Civil Engineering Department
Topic: Basic of Civil and Mechanical engineering – Module 1
Kaustav Sengupta
Assistant Professor,
Civil Engineering Department
SBMP & COE
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Civil Engineering Department
Topic: Basic of Civil and Mechanical engineering – Module 1
Course Code
Based on the course code, 3L – 3 Lectures per week for this course,
0T – No tutorials for this course, 0P – No practical for this course
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Civil Engineering Department
Topic: Basic of Civil and Mechanical engineering – Module 2
Course Objectives:
1. To identify various Civil Engineering materials and choose suitable material among various options.
2. To know and apply principles of surveying to solve engineering problem
3. To identify various Civil Engineering structural components and select appropriate structural system among various
options
4. To Explain and define various properties of basic thermodynamics, materials and manufacturing processes.
5. To know and discuss the working principle of various power consuming and power developing devices.
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Civil Engineering Department
Topic: Basic of Civil and Mechanical engineering – Module 2
Course Outcomes: Students with be able to
1. Identify various Civil Engineering materials and choose suitable material among various options.
2. Apply principles of surveying to solve engineering problem
3. Identify various Civil Engineering structural components and select appropriate structural system among various options
4. Explain and define various properties of basic thermodynamics, materials and manufacturing processes.
5. Know and discuss the working principle of various power consuming and power developing devices
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Module 2 (Part 1):
• Foundation and superstructure
• Functions of foundation
• Types of shallow and deep foundations and its
suitability in different situation
• Plinth
• Walls
• Lintels
• Beams
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Module 2 (Part 2):
• Columns
• Slabs
• Roofs
• Staircases
• Floors
• Doors
• Windows
• Sills
• Study of Building plans
• Ventilation
• Basics of plumbing and sanitation
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Foundation and superstructure
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Foundation and superstructure
• Foundation is the lowest part of the building or the civil structure that is
in direct contact with the soil which transfers loads from the structure to
the soil safely.
• Generally, the foundation can be classified into two, namely shallow
foundation and deep foundation.
• A tall building like a skyscraper or a building constructed on very weak
soil requires deep foundation. If the constructed building has the plan to
extend vertically in future, then a deep foundation must be suggested.
• To construct a foundation, trenches are dig deeper into the soil till a hard
stratum is reached.
• Link
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Foundation and superstructure
• Site exploration and inspection are critical steps in the construction of a
foundation because they provide information about the soil and
groundwater conditions, which helps ensure the safety and stability of the
structure.
• Site exploration and inspection can help with:
• Foundation design: Choosing the type and depth of foundation, and the
most efficient and economical construction techniques
• Soil properties: Determining the soil's bearing capacity, density, moisture
content, and compressive strength
• Groundwater: Establishing the groundwater level and properties of the
water
• Potential hazards: Identifying any aggressive subsoil water or organic
impurities in the soil
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Foundation and superstructure
• Soil bearing capacity is the maximum average pressure the soil can withstand without failing or settling too
much.
• The allowable bearing capacity is usually less than the ultimate bearing capacity. The
allowable bearing capacity is calculated by subtracting a safety factor from the ultimate
bearing capacity. The safety factor is typically between 3 and 5.
• If the soil doesn't have enough bearing capacity, you can improve the ground or spread
the load over a larger area. You can also use different types of foundations, such as
shallow foundations, deep foundations, mat or raft foundations, isolated footings,
combined footings, or strip footings.
• The safe bearing capacity of soil is the maximum pressure the soil can withstand without
failing or settling too much.
• IS: 6403 – 1981 code of practice is used for the determination of bearing capacity of the
shallow foundation
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Foundation and superstructure
• IS 12070 (1987): Code of practice for design and construction of
shallow foundations on rocks
• IS 1904 (1986): Code of practice for design and construction of
foundations in soils: General requirements
• IS 2911-1-1 (2010): Design and construction of pile groups (pile
foundations are deep foundations).
• IS 2974-1, 2, 3 and 4: Code of practice for design and construction of
different types of machine foundation.
• Superstructure construction is the process of building the visible part
of a structure that sits above ground level. [Link]
• The superstructure is a crucial component of a building, as it's where
people spend most of their time and it's responsible for the
structure's intended use.
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Foundation and superstructure
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Foundation and superstructure
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Foundation and superstructure
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Foundation and superstructure
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Foundation and superstructure
• Some types of foundation failures include:
• General shear failure: Occurs when the foundation soil is subjected to vertical and centric loading.
• Punching failure: A common failure that can occur in reinforced concrete flat slabs and foundations. Factors
that affect punching capacity include concrete strength, shear reinforcement, and flexural reinforcement.
• Structural failure: Any damage that affects the core integrity of a home, including the foundation, walls,
roof, and load-bearing walls.
• Bending failure: A critical failure that can lead to the complete construction or a single failure of the
structural element.
• Base failure: Occurs when the soil fails on a finite slope.
• Face failure: Occurs when the failure surface passes through the slope above the toe.
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Functions of foundation
• What is the purpose of a foundation in construction is to support the weight
of a building and ensure its stability?
• Distributes weight: A foundation spreads the weight of a building over a
large area of soil or rock to prevent overloading the soil and uneven
settlement.
• Anchors the structure: A foundation anchors the building against natural
forces like earthquakes, floods, and wind.
• Prevents lateral movement: A foundation prevents the building from moving
laterally.
• Protects against moisture: A foundation keeps moisture and groundwater
away from the building.
• Provides a level surface: A foundation provides a level surface for
construction.
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Types of Foundation and its suitability in different situations
• Raft or mat foundation - Used when the soil is not strong enough to support the building, or when the weight of
the building is spread out over a large area. Raft foundations are designed to reduce uneven settlements and
ensure stability.
• Deep foundation - Used to build tall buildings like skyscrapers and high-rise apartments. Deep foundations extend
deeper into the ground than shallow foundations. The type and size of the deep foundation depends on the
building's weight, soil conditions, and groundwater level. E.g., Pile foundation
• Individual footing or isolated footing - The most common type of foundation used in building construction. It's
designed for single columns and is often called a pad foundation. E.g., simple or pad stepped or sloped footing
• Strip footing - Used to support continuous walls or rows of columns with a uniform load. Strip footings are long
and narrow in shape and have a constant thickness. E.g., wall footing
• Caisson foundation - A caisson foundation is a watertight structure used to create a stable foundation for
structures built in deep water or soft soil. Works best when there's a hard stratum near the riverbed, but the
water is too deep to sink wells. It's also known as a pier foundation.
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Types of Foundation and its suitability in different situations
• Pile foundation - A type of deep foundation that
involves vertical columns or piles driven, drilled, or cast
into the ground.
• Combined footing - Used when two or more columns
are so close together that their isolated footings would
overlap.
• Please check IS 1904 for the types of foundations.
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Plinth
• A plinth is a structural element at the bottom of a building that distributes weight
and connects the building to the ground. It has several functions, including:
• Supporting: Plinths support columns, pedestals, and large buildings.
• Balancing: Plinths balance the difference between the building and the ground.
• Retaining: Plinths hold backfill soil in place.
• Preventing rainwater entry: Plinths prevent rainwater from entering during the
rainy season.
• Mitigating settlement: Plinths reduce the risk of differential settlement in the
foundation.
• The plinth beam is the wall between the ground floor level and the ground
level. • [Link]
• It's a reference point for activities like setting the foundation, determining the
floor level, and constructing walls.
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Plinth
• The plinth beam level is usually measured from the natural ground level
and ranges from 300 mm to 450 mm.
• A plinth beam is typically made of RCC and is placed between the wall and
foundation.
• It provides support to the walls and is necessary to construct in flood-
prone areas.
• To protect the plinth from water, modern buildings often use waterproofing
membranes made of EPDM or PVC.
• Link
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Walls
• A wall is a structural element of a building that defines an area, carries a load, and
provides security, shelter, or soundproofing. Walls can also be decorative.
• The walls can be divided into two types: inner walls and outer walls. Inner walls
allow for the protection of the house, and outer walls provide shelter.
• Some types of walls and its usage:
• Load bearing: A wall that is part of the building's structure and holds it up. You
cannot move or demolish a load bearing wall as it takes the load (like a structural
member)
• Non-load bearing (or Drop Wall): A wall that divides rooms in a building but doesn't
support the floor or roof above it. You can demolish a non-load bearing wall.
Retaining: A wall that maintains an uneven ground level on its two sides. Retaining
walls can be made of brick masonry, reinforced concrete, gravity, stone, or
anchored earth.
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Walls
• Some types of walls and its usage:
• Curtain: A wall made from glass, aluminum, or a steel frame. Curtain walls
are often used in hospitals, offices, and other public buildings.
• Shear: A wall built around a staircase, water sump, or lift pit to retain soil. It
takes the shear loading that acts on the building structure.
• Brick masonry: A wall built using bricks. It acts a partition wall (inner or
outer)
• Stone masonry: A wall built using stone. It acts a partition wall (inner or
outer)
• Precast: A ready-made wall cast in a factory and installed on site.
• Parapet: A wall built on the top floor or roof of a building. It gives protection
from falling. • [Link]
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Lintels
• A lintel is a horizontal beam that spans openings in a building, such as doors and windows, to support the weight
of the structure above. Lintels are an important structural component of buildings, and they can also contribute
to the aesthetics of the structure.
[Link]
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Lintels
• Types - Lintels can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, concrete, steel, and brick. Some types of
lintels include timber, brick, reinforced brick, steel, and reinforced cement concrete (RCC).
• Purpose - Lintels are vital for the stability, support, and structural integrity of a building. They can also contribute to
the architectural aesthetics of a structure.
• Installation - Lintels are typically placed above empty spaces, such as windows and entrances, and fit seamlessly
into the wall.
• Purpose - Lintels distribute the weight of the building above them evenly, preventing the frames around the opening
from collapsing. They also resist tension, compression, and shear forces to ensure the stability of the structure.
• Materials - Lintels can be made from a variety of materials, including concrete, wood, steel, or brick. The material
used depends on the structural requirements of the building, as well as the contractor's preference and the desired
aesthetic.
• Installation - Lintels are typically built into the wall, matching the width of the wall and extending past end of the
opening.
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Beams
• A beam in construction is a horizontal or sloping structural element that carries loads and distributes them
across supports. Beams are used in many types of structures, including buildings, bridges, and roofs. [Link]
• They support the load acting on the overall structure and transfer it to columns. Beams are aligned horizontally
within structures and can resist vertical forces, shear forces, and bending moments.
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Beams
• Some Characteristics and Usage of Beams:
• Shape: The shape of the beam's cross-section. E.g., rectangular, square or circular, etc.
• Support: The way the beam is supported. There are many types of beams, including simply supported,
cantilever, overhanging, fixed end, and continuous beams. The type of beam used depends on the specific
requirements and design of the structure.
• Material: The material the beam is made from, such as steel, concrete, or timber.
• Length: The length of the beam. It is also called span of the beam.
• Equilibrium conditions: The equilibrium conditions of the beam
• Load distribution: Beams distribute loads across the structure's foundations
• Preventing collapse: Beams prevent the structure from collapsing under its own weight or external forces
• Withstanding forces: Beams withstand shear forces, bending moments, and vertical loads. It can also be
designed for lateral loads like seismic loads.
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Beams
• Examples
• Lintels: Beams that carry brick or stone walls above an opening
• Floor joists: Beams that carry floors
• Stringers: Lightly loaded beams in a bridge deck
• Floor beams: Heavier beams in a bridge deck
• Girders: Large beams that carry the ends of other beams
• Fixed beams: Beams that are rigidly fixed at both ends and cannot move or rotate vertically.
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April 2022
ENGINEERING MECHANICS : Introduction
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