Construction Material &

Testing
( Lecture 1)

2/7/21 Material Testing 1

 The Role of Experimentation
and Testing
Development of new materials and devices
Controlling the quality of materials
Scientific measurement
Education
– Gives substance to theoretical concepts
– Obtains insights gained from analytical studies

2/7/21 Material Testing 2

 Significance of Tests
Test results are only measures or indications or
manifestations of properties found in samples of
materials tested under certain sets of circumstances.
A test may have significance in one of two ways:
It measures adequately a property that is significantly
basic and representative that the test results may be
used directly in design.
The test, even though highly arbitrary, serves to
identify materials that have been proved by experience
to give satisfactory performance.
2/7/21 Material Testing 3
 Experiments
The outcome is
uncertain, new insights
are to be gained.

Tests
Established procedure to
determine if properties are
within a predefined range.
2/7/21 Material Testing 4
 Two Classifications of Testing
Destructive
The item being tested
is, in some way, being
altered as the result of
the testing

Nondestructive
The testing process does
not alter the item being
tested
2/7/21 Material Testing 5
 Testing
Machine and
Specimen’s
Set up

2/7/21 Material Testing 6

 Control and Monitoring System

2/7/21 Material Testing 7

 Operation and
Data
Acquisition
Systems

2/7/21 Material Testing 8

 Three Principle Objectives in
Testing
To supply routine information on the quality of a
product. (Commercial or control testing.)
To develop new & better information on known
materials or to develop new materials. (Materials
research and development work.)
To obtain accurate measures of
fundamental properties or physical
constants. (Scientific measurement)

2/7/21 Material Testing 9

 Errors in Testing
• No experiment can be designed that will be
totally free from error.
• Their possible effects on results must be
examined in interpreting the results.
• Discuss errors in testing reports.
• More discussion about errors
in later lectures.
8

2/7/21 Material Testing 10

 Precision and Accuracy
Precision denotes the
repeatability of a
measurement.
Accuracy denotes
the closeness of a
measurement to its
true value.

2/7/21 Material Testing 11

 Specification of Materials
A specification is the attempt on the part of the
consumer to tell the producer what is wanted.
A specification is intended to be a statement of a
standard of quality. The ideal material
specification would uniquely define the qualities
necessary to serve most efficiently for a given use,
and it can be approached if truly significant tests
can be made to determine the presence of the
required properties.
2/7/21 Material Testing 12
 Standard Specification
A standard specification for a material is
usually the result of agreement among those
concerned in the particular field and
involves acceptance for use by participating
agencies.
Standard specifications are continuously
revised as technical advances are made.

2/7/21 Material Testing 13

 Standardizing Agencies
• ANSI - American National Standards Institute
• SAE - Society of Automotive Engineers
• API - American Petroleum Institute
• ACI - American Concrete Institute
• AISI - American Iron and Steel Institute
• ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers
• AASHTO - American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials
• GSA - General Services Administration
• DOT - Department of Transportation
• DOD - Department of Defense
•2/7/21ASTM - American Society
Materialfor Testing Materials
Testing 14
 American Society for Testing
Materials (ASTM)
Develops standard methods for testing materials
Sets up standard definitions
Gives standard formulation of material
specifications
Formulates recommended practices having
bearing on various processes in the utilization of
materials
ASTM specifications are published annually in a
set of approximately 50 volumes.
[Link]
[Link]
2/7/21 Material Testing 15
 Course Objectives
Familiar with mechanical properties of materials
Develop skill in methods of observation
Learn the accepted methods of testing
Gain appreciation for the significance of data
Strengthen grasp of the principles of Mechanics
of Materials
Become acquainted with standards and technical
literature
Improve ability to report
the results of investigations.
2/7/21 Introduction 16
 Principal Materials used in
Civil Engineering
Metals
Woods
Portland Cement Concrete
Asphalt Cements Mixtures
Clay Products
Masonry Materials
Snow and Ice
2/7/21 Introduction 17
 Classes of Material Properties
General
Chemical
Physicochemical
Mechanical
Thermal
Electrical and magnetic
Acoustical
Optical
2/7/21 Introduction 18
 General Properties of
Engineering Materials
Density or Relative
Density
Porosity
Moisture Content
Macrostructure
Microstructure

2/7/21 Introduction 19
 Chemical Properties of
Engineering Materials

Oxide or Compound
Composition
Acidity or Alkalinity
Resistance to Corrosion
or Weathering

2/7/21 Introduction 20
 Physicochemical Properties of
Engineering Materials
Water-absorptive or water-repellent action
Shrinkage and swell due to moisture
change.

2/7/21 Introduction 21
 Mechanical Properties of
Engineering Materials
Strength
Tension, compression, shear, and Flexure
Static, impact, and endurance
Stiffness
Elasticity/Plasticity
Ductility/Brittleness
Hardness & wear resistance
2/7/21 Introduction 22
 Thermal Properties of Engineering
Materials
Specific Heat
Expansion
Conductivity

Electrical and Magnetic Properties of

Engineering Materials
Conductivity
Magnetic permeability
Galvanic action
2/7/21 Introduction 23
 Acoustical Properties of
Engineering Materials
Sound Transmission
Sound Reflection

Optical Properties of Engineering

Materials
Color
Light transmission
Light reflection
2/7/21 Introduction 24
 Experimental Studies
Technique of Testing
Physical and mechanical principles
involved in the testing apparatus and
procedure
Theory of Measurements
Variability of materials
Interpretation of results
More discussion in the
following lectures
2/7/21 Introduction 25
Considerations for Material Selection
in Design and Manufacture I
Kinds of materials
available
Properties of various
materials
Service requirements for
materials
Relative economy

2/7/21 Introduction 26
Considerations for Material Selection
in Design and Manufacture II
Methods of preparation or
manufacture of various
materials or products and the
influence of processing on their
properties
Methods of specification and
their relation to uniformity and
dependability of product
secured
Methods of testing and
inspection and their
significance with respect to
measures of desired properties.
2/7/21 Introduction 27
 The End

2/7/21 Introduction 28