.

1.4 Wood and Products

• Timber Defects: Knots, splits, decay.
• Preservation: Seasoning, fire resistance treatments.
• Products: Plywood, veneers, particle boards.

2. Concrete and Mortar

2.1 Concrete

• Production: Mixing cement, aggregates, water, and admixtures.
• Types: Lightweight, high-density, polymer, fiber-reinforced, self-compacting concrete.
• Tests:
  • Workability: Slump test, compaction factor test.
  • Durability: Chloride penetration, freeze-thaw resistance.

2.2 Mortar

• Types: Cement mortar, lime mortar, gauged mortar.
• Uses: Bonding bricks, plastering, and pointing.

3. Additional Construction Materials

• Metals: Properties and uses of steel (mild, reinforced), aluminum, and copper.
• Glass: Float glass, toughened glass, their properties, and applications.
• Plastics: Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, used in piping and insulation.
• Bitumen: Used in road construction, roofing, and waterproofing.

4. Construction Techniques

4.1 Foundations

• Types: Shallow (strip, raft), Deep (pile, caisson).
• Purpose: Distribute loads safely to the ground.

4.2 Masonry

• Brick Bonds: English, Flemish, Stretcher.
• Stone Masonry: Rubble, ashlar.
• Cavity Walls: Improve insulation and prevent dampness.

4.3 Openings

• Arches: Classified by shape (semi-circular, segmental) and construction.
• Doors and Windows: Materials include wood, steel, aluminum, and glass.

5. Finishing and Services

5.1 Wall Finishes

• Plastering: Provides smoothness and durability.
• Painting and Pointing: Aesthetic and protective finishes.

5.2 Vertical Communication

• Stairs: Terminology (riser, tread), requirements for a good staircase.
• Lifts and Escalators: Features and safety requirements.

5.3 Damp Proofing

• Methods: Membranes, coatings, and cavity walls.

5.4 Fire Resistance

• Materials: Properties and use of fire-resistant materials like gypsum and concrete.

6. Testing and Standards

• Standards like IS:2386 (aggregates) and IS:3495 (bricks) ensure material quality.
• Tests verify strength, durability, water resistance, and thermal properties.

7. Reference Books

• S.P. Bindra & S.P. Arora: Textbook of Building Construction.
• P.C. Verghese: Building Materials and Construction.

Study Tips

1. Focus on understanding the classification and properties of materials.
2. Learn testing methods and their relevance to practical construction.
3. Pay attention to IS standards and their applications in quality control.