ARBA MINCH UNIVERSITY

ARBA MINCH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
(CEng 3111)

November 2023
 CHAPTER – 1: INTRODUCTION

 CONTENTS
• Introduction to Construction industry
• Classification of construction materials
• Properties of construction materials
• Behavior of construction materials under load
• Selection of construction materials

2
 Introduction
1.1. Construction Project
❑ A construction is a process of constructing something by
man for one purpose or another. It may be a road, bridge,
a dam, a dwelling place, an airport, a commercial building,
etc.

❑ In planning for the various types of construction, the

methods of procuring professional service, awarding
construction contracts, and financing the constructed
facility can be quite different.

❑ The broad spectrum of constructed facilities may be

classified into four major categories, each with its own
characteristics:
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 Introduction
1.1. Construction Project
A. Residential Housing Construction:

▪ Includes single-family houses, multi-family dwellings, and

high rise apartments.

▪ The residential housing market is heavily affected by

general economic conditions, tax laws, and the
monetary and fiscal policy.

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 Introduction
1.1. Construction Project
B. Institutional and Commercial Building Construction:
▪ Encompasses a great variety of project types and sizes,
such as schools and universities, medical clinics and
hospitals, recreational facilities and sport stadiums, retail
chain stores and large shopping centers, warehouses and
light manufacturing plants, and skyscrapers for office and
hotels.

▪ Because of the higher costs and great sophistication in

comparison with residential housing , this market
segment is shared by fewer competitors.

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 Introduction
1.1. Construction Project
C. Specialized Industrial construction:

▪ Involves very large scale projects with a high degree of

technological complexity, such as oil refineries, steel
mills, chemical processing plants and nuclear plants.

▪ Long range demand forecasting is the most important

factor since such projects are capital intensive and
require considerable amount of planning and
construction time.

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 Introduction
1.1. Construction Project
D. Infrastructure and heavy construction:

▪ Includes projects such as highways, mass transit systems,

tunnels, bridges, pipelines, drainage systems and sewage
treatment plants.
▪ Most of these projects are publicly owned and
therefore financed by either through bonds, taxes,
grants or aids.

▪ This category of construction is characterized by a high

degree of mechanization.

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 Introduction
1.1. Construction Project
❑ Most construction works fall under one of the following two
groups:
1) Public Works:
▪ Works which are constructed in the interest of the public.
▪ Typical of such works are highways, railways, dams, and
public buildings.
▪ These are financed by the government or public bodies.
2) Private Works:
▪ Works constructed for an individual, or group of
individuals or a corporation or body that is or proposes
to be in private business.
▪ And are met from private funds.
 Introduction
1.2. Construction Industry
❑ Construction Industry (CI) is an industry which is involved
in the planning, execution and evaluation of all types of
civil works.

❑ CI is among the leading industry in producing employment

and contribute to the over all national development.

❑ CI is the most important enabler for social, economic and

political development of countries.

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 Introduction
1.2. Construction Industry
❑ Construction Industry can be categorized into major sectors:
i. Transport and Communication Sector:
▪ Road, Railway, and Airway infrastructures.
▪ Telecommunication related civil works.
ii. Water and Energy Works:
▪ Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructures
▪ Hydro Power civil works
▪ Irrigation civil works
iii. Buildings:
▪ Social, Commercial, Industrial and ....Buildings
iv. Other Physical Infrastructures:
▪ Defense, Agricultural and Other sector physical
infrastructures
 Introduction
1.3. Main Features of construction Projects
a) Predetermined Objectives
▪ Components of a certain business
▪ Often the first phase
b) Constrained Schemes
▪ Schedule, Budget, Resources and Results Constraints
c) Too Fragmented
▪ In processes,
▪ In financial sources, and
▪ In responsible bodies
d) Investment
▪ Accelerates economic growth of a nation
▪ Cost Extensive, and
▪ Slow & Low business in return on investment
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 Introduction
1.3. Main Features of construction Projects
e) Human Resources
▪ Involves large number
▪ Borrowed
▪ High turnover
f) Construction Equipments
▪ Short life time, and
▪ Highly cost extensive both to own and increase their
life time
g) Reports and Monitoring disparity:
▪ Exhibits Financial & Eng’g Reports disparity during
implementations unless committed and compensation
events are not clearly considered
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 Introduction
1.4. construction Project life cycle
❑ The project life cycle of a construction project may be viewed as a
process through which a project is implemented from cradle to grave.

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 Introduction
1.5. Main Parties in the construction Projects
❑ The practice of planning, designing, constructing, and operating a
facility is most usually a collective effort of different groups of
professionals and trades.
❑ Depending on the size, complexity, and purpose of a particular
construction project, the project team may include:
❑ A client or an owner: Individuals, government, real estate
developers etc.
❑ Financial institutions or other investors that provide the funding
Local planning and code authorities
❑ Consultants or Licensed architects and engineers who provide
design work and prepare construction documents
❑ Contractors who provide construction services and install
systems
❑ Marketing or leasing agents
❑ Facility managers who are responsible for operating the
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facility.
 Introduction
1.5. Stakeholders in the construction Projects

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 Introduction
1.5. Main Parties in the construction Projects
I. Client
▪ The client is the most important party who is active from
inception to completion and event to post-occupancy
maintenance.
▪ Clients may be classified as Public sector clients and
private sector clients.
a)Public sector clients
• Central Government Offices (Ministries)
• Local Authorities (Regional or Town)
• Public Corporations
b)Private sector clients
▪ These are private individuals & private companies.
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 Introduction
1.5. Main Parties in the construction Projects
❑ Duty of the Client
▪ Demand for the product. For example for the building
project:
▪ Availability and cost of land,
▪ Location & accessibility
▪ Price
▪ Required Infrastructure
▪ Legal constraints
▪ Current & future development
▪ Site preparation (right of way)
▪ Permits
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 Introduction
1.5. Main Parties in the construction Projects
II. Consultant
❑ The main role of the consultant is to interpret the client’s project
requirement into a specific design.
❑ The consultants’ team shall:
▪ Ascertain, interpret and formulate the client’s
requirement into an understandable project.
▪ Design the project to much requirements and constraints
(imposed by statutory obligations, technical feasibility,
environmental factors, site conditions, cost, etc)
▪ Assess client’s cost limit to decide on materials & the
like.
▪ Prepare contract documents.
▪ Supervise the project and constantly inform the client
on the progress 18
 Introduction
1.5. Main Parties in the construction Projects
III. Contractor
❑ These are groups established mainly as commercial
companies, that contract to construct development projects.
❑ Responsibility of contractors:
▪ Carry out a full site investigation prior to submission of
tender,
▪ Submit tender,
▪ Plan, Program, Control the construction process
▪ Notify the consultant about delays, discrepancies,
▪ Effect all payments to his employees, suppliers,
subcontractors,
▪ Rectify all defects on completion of works, etc
▪ Provide post occupancy repair & maintenance if required.
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 Introduction
1.5. Main Parties in the construction Projects
IV. Public Sector Agencies
a) Statutory Authorities
▪ These bodies offer technical advice during design and
construction in their respective areas. E.g. EEPCO,
AAWSA, Fire Authority - requires meeting their
specific requirements. Thus early information to these
authorities is required.
b) Municipalities and Government Authorities
▪ These bodies offer the basic Land permit and building
permit.

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 Introduction
1.6. Resource for construction Industry
❑ The following resources are vital for construction industry:
i. Human Resources (Labor or Workmen)
ii. Financial Resources ( Fund)
iii. Information Resources
iv. Physical Resources ( Materials, Equipment and Other
Assets)
v. Services and Management

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 Introduction
1.6. Resource for construction Industry
i. Human resource (Labour or Workmen)
▪ These include professional, skilled, semi skilled and
unskilled laborers.
▪ Human resources can be understood in two values:
Capacity and Capability.
❖ Capacity - refers to the quantity of labor for the
scope defined.
❖ Capability - refers to knowledge, technology know-
how and skill as per the demands of the scopes
ability.
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 Introduction
1.6. Resource for construction Industry
❑ Construction Managers need to be capable of:
▪ Communication- Inter-personal, group interaction-skills
▪ Problem solving / Conflict resolution / Negotiation Skills
▪ Facilitating / Decision- making Skills
▪ Writing skills for Proposals / Reports / ToRs ; and
▪ Hard Skills- Planning, Implementing, Leading and
Monitoring tools.
 Introduction
1.6. Resource for construction Industry
ii. Financial Resources (Fund)

▪ Usually funds are available from among Governmental

institution, Private institutions and Donors in the form of
loan or assistance.

iii. Information Resources

▪ Information can be understood in two terms: data

whether processed or not; and its technology.

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 Introduction
1.6. Resource for construction Industry
iv. Physical Resources
a) Materials
▪ Material covers 55-70% of the total construction cost.
b) Equipments
▪ Though their initial cost is high using equipments are
far more better than using labor.
c) Other assets
▪ Physical Infrastructures and Owned Land are assets
which can be collaterals for capital base enhancement
and credit facilities and are useful to develop the scarce
financial resources and getting into business access.
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 INTRODUCTION: Construction Materials
• Construction materials are used in all civil engineering
structures such as; buildings, bridges, highways, railways,
tunnels, dams, towers & etc.
• Materials engineers are responsible for Selection,
specification, and quality control of materials to be used in a
job.
• These materials must meet certain classes of criteria or
materials properties.
• These classes of criteria include;
✓ Economic factors
✓ Mechanical properties & Non mechanical properties
✓ Production/construction considerations
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✓ Aesthetic properties
 INTRODUCTION
• There are thousands of materials available for use in the construction
industry.
• Basic construction materials include:
✓ Concrete
✓ Steel
✓ Clay products
✓ Wood/Timber, etc.
• Clasification of construction materials could be;
a. Based on chemical composition
b. Based on metalic nature
c. Based on physical nature
d. Based on mode of manufacture
e. Based on use
…continued

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 Options in Construction
Bridges: WOOD
Wooden bridge, Queen’s College, Cambridge, UK.
Built originally in 1749 (oak), repaired in 1866 &
rebuilt in 1905 (teak).

Covered wooden bridge, Lucerne, Switzerland

Built originally in the 1300s, burned down in 1993,
was rebuilt.

[Link]/Queens/Images/[Link]
 Options in Construction
Bridges: MASONRY
Stone arch bridge, Mérida, Spain.
1st century

Brick masonry bridge, Kuldiga, Latvia.

Originally completed in 1874, destroyed in 1915,
rebuilt in 1926.
 Options in Construction
Bridges: STEEL
Luis I bridge, Porto, Portugal.
Completed in 1886.

Howrah bridge, Kolkata.

Completed in 1943, replaced
a floating bridge of 1874.
 Options in Construction
Bridges: STEEL
Golden Gate bridge, San Francisco, USA.
Completed in 1937.

Sydney Harbour bridge, Sydney, Australia.

Completed in 1932.
 Options in Construction
Bridges: CONCRETE
Jadukata bridge, Meghalaya.
Completed in 1997.

Confederation bridge, Canada.

Completed in 1997.
 Options in Construction
Bridges: CONCRETE
Great Belt Link bridge, Denmark/Sweden.
Completed in 1998.

Millau viaduct, France.

Completed in 2004.
 Options in Construction
Bridges: COMPOSITES
Kings Stormwater Channel bridge,
California, USA.
Completed in 2001.

Carbon shells to be filled

with lightweight concrete
and used as girder

Glass fibre reinforced polymer deck

 Options in Construction
Buildings: WOOD
Norway

Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kerala/Tamilnadu.

17th century.
 Options in Construction
Buildings: BRICK MASONRY
USA
20th century.

University of Madras, Senate House, Chennai

Completed 1869.
 Options in Construction
Buildings: STONE MASONRY
Qutab Minar, Delhi.
Completed in 1230.

Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany

1248-1880, damaged during WW II, repaired.
 Options in Construction
Buildings: WOOD AND MASONRY
Bourges, France.
15th century.

Liuheta pagoda, Hangzhou, China

Present form dates to 1152.
 Options in Construction
Buildings: CONCRETE
Marina City, Chicago, USA.
1959

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Completed in 1998.
 Options in Construction
Buildings: STEEL FRAMED

Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan

Completed in 2004.

Sears Tower, Chicago, USA.

1973
 Options in Construction
Buildings: GLASS AND STEEL
Apple Computer Store, Soho, New York, USA.
Completed in 2002.

GLA Building, London, UK.

2002
 PROPERTIES OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

➢ Physical Properties
• Properties that can be observed or measured without
changing the composition of the material.
• Examples include color, hardness and smell and freezing,
melting and boiling points.
➢ Chemical Properties
• Chemical properties are discovered by observing chemical
reactions.
• Chemical composition, potential reaction with environment.
– oxide content
– carbonate content
– acidity, alkalinity
– resistance to corrosion 43
…CONTINUED

➢Mechanical Properties
• Structural materials are materials used primarily for their
mechanical properties.
• This can include a materials response to an applied force,
whether this response is elastic or plastic, its hardness,
and its strength.
• Resistance of a material to the action of external static
forces (compressive, tensile, bending, shear, and torsional
strength).
• Resistance of a material to various dynamic external
forces (impact and vibratory loads).

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 BEHAVIOR OF MATERIALS UNDER LOAD

• Application of external forces on a solid body in equilibrium

results in internal resisting force developed in the body.
• The intensity of the internal force is called stress.
• The deformation per unit length is called strain.
• The stress produced in a body may be;
• Tensile stress
• Compressive stress
• Shear stress
• Bending stress or Torsional stress
• After the stress is relieved from the body, if a body recovers the
original form, it is said to be elastic. If it fails to recover its original
form, it is said to be plastic.
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 SELECTION OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

• Factors needed to be considered when selecting a material for a

specific use are:
• Economic factors: Choose the cheaper & available materials
considering
– Initial cost
– Useful life
– Frequency of maintenance
– Cost of maintenance
– Salvage value
– Comfortability
• Availability of material
• Ability to fabricate into desired shapes
• Aesthetic 46
 SELECTION OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

• Strength, rigidity & Durability Requirements

• Permanent loading → Creep Strength
• Repeated loading → Fatigue Strength
• Impact loading → Toughness & Resilience
• Surface loading→ Hardness & Resistance to abrasion
• Environmental Requirements
• Temperature change → coefficient of thermal conductivity
• Moisture movement → permeability
• Chemical effects → chemical composition

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…/…

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