CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

 INTRODUCTION 

For a civil engineer need to consider to build safe, beautiful and sustainable structure within the clients amount of budget. For that reason its very important to make sure the quality of construction work and construction materials. Now i want to describe some important things about some construction materials: 

1. Brick:Brick is very important construction materials. It uses all over the world because it is cheap. STANDARD SIZE OF BRICKS In Bangladesh according to Public work department specification, each brick should measure 9.5"x4.50"x2.75".This is the standard size of bricks in our country. There are others sizes brick also. But this size is most economical, because when bricks are put in any construction with mortar the size becomes 10"x5"x3" (approximately) the size of walls which are constructed by bricks in our country are 3", 5", 10", 15", 20",25" and 30" so his size of bricks can be used safely without any breakage, hence, this standard size, is most in engineering, constructions in our

9.5"x4.5"x2.75"(inch).

The following are the characteristics Of a Standard Brick:

  Brick should be uniform in color, size and shape. 

 It should be free from cracks and other flaws such as a bubble, stone nodules etc.

  The compressive strength of bricks should be in the range of 5000 to 8000 psi.

  The percentage of soluble salts ( Sulphates of Calcium, Mg, Na, and K) should not exceed 2.5% in burnt bricks. 

 They should be neither over burnt nor under burnt.

  Its weight should generally 6 lbs. per brick and the weight per cubic. feet. Should not be less than 125 lbs. 

 It should have lower thermal conductivity. 

 It should be non-inflammable and in combustible. 

 Brick should not change in volume when wetted.

 Each edge should be 90 degree angle.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE BRICKS 

According to the public work department of Bangladesh well burn brick classified into the following categories: 

 First class Brick 

 Second class Brick 

 Third class Brick

 Picked Brick

  Jhama Brick

  Brick bats

 First class Brick: 

These first class bricks are table molded and of uniform shape and they are burnt in kilns. The surfaces and edges of the bricks are sharp, square, smooth and straight. They comply with all the qualities of good bricks. These bricks are used for important work of permanent nature.

 Second class Brick:

 The second class bricks are ground molded and they are burnt in kilns. The surface of the second class bricks is slightly rough and shape is also slightly regular. These bricks may have hair cracks and their edges may not be sharp and uniform. These bricks are commonly used at places where brickwork is to be provided with a coat of plaster. 

Third class Brick: 

These bricks are ground molded and they are burnt in clamps. These bricks are not very hard and they have rough surfaces with irregular and blunt edges. These bricks give dull sound when they are struck together. They are used for unimportant works, temporary structures and at places where rainfall is not heavy. 

As a Structural Materials:

 Since the clay bricks or burnt bricks are strong, hard, durable, resistive to abrasion and fire, therefore, they are used as a structural material in different structures.

  Buildings. 

 Bridges.

  Foundations. 

 Arches 

 Pavement (Footpath, Streets).

 As a Surface finish: 

Bricks can be used in different colors, sizes and orientations to get different surface designs. As an aesthetic material bricks can be used- 

 In Pavements. 

 As Facing Brick. 

 For Architectural Purposes.

 Steel: Steel is a combination of iron and carbon. Steel is defined as a material that contains iron, carbon and small amount of other elements. The basic constituent of steel is iron. Iron is widely available all over the world, but only in combination with other elemIron products come in three commercial forms: 

 Wrought iron

  Cast Iron 

 Steel

 Wrought iron:

 Wrought iron is manufactured by melting and refining iron to a high degree of purity, which can be described as a low-carbon steel(less than 0.1 percent carbon by weigh) containing a small amount of slag, usually less than 3 percent. Cast iron: Cast iron, which contains 2.1%～6.69% of carbon and quite high amount of various impurities, is manufactured by reheating pig iron and blending it with other materials of known composition. Cast iron has high compressive strength, but its tensile strength is low. Steel: Steel is a product refined, cast, forged as well as heat treated from cast iron. *Carbon Steel: 1. Low carbon steel(C<0.25%) 2. Medium Carbon Steel (C=0.3%~0.55%)