Course Name: CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS II
Course Code: CIV2102
Course Level: Level 2
Credit Units: 4 CU
Course Description
In this course, students are trained to acquire knowledge and skills of planning, selecting
constituent concrete materials, mixing concrete, placing it and ensuring good field performance
in different conditions.
Course objectives
To equip students with knowledge on physical and chemical properties of concrete
To train students in testing concrete properties in accordance with accepted standards
To train students in concrete mix design
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
Understand the physical and chemical principles of concrete
Measure concrete properties in accordance with accepted standards, and
Understand Concrete mix design and good concreting practices.
Detailed Course Content
1. Basics of Concrete Technology (4 hours)
States of concrete
Properties of Concrete
Fresh state properties (Workability, Segregation, Hydration, Air entrainment,
Workability, Harshness, Cohesiveness)
Hardened state properties (Strength, Durability, Impermeability, Creep,
Shrinkage, Modulus of Elasticity)
Types of concrete.
2. Materials for Concrete (8 hours)
Aggregates
Types of aggregates,
Choice of aggregates,
Production of aggregates,
Grading of aggregates
Properties and tests of aggregates
Cements
Types and properties of cements,
Manufacture of cement;
Tests of Cement (Fineness Test, Compressive strength Test, Consistency Test,
Initial and Final Setting time Test, Soundness Test )
Water
Properties of good water for concreting
Water / cement ratio and workability
Admixtures
Definition and performance
Classification of admixtures
3. Concrete Mix Designs (8 hours)
Cement and water
Concrete Mix Design Methods
British Department of Environment Mix Design Method
American Concrete Institute Mix Design Method
Batching of aggregates
Mixing and Transporting Concrete.
4. Preparation and Joints (4 hours)
Placement of Concrete,
Compaction of Concrete
Curing of Concrete (Definition, purpose, methods of curing)
Surface Finishing of Concrete.
5. Formwork (2hours)
Types and properties of formwork, choice of formwork
6. Reinforcement (2hours)
Standard sizes, Test of reinforcement, Protection of reinforcement
7. Concrete Mixing and Mixing Plant (2hours)
Methods of mixing
Types of mixing plants
8. Protection of Concrete (4hours)
Concrete in Hot Weather,
Concrete in Cold Weather,
Concrete in Wet Conditions,
9. Durability of Concrete (5hours)
Definitions and main aspects of concrete durability
Main defects of concrete (Cracks, spalling, Honey combing, creep)
Repairs
Enhancement of concrete durability
10. Floors and Floor Surfaces (2 hours)
11. Quality Control, Inspection and Testing (2hours)
Advantages of Quality Control
Quality assurance
Quality Audit
12. Detailing (2hours)
13. Practicals (30hours)
Concrete Mix design,
Concrete Curing,
Fresh Concrete Tests, (Concrete slump test, Compacting Factor test)
Testing of Dry Samples,
Writing Laboratory Technical Reports and Concrete Specifications,
Reinforcement Configurations and Placement.
Mode of Delivery
The mode of delivery is lectures, tutorials, Case Study Trips and Practicals.
Mode of Assessment
Course work (assignments, Practicals and tests), final examination, and their relative
contributions to final grade are shown as follows;
Requirement Percentage contribution
Course work 40%
Final examination 60%
Total 100%
References
1. Callister, D.W. 2000. Materials Science and Engineering. 5th ed. John Willy and Sons.
New York. ISBN 13: 9780471320135.
2. Foster, J.S. and Harington, R. 1983. Structure and Fabric. Batsford Academic and
Educational, London.
3. Jackson, N. & Dhir, R. K. 1988. Civil Engineering Materials. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN
13: 9780333465011
4. Murdock, L.J. and Brook, K.M. 1990. Concrete Materials and Practice. Edward Arnold,
London.
5. A.M Neville, 2012. Properties of Concrete 5 th Edition, Rans-Atlantic Publications, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-0273755807
6. A.M. Neville, 2010. Concrete Technology, 2nd Revised edition. ISBN-13: 978-
0273732198
