Construction Materials I (Theory) CMT1501 Semesters 1 & 2
Department of Civil & Chemical Engineering
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This tutorial letter contains important information about your module.
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CONTENTS
Page 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3 2 PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE ............................................................... 3 2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 4 3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS ................................................................................... 4 3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 4 3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 4 3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 5 4 MODULE-RELATED RESOURCES ............................................................................................. 5 4.1 Prescribed books .......................................................................................................................... 5 4.2 Recommended books ................................................................................................................... 5 4.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves) ................................................................................................. 5 5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE ............................................................... 5 6 MODULE-SPECIFIC STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................. 6 7 MODULE PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING .................................... 6 8 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 6 8.1 Assessment plan........................................................................................................................... 6 8.2 General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 6 8.2.1 Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 6 8.2.2 Due dates for assignments ........................................................................................................... 7 8.3 Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 7 8.4 Assignments ................................................................................................................................. 9 9 OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS ........................................................................................... 20 10 EXAMINATION ........................................................................................................................... 20 11 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 20 12 SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................... 20 13 CONCLUSTION.......................................................................................................................... 20
CMT1501/101/3/2014
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1 INTRODUCTION Dear Student
1.1 Tutorial matter Some of this tutorial matter may not be available when you register. Tutorial material that is not available when you register will be posted to you as soon as possible, but is also available on myUnisa.
2 PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE 2.1 Purpose
Qualifying students will be able to identify and apply the basic parameters to be considered when selecting construction materials and perform simply laboratory experiment according to relevant SANS codes such as the followings: SANS 5862-1 Consistency of freshly mixed concrete slump test SANS 5862-2 Consistency of freshly mixed concrete flow test SANS 50934-2 Admixtures for Concrete mortar and grout Part 2 SANS 51008 Mixing water for concrete specification for sampling etc SANS 5865 Concrete tests preparation and testing for compressive strength SANS 845 Bulk densities and void contents of aggregates Other relevant SANS codes such as SANS 38, 42, 121, 140:1-11, and 141 Students will also be able to discuss the technical aspects of mechanical, thermal, acoustical and chemical properties within the framework of energy and life cycle analysis. The basic environmental issues related to the selection of construction materials are also analyzed. Students will also be able to plan and execute basic management tasks involved in geotechnical work.
4 2.2 Outcomes
Demonstrate the knowledge of construction materials and their behavior with reference to the environmental effects and mitigating procedures. The student must be able to design/perform different laboratory experiments relating to the behavior of concrete and other engineering materials using all the available local construction materials. Preparation of a comprehensive, compact and accurate good technical report.
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS 3.1 Lecturer(s)
Tel No.: +27 791946442 E-mail: akinaae@unisa.ac.za Contact Times: Mondays to Fridays 16H00 to 19H00
3.2 Department
Department of Civil and Chemical Engineering
Unisa (Florida Campus) Private Bag x 6 Florida 1710
Phone: 011 471 2048/3132
Use the general E-mail address: civil&chemical@unisa.ac.za CMT1501/101/3/2014
5 3.3 University
http://www.unisa.ac.za
4 MODULE-RELATED RESOURCES 4.1 Prescribed books Construction Materials, Methods, and Techniques Building for a sustainable future 3 rd Edition, Author: William P. Spence & Eva Kultermann ISBN-13:978-1-4354-8781-9
4.2 Recommended books Construction Materials Their Nature and Behaviour Edited By: J.M. Illston & P.L.J. Domone (Third Edition) Published By: Spon Press Taylor & Francis Group ISBN: 10:0-419-25860-4
4.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves)
All course materials are available on myUnisa https://my.unisa.ac.za under the module course code under Materials. Discussion forums are set up by your lecturer and available for discussions with your peers https://my.unisa.ac.za Some additional electronic resources are available from the Library site (via www.unisa.ac.za).You may electronically post or upload your assignments in line with the guidelines explained in the booklet:
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE
Important information appears in your my Studies @ Unisa brochure.
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6 MODULE-SPECIFIC STUDY PLAN
Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general time management and planning skills. Also the New Study Guide has been prepared in a systematic manner with a guided lesson plan for easy study.
7 MODULE PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING
The Practical aspect of this module is covered in CMTPRA1 Modules
8 ASSESSMENT 8.1 Assessment plan
This course is part of a semester system. Use your myStudies @Unisa brochure for general time management and planning skills.
8.2 General assignment numbers
Assignments are numbered consecutively per module, starting from 01
Assignment 2: (Compulsory) Assignment 3: (Compulsory) 12 March 2014
10 April 2014
23 April 2014 SECOND SEMESTER Assignment 1: (Compulsory)
Assignment 2: (Compulsory) Assignment 3: (Compulsory) 03 September 2014 17 September 2014 1 October 2014
8.3 Submission of assignments
Note: The cut off dates given here are the official, last dates on which a given assignment may be submitted. Students must adhere to these dates only. All other dates referring to cut-off submission dates for assignments, as may be posted on myUnisa or elsewhere, refers to administrative dates as managed by the Assignments Department and does NOT influence or change the above dates
Website
Please note that the department has a web site where additional information on the department and the modules are available.
The address is: http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=19740
Tutorial Letters are available from the myUnisa website. (See my Studies @ Unisa) Should you encounter any problems in submitting an assignment on myUnisa, you may contact the help line at: myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za
8 Plagiarism An assignment is designed to be a product of your own study and your own thought. It is not intended to be a piece of work which merely reproduces details, information or ideas from a study guide, from books or articles, or from the Internet.
If you do this, you commit plagiarism. Plagiarism is the act of copying word for word with or without acknowledgment from study sources (e.g. books, articles, the Internet). In other words, you must submit your own ideas in your own words, sometimes interspersing relevant short quotations that are properly referenced.
Yes, simply copying a few pages from the prescribed book is plagiarism. Pasting paragraphs from Wikipedia into your assignment is plagiarism. And it does not stop being plagiarism if you mention the source.
Skilled scientific writers can use direct block quotations to make a specific point. They know what they are doing. You still need to develop your own voice, your own style of arguing the point. Do not plagiaries.
Note that you also commit plagiarism if you copy the assignment of another student. We do encourage you to work together and form study groups, but you are expected to prepare and submit your own assignments.
When we receive two or more identical assignments, we are not able to work out who copied from whom. We will therefore penalize both students.
If you commit plagiarism you will be penalized and given no marks for your assignment. This will have a serious effect on your chances to succeed in your studies because you will have no semester mark.
Furthermore, you may be penalized or subjected to disciplinary proceedings by the University. Plagiarism is also an offence in terms of the law.
A Signed Declaration Every essay-type assignment we receive must include the following declaration along with your name and the date:
CMT1501/101/3/2014
9 I declare that this assignment is my own work and that all sources quoted have been acknowledged by appropriate references.
We will subtract marks if this declaration is absent from your assignment, just as we will subtract marks if your assignment does not have a Table of contents, List of references cited, and so on.
8.4 Assignments FIRST SEMESTER ASSIGNMENT 01
Please answer all the following questions on the Mark Reading Sheet
1. The trunk of a tree performs only one of the listed functions 1) it conducts electricity through electromagnetic ions 2) it conducts the mineral solutions absorbed by the roots upwards to the crown 3) It acts as a pipe for mineral passage to the crown.
2. Certain timbers show a propensity to conduct suspensions of minerals which are subsequently deposited within the timber 1) FALSE 2) TRUE
3. Wood is generally acidic in nature 1) FALSE 2) TRUE
4. The pH of the heartwood varies 1) between 4.5 5.5 2) between 5.5 6.5 3) between 6.5 7.5
10 4) between 7.5 8.5
5. Acidity in wood is due primarily to the generation of acetic acid by hydrolysis of the acetyl groups of the hemicelluloses in the presence of moisture. 1) TRUE 2) FALSE
6. This acidity in wood is not strong enough to cause corrosion of certain metals 1) TRUE 2) FALSE
7. The term bituminous materials is generally taken to include all materials consisting of aggregate bound with neither bitumen nor tar 1) FALSE 2) TRUE
8. Bituminous materials consist of a graded aggregate bound together with bitumen 1) TRUE 2) FALSE
9. Rock asphalt consists of porous limestone or sandstone impregnated with 10% bitumen content 1) TRUE 2) FALSE
10. Lake asphalt consists of a bitumen lake with finely divided mineral matter dispersed throughout the bitumen
1) FALSE 2) TRUE CMT1501/101/3/2014
11 FIRST SEMESTER ASSIGNMENT 02 QUESTION 1
Discuss the importance of Non-destructive test(s) in evaluating the strength and durability of hardened concrete. (20)
QUESTION 2
Discuss possible factors a designer must consider when choosing stone for a building project.(15)
QUESTION 3
Briefly discuss the chemical properties of any construction material (e.g. Iron) and how its original chemical composition is affected by its immediate environment. (20)
QUESTION 4
The table below shows the classification of soils using the Unified Classification System. Fill in the missing information under the headings: description, rating as subgrade material, and rating as surfacing material. (30)
Type Letter Symbol Description Rating as Subgrade Material Rating as surfacing Material Gravel and gravelly soils GW
GP
GM
GC
Sand and sandy soils SW
12 SP
SM
SC
ML
Silts and clays with liquid limit greater than 50 a
CL
OL
Silts and clays with liquid limit greater than 50 a
MH CH
OH
Highly organic soils Pt
(30) QUESTION 5
What do you understand by waterproofing and describe six ways in which waterproofing can be accomplished. (15)
CMT1501/101/3/2014
13 FIRST SEMESTER ASSIGNMENT 03
QUESTION 1
1) Discuss the standard procedure followed in the production of softwood timber. (5) 2) What do you understand by the equilibrium moisture content and in what ways does moisture affect wood (5) 3) Explain why wood floats even though the wood fibres have a specific gravity of 1.5 (5) 4) What are the two processes used to apply fire-resistant chemicals to wood (5) [20]
QUESTION 2
1) How does aluminum compare with copper as a conductor of electricity (5) 2) How can galvanic corrosion be reduced or eliminated in ferrous and nonferrous metals (5) 3) What are the two processes used to apply fire-retardant chemicals to wood (5) 4) What are the plywood exposure durability classifications? (5) [20]
QUESTION 3
1) How does hardwood plywood differ from industrial plywood? (5) 2) Differentiate between laminated veneer and glued laminated members (5) 3) Differentiate between plywood, oriented strand board and composite panels (5) 4) What are the five commonly used plywood in building constructions (5) [20]
QUESTION 4
1) How do plasticizers change the properties of plastics? (5) 2) Briefly discuss the uses of silicones in building construction (5) 3) Identify the following plastics by their standard abbreviations: ABS, PMMA, PA, PE and PVC (5)
14 4) Discuss briefly the most important mechanical properties of plastics used in construction and what are the two major classifications of plastic (5) [20]
QUESTION 5
1) In what ways do various bonding agents cure? (5) 2) State the two classes of adhesives (5) 3) Indicate clearly the difference between a sealer and a sealant and state two types of sealants (5) 4) Briefly describe a working joint. (5) [20]
CMT1501/101/3/2014
15 SECOND SEMESTER ASSIGNMENT 01
Please answer the following question on the Mark Reading Sheet
1. Immediately after placing, the concrete is still in a solid state. 1) TRUE 2) FALSE
2. Whilst the concrete is in its semi-fluid, plastic state the aggregate and cement 1) particles tend to settle and the mix water has a tendency to migrate upwards. 2) FALSE 3) TRUE
3. The following are the properties of an early age concrete 1) bleeding, segregation, plastic-settlement and plastic shrinkage 2) creep, poissons ratio, w:c ratio and movement 3) strength, elasticity, creep and durability
4. The most important engineering properties of hardened concrete have been identified as a combination of: 1) elasticity, durability, creep and movement due to changes in temperature & moisture 2) workability, durability, segregation and plastic shrinkage 3) poissons ratio, plastic settlement, bleeding and w:c ratio
5. The maximum value of stress in a loading test is usually taken as the strength. 1) FALSE 2) TRUE
16 6. The strength of cement paste is governed by its porosity, which in turn depends on the water/cement ratio and degree of hydration. 1) TRUE 2) FALSE
7. The following factors have been identified as responsible for the strength of Portland cement concrete 1) water/cement ratio, effect of age, temperature, humidity and aggregate properties 2) cement concentration and aggregate size 3) paste strength and water/cement content
8. Admixtures are chemicals that are added to the concrete immediately before or during mixing and significantly change its fresh, early age or hardened state. 1) TRUE 2) FALSE
9. Only small quantities of admixtures are required in concrete mix, typically 1) 45% - 49% by weight of the cement 2) 1% - 2% by weight of the cement 3) 35% - 45% by weight of the cement
10. Plasticizers are also called workability aids increase the fluidity of a cement paste or concrete 1) FALSE 2) TRUE
CMT1501/101/3/2014
17 SECOND SEMESTER ASSIGNMENT 02 QUESTION 1 Briefly describe the following: Soil water (5) Soil-bearing capacities (5) Soil alterations (5) Soil compaction (5) Soil stabilization with admixtures (5) [25] QUESTION 2 Discuss the role of water in concrete and its desired properties [10]
QUESTION 3 Elaborate on the importance of the following material properties Modulus of Elasticity:- (5) Ductility:- (5) Hardness:- (5) Impact Strength:- (5) Fatigue Strength:- (5) [25]
QUESTION 4 Assuming you are appointed as a foreman on a construction site and the order sheet for the concrete placement was handed over to you which will be delivered to the site in the next 38hours. Assuming the formwork preparation has been completed, describe the placement method you will apply to the following scenarios: a. Deep reinforced members such as foundation wall (5) b. Deep mass concrete such as reinforced concrete slab. (5) [10]
QUESTION 5 Discuss the thermal properties to be considered for plastics used in construction. [25]
18 SECOND SEMESTER ASSIGNMENT 03
QUESTION 1
1) Briefly discuss the two basic methods of protecting exterior joints (5) 2) What do you understand by bentonite? (5) 3) How does cutback asphalt differ from asphalt emulsions? (5) [15]
QUESTION 2
1) What are the two major uses of cutback asphalts (5) 2) List four asphalt products used in making roof repairs (5) 3) Discuss the possibility of retarding the rapid setting times of concrete in hot weather. (5) [15]
QUESTION 3
1) What type of binder is used with aggregate to produce quality asphalt pavements? (5) 2) Differentiate between saturated felts and fibre glass felts (5) 3) State clearly the types of fibre used in making fireproofing paper (5) 4) What are the fire rating classes used to rate asphalt roofing materials (5) [20]
QUESTION 4 1) How does a small scratch in glass reduce the tensile strength of a sheet? (5) 2) Why is glass resistant to corrosion and how does glass rate on optical clarit. (5) 3) What type of glass helps reduce heat transfer into a building in the summer and heat loss to the outside during winter? (5) 4) How does insulating glass differ in construction from laminated glass? (5) [20] CMT1501/101/3/2014
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QUESTION 5
1) What acoustical measurements are considered when selecting interior finishing materials? (5) 2) What purpose do coatings serve on interior finishes? (5) 3) What is the recommended moisture content for wood to be painted? (5) 4) What purpose do stirrups serve when installing reinforcing bars in a form? (5) [20]
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9 OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS
None
10 EXAMINATION
Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general examination guidelines and examination preparation guidelines.
11 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The my Studies @ Unisa brochure contains an A-Z guide of the most relevant study information.
12 SOURCES CONSULTED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES BUILDING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE 3 rd Edition. By: William P. Spence & Eva Kultermann
13 CONCLUSION The students are expected to be proactive in interacting with myunisa as necessary information that will assist the students will be posting on the medium. Also do not hesitate to engage your lecturer via the available medium indicated in this tutorial letter.