Construction Materials and Testing
Unit 3: General Properties of Materials
Objectives:
1. Importance of knowing the properties of materials used in construction.
2. Understand the importance of the physical and mechanical properties of
materials used in construction as basis for design.
A. Importance of the Physical Properties of Materials Used in Construction
Structures are made up of materials and these materials are known as
building materials or construction materials. For a civil engineer it is vital to know
and understand the properties and classifications of materials used in
construction as a basis for design specifications. The quality, functions or uses,
and strength are based on the materials properties and their classifications as
important consideration in selecting the suitable materials for a particular used
and design. The properties of materials basically fall under two group namely
physical and mechanical properties. The figure below shows the properties of
materials.
Properties of Materials
Physical Properties Mechanical Properties
Specific Gravity Elasticity
Density Plasticity
Bulk Density/Unit Weight Toughness
Porosity Resilience
Water Absorption Hardness
Hygroscopicity Brittleness
Permeability Ductility
Fire Resistance Fatigue
Thermal Properties Creep
Corrosion Abrasive Resistance
Durability Impact Strength
Soundness Strength Properties
B. Understand the Importance of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Materials
Used in Construction as Basis for Design
1. Physical Properties
The properties of materials depends on their type or classification; and these
properties are:
a. Specific Gravity. The ratio of the weight of material per unit volume (not including air
holes and pores). This property is used to calculate the density and porosity of
materials.
b. Density. Defined as the mass of a material per unit of its volume.
c. Bulk Density or Unit Weight. Defined as the total weight including solids and voids of
any granular materials per unit of its total volume.
d. Porosity. The ratio of the volume of voids in a material to the total volume of granular material.
e. Water Absorption. The property of a material by whereby it absorbs water from the ambience or
atmosphere and this property is important in the case of stones, bricks, etc.
f. Hygroscopicity. The property whereby a material absorbs water present in the ambience or
atmosphere, as in the case of salt, sugar, etc. Timber is hygroscopic material.
g. Permeability. The property whereby a material allows water to pass through its pores and this is
important in the case of soils.
h. Fire Resistance. There are materials like petrol are inflammable (readily catch fire) while others
are combustible (can be burnt but may not be rapidly ignite). Timber is combustible but not
inflammable. In addition, fire raises the temperature of otherwise fire-resistant materials,
sometimes causing damage by expansion.
j. Thermal Properties. These are important in the heating or cooling rooms and in
designing suitable thermal insulation and the following are important in terms of heat
capacity, thermal resistivity, and sound transmission.
k. Corrosion. The gradual destruction or damaging process of a metal or alloy due to
chemical processes such as oxidation.
l. Durability. The resistance of a material to destruction or damaging process by natural
agencies.
m. Soundness. The resistance of a material to its deterioration or decaying process due
to heat, alternate freezing and thawing, etc. and this is important in the case of
cement, aggregate, etc.
2. Mechanical or Strength Properties
These refer to properties whereby materials resist various straining actions or forces.
Some of these are:
a. Elasticity. The property of a material whereby it tends to regain its shape after the
removal of an applied load. The stress at the limiting point is known as elastic limit.
b. Plasticity. The property of a material whereby it retains a change in shape or size after
the removal of the load and this is important when a material has to be molded into
different sizes and shapes.
c. Toughness. The property of a material whereby it absorbs energy due to straining
actions by undergoing plastic deformation.
d. Resilience. The ability of a material to recover its size and form after deformation or
application of load.
e. Hardness. The resistance offered by any material to indentation, scratching, cutting,
or wear by abrasion or scratching.
f. Brittleness. This refers to the tendency of a material to shatter or to break down on
receiving a shock.
g. Ductility. The capacity to undergo large plastic deformation before actual failure and
this property allows the drawing of thin wire or stretching of a metal.
h. Fatigue. The failure of a material by cracking resulting from repeated straining
action or repeated application of load.
i. Creep. The property whereby a material undergoes deformation with respect
to time under a constant load and this is over and above the instantaneous
elastic strain.
j. Abrasive Resistance. The ability of a material to resist wearing due to contact
with another surface moving with respect to it or by scratching from another
material which is important in road surfaces, warehouse floors, etc.
k. Impact Strength. Refers to the ability of a material to withstand or resist shock.
l. Strength Properties. This is important in designing structural elements to
resist various types of load and the basic strengths are:
• Tensile strength. The maximum stress a material can withstand or resist under
a tensile (stretching) load before failure.
• Compressive strength. The maximum stress a material can resist or withstand
without failure under a compressive load.
• Shear strength. The maximum stress at failure under a shearing load (a load
parallel to the cross-section of the member).
References:
1. Images are Retrieved from [Link]
2. Instructional Materials in Construction Materials and Testing by Miriam B. Villanueva
and Carl Jason A. Coronel, 2024
3. Materials of Construction by DN Ghose, 1989
4. Civil Engineering Materials by Technical Teachers Training Institute, 1992
5. Engineering Materials by Emmanuel F. Nino and Teresita G. Nino, 1983
6. Materials of Construction 4th Edition by Chandigarah, 1990
7. Testing of Engineering Materials by Gildey, Murphy & Bragman, 1982
8. Structural Engineering and Construction 4th Edition Volume 1 by Venancio I. Besavilla
Jr., 1999
9. American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM)
[Link] Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)