PROPERTIES OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

MATERIALS
Engr. Nana Kwame Obeng-Ahenkora (PE-IET. MGIOC)
Lecturer- Dept Of Civil and Env. Eng
School of Engineering
UENR

RULES AND REGULATIONS

GOVERNING LECTURES
❑ Lecture Attendance
 All students must attend lectures regularly and punctually. A minimum
of 75% attendance is required to qualify for participation in exams
unless officially excused.
Late entry (more than 10 minutes after class starts) is discouraged and

may be marked as absent unless justified.

❑ Class Conduct
Students must maintain respectful behaviour toward the
lecturer, Teaching Assistants and peers. Disruptive conduct such
as side conversations, phone use, or sleeping during lectures is
not allowed.
❑ Use of Electronic Devices
 Phones must be kept on silent or switched off during class. Laptops and
tablets may be used only for academic purposes related to the lecture.
Social media use during class time is strictly prohibited.

❑ Participation and Engagement

Active participation in discussions and activities is encouraged.
Students must come prepared with required readings or
materials.
Questions and contributions must be relevant and respectful.
❑ Submission of Assignments
 All assignments must be submitted on or before the deadline. Late
submissions without valid reasons attract penalties (e.g., 10%
deduction per day late).
Plagiarism or copying of work is strictly prohibited and will attract
disciplinary action.

❑ Assessment Rules
Continuous Assessment (quizzes, assignments, presentations)
accounts for 30–40% of the final grade. Cheating in tests or
exams will result in automatic failure of the assessment and
further sanctions. Students must follow instructions strictly ❑
Office Hours and Consultations
during tests and
Students should book appointments or visit during official office hours
for academic consultations.
Respect lecturer’s time and avoid unannounced visits outside scheduled
periods unless urgent.

Dress Code and Decency

Students must dress decently and appropriately for academic
settings (Strictly Official)
Attire that distracts or disrupts the learning environment is not
permitted..
❑ Group Work Ethics
Group assignments must be a collective effort; free-riding is not
tolerated. Clear roles and responsibilities must be agreed upon by all
members. Peer evaluations may be used to assess individual
contributions.

❑ Communication Etiquette
All academic-related communications
(emails: civilenvdeptuenr@[Link] only) must be polite, clear,
and professional. Use your institutional or official email for formal
communication with the lecturer.
 SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL
ENGINEERING MATERIALS DEFINITION OF
CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS
• Civil engineering materials are the substances
used to construct, support, and enhance civil
infrastructure. These materials include natural
resources like stone, sand, and timber, as well as
processed materials like concrete, steel, and
asphalt. Their selection is critical as they
determine the strength, durability, and
performance of the built environment.
 IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
MATERIALS
• The quality and type of materials used directly
affect a structure’s safety, cost, appearance, and
sustainability. Poor material selection can lead to
structural failure, increased maintenance, or
premature deterioration. Civil engineers must
understand material behavior to make sound
design and construction decisions.
 CLASSIFICATION BY ORIGIN
• Materials can be grouped based on how they are
sourced:
• • Natural materials: found in nature with little
modification (e.g., clay, sand, wood).
• • Artificial materials: manufactured through
human processes (e.g., bricks, cement).
• • Composite materials: engineered by combining
two or more materials to enhance properties (e.g.,
reinforced concrete, fiberglass).
 CLASSIFICATION BY CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION
• This categorization reflects the material's base
structure:
• • Inorganic: minerals and metals, e.g., stone,
steel, glass.
• • Organic: carbon-based, often derived from living
matter (timber, bitumen).
• • Composites: merge organic and inorganic
phases, yielding superior characteristics (e.g.,
carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers).
 CLASSIFICATION BY FUNCTION
• Depending on application:
• • Structural materials: bear loads (steel,
concrete).
• • Functional materials: provide utility like
insulation or aesthetics (glass, polymers).
• • Finishing materials: applied at the end for
surface protection and appeal (tiles, paint).
MATERIAL SELECTION FACTORS
• Engineers consider:
• • Mechanical and physical properties (strength,
ductility).
• • Environmental resistance (weather, corrosion).
• • Cost and local availability.
• • Sustainability.
• • Aesthetic compatibility.
• Materials must align with the structure’s purpose
and local climate.
MATERIAL STANDARDS IN GHANA
• The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) defines
material grades and testing procedures to ensure
safety and consistency. For example:
• • Cement must meet CEM I, II, or blended
specifications.
• • Reinforcement bars follow BS4449 or ASTM A615
standards.
• • Aggregates must pass tests for cleanliness,
gradation, and strength.
 INFLUENCE ON CONSTRUCTION COST
• Materials typically account for more than half the
construction budget. Opting for efficient materials
—without compromising performance—can yield
substantial savings. Bulk buying, local sourcing,
and proper storage reduce waste and
transportation costs.
MATERIAL PROPERTIES OVERVIEW
• Key considerations:
• • Strength: ability to resist force.
• • Workability: ease of handling and forming.
• • Durability: resistance to environmental
degradation.
• • Thermal properties: insulation and expansion.
• • Fire and water resistance.
• Each property impacts the suitability for specific
elements (e.g., foundation vs roofing).
IMPACT OF MATERIAL ON BUILDING
PERFORMANCE
• The right material combination ensures:
• • Energy efficiency
• • Load resistance
• • Comfort and acoustic control
• • Long life span
• Errors in material choice can cause excessive
wear, cracking, or moisture ingress, impacting
health and structural safety.
ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
• Materials influence a structure’s carbon footprint.
Sustainable practices include:
• • Using low-emission binders like fly ash or slag.
• • Recycling demolition waste.
• • Choosing materials with long life cycles.
 • • Minimizing transport distance.
• These decisions support Ghana’s sustainable
development goals.
LIFECYCLE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS
• From raw extraction to end-of-life reuse, each
stage affects environmental and structural
performance:
• 1. Extraction – sourcing raw inputs
• 2. Processing – transforming into usable form
• 3. Transport – to site
• 4. Usage – during construction
• 5. Maintenance – during service life
• 6. Demolition – recovery or recycling
TRADITIONAL VS. MODERN MATERIALS
• Traditional materials include mud bricks, thatch,
wood, and lime. While economical and locally
available, they may lack durability.
• Modern materials like concrete composites,
plastics, and alloys offer improved performance,
but may have higher environmental costs.
 INNOVATION IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
MATERIALS
• Emerging technologies are transforming material
science:
• • Smart materials: self-healing concrete,
thermochromic glass.
• • Nano-enhanced cement: better strength and
microstructure.
• • 3D printing: custom forms with reduced waste.
• • Sustainable binders: geopolymer, rice husk ash,
GGBS.
 CONCLUSION: FOUNDATION OF ALL
CONSTRUCTION
• Mastering material science is foundational for
every civil engineer. Understanding material
origin, behavior, classification, and sustainability
guides sound decisions across design,
construction, and maintenance.
 SECTION 2: PROPERTIES OF
ENGINEERING MATERIALS
INTRODUCTION TO MATERIAL
PROPERTIES
• Engineering materials exhibit a range of
properties that define how they behave under
different conditions. Understanding these is critical
to selecting appropriate materials for various civil
engineering applications.
 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OVERVIEW
• These include strength, stiffness, ductility,
hardness, toughness, fatigue resistance, and
impact resistance. These determine how a
material withstands mechanical forces.
STRENGTH
• The capacity of a material to withstand applied
forces without failure. It includes tensile strength,
compressive strength, and shear strength.
Concrete excels in compression; steel in tension.
 ELASTICITY AND MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
• Elasticity is a material's ability to return to its
original shape after deformation. The modulus of
elasticity (E) quantifies this, influencing deflection
calculations in structural design.
PLASTICITY AND DUCTILITY
• Plasticity allows permanent deformation without
fracture. Ductile materials like steel can elongate
under load, enabling energy absorption before
failure.
 HARDNESS AND TOUGHNESS
• Hardness: Resistance to surface indentation or
abrasion.
• Toughness: Ability to absorb energy before
breaking—important in seismic or dynamic load
situations.
CREEP AND SHRINKAGE
• Creep: Slow, permanent deformation under long-
term load (notable in concrete).
• Shrinkage: Reduction in volume, especially in
concrete during curing, leading to cracks if
unrestrained.
FATIGUE AND IMPACT RESISTANCE
• Fatigue: Failure due to repeated stress cycles
below yield strength.
• Impact resistance: Ability to withstand sudden
shock loads—important for pavements and bridge
components.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OVERVIEW
• Include density, porosity, thermal expansion,
permeability, moisture content, and specific
gravity. These affect material handling, design,
and long-term performance.
DENSITY AND SPECIFIC GRAVITY
• Density affects dead load and material selection.
Specific gravity relates the density of the material
to water and aids in concrete mix design.
 THERMAL PROPERTIES
• Thermal conductivity, expansion, and heat
resistance influence insulation, expansion joint
design, and fire performance. E.g., steel expands
more than concrete under heat.
MOISTURE CONTENT AND PERMEABILITY
• Moisture absorption influences strength,
durability, and dimensional stability. Permeability
impacts durability, especially in concrete and soil
structures.
 DURABILITY AND WEATHER RESISTANCE
• Durability is the ability to withstand deterioration
over time from environmental exposure—e.g., UV
rays, rain, freeze-thaw, and chemicals.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
• Include corrosion resistance, alkali-silica reactivity
(ASR), and resistance to acids or salts. Essential
for underground, marine, or wastewater
structures.
FIRE AND ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES
• Materials are rated for fire resistance (time to
structural failure). Acoustic performance includes
sound absorption, transmission, and insulation
properties—important for buildings and transport
hubs.
VISUAL AND AESTHETIC PROPERTIES
• Color, texture, and finish quality affect
architectural appeal. Used for cladding, flooring,
and interior elements where appearance matters.
TEST METHODS AND STANDARDS
• Material properties are measured using standards
like ASTM, BS, EN, and GSA:
• • Tensile test for strength
• • Slump test for workability
• • Rebound hammer for concrete strength
• • Ultrasonic pulse velocity for internal flaws
INFLUENCE OF PROPERTIES ON DESIGN
• Material properties impact foundation size, beam
depth, pavement thickness, and detailing.
 Engineers must optimize design to match
performance with economy.
CONCLUSION: ENGINEERING JUDGMENT AND
MATERIAL BEHAVIOR
• Understanding properties allows civil engineers to
predict material response, ensure safety, and
improve service life of infrastructure. It is the basis
for design, testing, specification, and construction
management.
 SECTION 3: CEMENT AND CONCRETE
INTRODUCTION TO CEMENT AND
CONCRETE
• Cement and concrete are the most widely used
construction materials. Cement acts as a binder in
concrete, while concrete forms the structural
skeleton of many infrastructures like roads,
bridges, and buildings.
 CEMENT COMPOSITION AND HYDRATION
• Cement is primarily composed of lime (CaO), silica
(SiO2), alumina (Al2O3), and iron oxide (Fe2O3).
Upon mixing with water, it undergoes hydration—a
chemical reaction forming calcium silicate hydrate
(C-S-H), the glue that binds aggregates.
TYPES OF CEMENT USED IN CIVIL
ENGINEERING
• • Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)
• • Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC)
• • Sulphate Resistant Cement
• • Rapid Hardening Cement
• • Low Heat Cement
• Each has unique properties suited for specific
environments.
PROPERTIES OF CEMENT
• • Fineness – influences hydration rate
• • Setting time – initial and final setting periods
• • Soundness – resistance to volumetric instability
• • Strength – compressive strength at 3, 7, and 28
days
• • Heat of hydration – affects mass concrete
 FIELD AND LAB TESTS FOR CEMENT
•• Consistency test
•• Setting time test
•• Soundness (Le-Chatelier) test
•• Compressive strength test
•• Fineness test (Blaine method or sieve)
INTRODUCTION TO CONCRETE
• Concrete is a composite material made of cement,
water, aggregates (fine and coarse), and
sometimes admixtures. It is moldable in the fresh
state and strong and durable when hardened.
 TYPES OF CONCRETE
•• Plain Cement Concrete (PCC)
•• Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC)
•• Pre-stressed Concrete
•• High-performance Concrete
•• Self-compacting Concrete
•• Light-weight and heavy-weight concrete
WORKABILITY OF CONCRETE
• Workability refers to how easily fresh concrete can
be mixed, placed, compacted, and finished. It is
 influenced by water content, aggregate shape,
admixtures, and temperature. Measured using the
slump test.
CONCRETE MIX DESIGN PRINCIPLES
• Mix design aims to determine the most
economical proportions of ingredients to achieve
required workability, strength, and durability.
• • IS 10262: Indian standard
• • ACI 211: American standard
• • DOE: British method
 WATER-CEMENT RATIO
• A critical factor affecting strength and durability.
Lower w/c ratio increases strength but reduces
workability. Ideal ratio ranges from 0.4 to 0.6
depending on application.
CURING OF CONCRETE
• Curing ensures continued hydration after setting.
Methods include water curing, membrane curing,
steam curing. Curing period usually spans 7–28
days, affecting final strength and durability.
 DURABILITY OF CONCRETE
• Durability refers to the concrete’s resistance to
weathering, chemical attack, abrasion, or other
deterioration. It’s influenced by permeability,
cover, w/c ratio, and exposure conditions.
ADMIXTURES IN CONCRETE
• Chemical or mineral additives modify concrete
properties:
• • Plasticizers – improve flow
• • Accelerators – speed setting
• • Retarders – delay setting
• • Air-entraining agents – improve freeze-thaw
resistance
• • Silica fume/fly ash – improve strength and
durability
COMMON FAILURES IN CONCRETE
• • Cracking due to shrinkage or thermal movement
• • Scaling due to freeze-thaw cycles
• • Sulfate attack
• • Alkali-silica reaction (ASR)
• Prevention includes proper design, material
selection, and curing.
APPLICATIONS OF CONCRETE IN CIVIL
PROJECTS
• Used in:
• • Building frames, foundations, and floors
• • Road and airport pavements
• • Dams and retaining walls
• • Bridges and tunnels
• • Drainage and water-retaining structures
 CONCLUSION: CEMENT AND CONCRETE AS
BACKBONE MATERIALS
• Understanding cement chemistry, concrete
behavior, and best practices in mix design and
curing is essential for ensuring structural strength,
durability, and sustainability in civil engineering.
 SECTION 4: AGGREGATES AND BITUMINOUS
MATERIALS INTRODUCTION TO AGGREGATES
AND BITUMINOUS MATERIALS

• Aggregates and bituminous binders are key

components in concrete and flexible pavement
construction. Aggregates form the bulk of
construction materials, while bitumen binds them
in asphalt mixes.
CLASSIFICATION OF AGGREGATES
• Aggregates are categorized by:
•• Size: fine (sand), coarse (gravel/crushed stone)
•• Origin: natural, artificial
•• Shape: rounded, angular, flaky, elongated
•• Density: normal, lightweight, heavyweight
PROPERTIES OF FINE AGGREGATES
• • Clean and free from silt, clay, organic matter
• • Gradation affects workability and water demand
• • Fineness modulus indicates coarseness
• • Bulking affects volume measurement in wet
conditions
 PROPERTIES OF COARSE AGGREGATES
• • Strength: withstand crushing and impact
• • Durability: resistance to weathering
• • Shape: affects workability and void ratio
• • Surface texture: influences bond with cement
paste or bitumen