BÀI GIẢNG:

TIẾNG ANH
TRONG XÂY DỰNG

ENGLISH FOR
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
 CHAPTER 1: HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

1.1 READING

1.1.1 Topic: History of architecture

Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. A

building reflects the scientific and technological achievements of the age as well
as the ideas and aspirations of the designer and client.
Instead of using timber, stone and traditional building techniques, architects
began to explore ways of creating buildings by using the latest technology and
materials such as steel, glass and concrete strengthened steel bars, known as
reinforced concrete.
By the 1920s architects throughout Europe were reacting against the
conditions created by industrialisation. A new style of architecture emerged to
reflect more idealistic notions for the future. It was made possible by new
materials and construction techniques and was known as Modernism.
By the 1930s many buildings emerging from this movement were designed in
the International Style. This was largely characterised by the bold use of new
materials and simple, geometric forms, often with white walls supported by stilt-
like pillars. By the 1950s, the International Style had developed into a universal
approach to building, which standardised the appearance of new buildings in
cities across the world.
Unfortunately, this Modernist interest in geometric simplicity and function
became exploited for profit. The rediscovery of quick-and-easy to handle
reinforced concrete and an improved ability to prefabricate building sections led
to many badly designed buildings, which discredited the original aims of
Modernism.
Influenced by Le Corbusier’s ideas on town planning, every large British city
built multi-storey housing estates in the 1960s. Mass-produced, low-cost, high-
rises seemed to offer a solution to the problem of housing a growing inner-city

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population. But far from meeting human needs, the new estates often proved to
be windswept deserts lacking essential social facilities and services. Many of
these buildings were poorly designed and constructed and have since been
demolished.
By the 1970s, a new respect for the place of buildings within the existing
townscape arose. Preserving historic buildings or keeping only their facades (or
fronts) grew common. Architects also began to make more use of building styles
and materials that were traditional to the area. The architectural style usually
referred to as High Tech was also emerging. Such buildings are commonly made
of metal and glass; examples are Stansted airport and the Lloyd’s building in
London.
By the 1980s the coexistence of different styles of architecture in the same
building became known as Post Modern. Other architects looked back to the
classical tradition. The trend in architecture now favours smaller scale building
design that reflects a growing public awareness of environmental issues such as
energy efficiency.
Twentieth century architecture will mainly be remembered for its tall
buildings. They have been made possible by the development of light steel
frames and safe passenger lifts. They originated in the US over a century ago to
help meet the demand for more economical use of land. As construction
techniques improved, the skyscraper became a reality.

1.1.2 Vocabulary

architect (n) : kiến trúc sư

idealistic (adj) : thuộc chủ nghĩa lý tưởng
pillar (n) : cột, trụ
standardise (v) : tiêu chuẩn hóa
geometric (adj) : thuộc hình học
simplicity (n) : tính đơn giản
prefabricate (v) : chế tạo sẵn
multi-story building : nhà nhiều tầng

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 high-rise building : nhà nhiều tầng
skyscraper (n) : nhà chọc trời
(Note: High-rise buildings are considered shorter than skyscrapers)
inner-city : nội thành
construct (v) : xây dựng
demolish (v) : phá hủy
preserve (v) : bảo tồn, giữ gìn
coexistence (n) : sự cùng tồn tại

1.1.3 Comprehension check

1. What is Architecture?
2. What does a building reflect?
3. What did architects begin to explore?
4. When did Modernism emerge? What did it reflect?
5. In which style were many buildings designed by the 1930s? What was it
largely characterised by?
6. What happened to Modernism in 1960s?
7. What led to many badly designed buildings?
8. What did every large British city build in the 1960s? What seemed to offer
a solution to the problem of housing a growing inner-city population?
9. Did they meet human needs? Why?
10. What became known as Post-Morden by the 1980s?
11. What have made tall buildings possible in the twentieth century? What
became a reality?

1.2 SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

1.2.1 Exercise 1 (Reading and writing)

Complete the table below using information from the text. Write no more than
three words for each answer. Write your answer in boxes 1-7

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 Period Style of period Building materials Characteristics
Before 18th traditional (1)
century
1920s introduction of (2) steel, glass and exploration of latest
concrete technology
1930s-1950s (3) geometric forms
1960s decline of pre-fabricated (4)
Modernism sections
1970s end of Modernism traditional (5)
era materials of historic buildings
1970s beginning of metal and glass sophisticated
(6) era techniques paraded
1980s Post-Modernism (7)

1.2.2 Exercise 2 (Reading and writing)

a) Look at these
Here are some examples of basic forms:

Now look at these drawings of buildings and building components:

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cube (n) : hình khối, hình lập phương
prism (n) : hình lăng trụ
cone (n) : hình chóp nón
cylinder (n) : hình trụ
minaret (n) : một tháp cao mảnh, một phần cơ
bản của nhà thờ hồi giáo, với ban công để các tín đồ hồi giáo cầu nguyện
slab (n) : sàn
rectangular (adj) : thuộc về chữ nhật
rectangle (n) : hình chữ nhật
triangular (adj) : thuộc về tam giác
triangle (n) : hình tam giác
hollow (adj) : rỗng, trống rỗng
rod (n) : thanh
longitudinal (adj) : phương chiều dọc
transverse (adj) : phương chiều ngang
curve (n) : đường cong
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b) Writing
Look at this example:
The brick is shaped like a rectangular prism
Now complete these sentences:
1. The hotel is shaped like a…………
2. The top of the minaret……………..
3. The dome of the Egyptian house……………….
4. The column…………………
5. The slab………………
6. The church…………………..
7. The power station building………………

1.2.3 Exercise 3 (Reading and speaking)

Look at these drawings of two-dimensional shapes

Now look and read:

Now make sentences from this table:

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The cross-section brick square
of the hotel circular
top of the minaret is semi-circular in shape
The longitudinal
column rectangular
section of the
church triangular

1.2.4 Exercise 4 (Reading and speaking)

Work in pairs. Answer these questions about the drawings in exercise 2:

a. Which building is pencil-shaped?
b. Which building component is I-shaped in cross-section?
c. Which building component is C-shaped in cross-section?
d. Which dome is egg-shaped?
e. Which arch is horseshoe-shaped?
f. Which building has diamond-shaped windows?

1.2.5 Exercise 5 (Reading and speaking)

Look and read:

The power station building is hollow. It has five flat external surfaces.

Pair work
Example:

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A: What is the church like?
B: It is hollow. It has four external surfaces.
Work in pairs. Make conversations describing these buildings and component
like the example:
- The church
- The slab
- The column
- The mosque
- The steel beam.

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 CHAPTER 2: THE PROCEDURE OF BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION

2.1 READING

2.1.1 Topic: the procedure of building construction

When an architect receives a commission for a building, he meets the client

and discusses his requirements. After visiting the site, the architect draws up
preliminary plans and, together with a rough estimate of the cost, submits
them to the client for his approval. If the client suggests changes, the architect
incorporates them into the final design which shows the exact dimension of
every part of the buildíng. At this stage, several building contractors are
invited to bid for the job of constructing the building. When they submit their
tenders or prices, the architect assists his client in selecting the best one and
helps him to draw up a contract between the client and the contractor.
Work now starts on the building. As construction proceeds, the architect
makes periodic inspections to make sure that the building is being constructed
according to his plans and that the materials specified in the contact are being
used. During the building period, the client pays the bills from the contractor.
Subsequently, the contractor completes the building and the client occupies it.
For six months after completion there is a period known as the "defects
liability period". During this period, the contractor must correct any defects
that appear in the fabric of the building. Finally, when all the defects have
been corrected, the client takes full possession of the building. .
(Source: JAMES CUMMING, English for Science and - Technology-
Architecture and Bulding Construction, Longman, 1985)

2.1.2 Vocabulary

approve (v) : đồng ý, chấp thuận

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 approval (n) : sự tán thành, chấp thuận
dimension (n) : kích thước
building contractor (n) : công ty, nhà thầu xây dựng
proceed (v) : tiến hành, tiến trlển
specify (v) : chỉ rõ, định rõ
client (n) : khách hàng, bên A
defect liability period : giai đoạn sửa chữa các thiếu sót
draw up (v) : phác thảo, dựng bản vẽ
preliminary (adj) : sơ bộ
a rough estimate of the cost : bản dự toán sơ bộ
submit (v) : đệ trình, nộp
incorporate (v) : phối hợp, kết hợp
bid (v, n) : đấu thầu, sự bỏ thầu
select (v) : chọn lựa
periodic (adj) : định , theo chu kỳ
defect (n) : hư hỏng, thiếu sót, khuyết điểm
fabric (n) : khung nhà, cấu trúc (của cái gì)
subsequently (adv) : sau đó

2.1.3 Comprehension check

A. Now find a word or an expresion in the passage which means

a. to be given the job of designing a building
b. to offer to a client for his consideration
c to combine into a whole
d. to offer to do some work at a certain price
e. to look at the building work in detail at regular intervals
f. named or deseribed exactly
g an interval of time after the building has been finished during which
the contractor is responsible for correcting any faults in it.
h. to have complete ownership of the building

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B. Questions
1 .What does an architect do to have the final design for a building?
2. Who arẹ invited to bid for the job of constructing the building?
3. Who helps the client to choose the best contractor?
4. What does the architect do when the constructicn proceeds?
5. What is the client's task during the building period?
6. When does the client occupy the building?
7. When does he take full possession of the building?

2.2 SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

2.2.1 Excercise 1 (Reading and writing)

Complete this flow diagram. Use the information from the main text.

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2.2.2 Excercise 2 (Reading and writing)

Read this description of House A:

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 The house is a single-storey building with a square-shaped plan. It
contains seven rooms. The entrance which is located on the south side leads
into a hall. On the left of the hall is the living room and beyond that in the
north-west corner is the dining area. The kitchen is adjacent to the dining area.
A terrace is situated outside the living room on the west side. A toilet is
located in the centre of the house. Access to the toilet is from the hall. The two
bedrooms are located on the east side with a bathroom between them. There is
also an entrance to the kitchen on the north side.

Match the letters with names of the areas: hall, beđroom, living room, kitchen,
dining room, bathroom, toilet, terrace.
Now write a description of House B:

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2.2.3 Excercise 3 (Reading and writing)

Look at this:

Use the measurements to help you complete this paragraph:

When deciding on the floor-to-ceiling height of a building, an architect
should base his calculations on the tallest person in a group of people. The
tallest person in this group is . . . . . . . . . . . . mm. Therefore the floor-to-ceiling
height of our building should be greater than . . . . . . . . . . . . mm.
Now write similar paragraphs about other design situations.
a. width of door way
b. height of seat above floor
c. height of notices
d. length of seat surface from backrest to front edge
e .width of sink unit

2.2.4 Excercise 4 (Reading and speaking)

face (~ sb/st) (v) : mặt hướng về, quay về phía

face west : quay về hướng tây
maximize (v) : làm tăng lên tối đa
minimize (v) : làm giảm thiểu
long/short axis (n) : trục dài/ngắn
to be orientated : có hướng
to be orientated East - West : có hướng Đông - Tây

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 orientation (n) : hướng
prevailing wind (n) : gió chủ đạo
exposed (adj) : không được che đậy
exposed to the sun : tiếp xúc với mặt trời
solar radiation (n) : bức xạ mặt trời
path of sun (n) : quỹ đạo mặt trời
Work in pairs. Look at these diagrams. Ask and answer the following
questions using the suggested words above.

a. In which direction do the longer walls of House A face?

b. Does this maximise the area of wall exposed to the sun?
c. Does this help to keep the inside of the house cool?

d. In which direction is the long axis of House B orientated?

e. Will the inside of House B be cooler than the inside of House A? Why?

f. Which house has the minimum length of wall exposed to the prevailing
breeze?

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 g. Which house has the best orientation for a hot country?
h. In a warm-humid country with the prevailing wind from the east,
what is the best orientation for the long axis of a house?

2.2.5 Excercise 5 (Reading and speaking)

Group discussion
Four factọrs which can influence the orientation of buildings are:
1. climate
2. view
3. building site requirements, e.g. the shape of a building site may
determine the orientation of a building.
4. the function of the building, e.g. a coastguard building will look out to
sea.
Now work in groups of four or five. Look at some local buildings and say
which factors have helped to determine their orientation.

2.2.6 Excercise 6 (Reading and speaking)

Pairwork
Look at this plan for a single-storey house

Now read this discussion between an architect and his client:

CLIENT : I don't like this plan because the dining room and the
kitchen are on opposite sides of the house.
ARCHITECT : So what!

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CLIENT : Well, it is a long way to carry the food.
ARCHITECT : Does that matter very much?
CLIENT : Yes. I think it does, because the food will get cold on its
way from the kitchen to the dining room.
Make similar discussions between the architect and his client complaining
about:
a. the relative position of the bathroom and bedroom
b. the relative position of the bathroom and living room
c. the lack of a covered porch over the entrance

2.2.7 Excercise 7 (Reading and speaking)

Pairwork
Study these plans of two-storey house:

Now say whether these statements are true or false. Correct the false
statements
a. The dining room is located under the main bedroom.
b. A hall is located in the centre of the first floor.
c. There are three adjacent bathrooms on the first floor.
d. There is a toilet between the kitchen and the dining room,
e. Bedroom 2 is situated over the family room.
f. There is a cupboard under the stairs.
g. Bedrooms occupy most of the ground floor.
h. Viewed from the front, the dining room is on the left of the entrance.
i. Viewed from the rear, the living room is behind the family room.

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 j. Entering the house from the garage, you pass through the living room to
enter the family room.
k. The entrance is situated at the bottom of the stairs.
1. The kitchen and family room are located on either side of the toilet.
m. A door in the garage leads to the kitchen.
Say where these rooms are in relation to each other:
a. kitchen - dining room
b. bathroom 1 - kitchen
c. cupboard - bedroom 2, bedroom 3

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 CHAPTER 3: STRUCTURES

3.1 READING

3.1.1 Topic: Structures

A structure is the part of a building that carries its weight. We should also
remember that anything built is a structure. (From an aeroplane engineer’s
point of view, an aeroplane is a structure). A structure may be a dwelling
house, or a pyramid in Egypt, the statue of Christ on the Andes, or a dam built
by beavers across a Canadian river. A building is a structure with a roof and
much of civil engineering structural design is the design of building structures.
The building as a whole is designed by an architect, particularly in a densely
populated area. For water engineers, sewage-treatment engineers, and
municipal engineers, structures are not always an important part of their work
even through a road or a pipe is a structure since they both carry load.
Every building structural design includes the foundation design. The
structural design itself includes two different tasks, the design of the structure,
in which the sizes and locations of the main members are settled, and the
analysis of this structure by mathematical or graphical methods or both, to
work out how the load pass through the structure with the particular members
chosen. For a common structure such as a building frame, many methods have
been developed for analysis, so that the design and analysis will be relatively
easy and may need to be performed only once or twice.
But for any unusual structures the tasks of design and analysis will have to
be repeated many times until, after many calculations, a design has been found
strong, stable and lasting. Cheapness does not enter into the quality of the
design though it is important since a costly structure will probably not be built
and the designer’s fee will therefore be smaller.

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 For the typical multi-story structure in a city, whether it is to be used for
office or dwellings, the most important member which the engineer designs is
the floor - for two reasons: it repeats all the way up the building, and it has the
greatest effect on the dead load of the building.
These floors are generally of reinforced or pre-stressed concrete because
they resist fire better than steel or wood, an important consideration for a tall
building. There are two main types, the solid floor and the hollow-tiled (or
ribbed) floor. In the ribbed floor, as the drawing shows, part of the lower half
of the slab is hollow, a great advantage because this concrete would not
strengthen the floor, but it is more difficult to cast them with holes through
them unless these holes are carefully planned beforehand.
(Source: JOHN.S.COTT, Civil Engineering, Longman, 1975)

3.1.2 Vocabulary

structure (n) : kết cấu

dam (n) : đập thủy lợi
load (n) : tải trọng
structural design (n) : thiết kế kết cấu
frame (n) : khung, khung sườn
relatively (adv) : một cách tương đối
calculation (n) : sự tính toán
settle (v) : lún
analysis (n) : sự phân tích
stable (adj) : bền vững, cố định, ổn định
effect (n) : sự ảnh hưởng
ribbed (adj) : có khung sườn
strengthen (v) : tăng cường
cast (v) : đúc, đổ khuôn
beforehand (adv) : trước, sẵn sàng trước

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3.1.3 Comprehension check

1. What is a structure?
2. What are the two tasks included in the structural design?
3. What is the most important member of a typical multi-storey structure?
Why?
4. What are the floors made of?
5. How many types of floors are there?
6. Compare and find out the advantages and disadvantages of each type of
floor.

3.2 SKILL DEVELOPMENT

3.2.1 Exercise 1 (Reading and writing)

Look and read

Some examples of structural systems are:

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- The post-and-lintel structure consists of three upright posts and two
horizontal lintels.
𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑦
- The posts { 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑦 } the lintels which {𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 } the roof

- The lintels span a distance of 1 metre

- Materials used for post-and-lintel structures include stone and timber
Now make similar statements about the loadbearing wall and joist structure,
steel skeleton structure and steel frame structure.

3.2.2 Exercise 2 (Reading and writing)

Read this
The post-and-lintel structure, in the diagram above, is composed of straight
members. The vertical and horizontal members which are used to make the
structure are called posts and lintels respectively. The posts are spaced at 1
metre centres. They are made up of blocks. Both the posts and lintels are made
of stone.
Now write a similar description of the loadbearing wall and joist structure.

3.2.3 Exercise 3 (Reading and writing)

Comprehension questions
Look at the diagrams in Exercise 1 and answer these questions:
a. What do the stanchions carry? carry beam
b. What do the floor beams support? steel stanchion
c. What does the steel frame consist of? steel skeleton and tie beam
d. What is the arch made up of?
e. At what centres are the steel frames spaced? tie beam
f. What are the horizontal members which connect steel frames together
called? roof beam and floor beam
g. What distance does the vault span? three meter
h. What is the span of the arch? one meter
i. What is the stone in the centre of the arch called? key stone

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 j. Give some examples of materials used for arcuated and framed structures.
the wood , brick, tempered glass
3.2.4 Exercise 4 (Reading and speaking)

Look at this table:

The components of a factory
Elements Compound units Units Material
Roof roof structure joist and slabs timber
waterproof wood-wool
covering asphalt
Walls cladding corrugated sheets steel
wall structure beams and steel
stanchions
Floors wearing surface tiles vinyl
floor structure panels precast concrete
Foundations column bases concrete

Now work in pairs. Make questions and answers using this table and the table
above

factory
does
a) What { the { wall } consist of?
do
roof
factory
elements
b) How many { } is the { wall } constructed from?
compound units
roof
roof structure
c) What is the { wall structure } made up of?
floor structure
joists
d) What are the {corrugated sheets} made of?
precast panels

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3.2.5 Exercise 2 (Reading and speaking)

Look and read:

HOUSE IN JAPAN AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE

Architects looking at building in Japan after earthquake, observe that Building

A has collapsed because the structural frame was not braced to resist the force
of the earthquake. From this observation we can make the following
generalisations:

tend to
Buildings { to collapse during an earthquake if their structural
are likely
frames are not braced to resist the force of earthquakes.

Look at this table about other hazards:

Country Hazard Possible effect Precautions taken
a) Iran hailstorm penetrate the roof make roof covering
of a light structure hail resistant
b) All countries thunderstorm cause structural fit a lightning
damage to tall conductor
buildings
c) Hot-dry sandstorm damage exterior stop by erecting
countries surfaces of a barrier screens a
buildings few metres from

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 the building
d) Africa attack by destroy the wooden treat wood with
termites components of a preservatives
building
e) All countries fire cause structural use fireproof
damage to material
buildings

Now work in pairs. Make questions and answers about observations and
generalisation about hazards like the following example:
Example:
A: What observations do you think you could make about buildings in the
above countries?
B: During a hailstorm in Iran, the roof of a light structure was penetrated
because the roof covering had not been made hail resistant.
A: What generalisations can you make?
B: Roofs of light structures in Iran are likely to be penetrated during
hailstorm if they are not hail resistant.

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 CHAPTER 4: FOUNDATIONS

4.1 READING

4.1.1 Topic: Foundations

In modern building construction foundations are usually of concrete, and

must be carried down to a layer of earth or rock strong enough to bear the
weight of the building and its contents and to withstand the force of the wind
blowing on surfaces of the building. The nature of the ground has to be studied
and the weight it can be safely carry has to be calculated most carefully, for if
too great a load is applied the ground will sink, or "settle", causing the
building to crack. In the 1930s, for example, it was discovered that the
supporting power of the ground beneath St.Paul's Cathedral, in London, was
becoming seriously reduced by the pumping of water from neighboring sites,
and a special Act of Parliament was passed to restrict any more buildings or
excavations in that area. In some countries the special stresses caused by
earthquakes must also be allowed for. Rock, coarse sand, and gravels normally
provide good support, but finer soils, such as clay, may present considerable
problems. The clay subsoil of London, for example, is one of the factors that
limits the height and size of building there; whereas in New York, where the
ground consists of solid rock, towering skycrapers can be built.
The main types of concrete foundations are "independent" "strip", "raft",
and "pile". For bridge building and other heavy engineering structures
"caisson" foundations are used. Independent foundations are used to support
columns or piers which are unevenly spaced and unequally loaded. A pad of
concrete, plain or reinforced, is placed under each column or pier, the base of
the pad extending far enough in all directions to spread the load evenly over
the ground. Strip foundations are used when a row of columns is so closely
spaced that independent foundation would nearly meet. When the columns are

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both near together and regularly spaced, and carry nearly equal loads, raft
(sometimes called "slab") foundations, extending the whole lenghth and
breadth of a building, are used instead of strip foundations. The raft maybe a
thick slab of mass concrete, or a thin slab of reinforced concrete, laid between
lines of concrete beams joining the feet of the columns. A raft foundation is
often suitable in very soft ground, for it enables the buidling to "float" as a
whole, where separate, independent foundations might sink by unequal
amounts. Piles are used to take the weight of a building when it is impossible
to dig down to a solid layer of earth, either because the ground is water-logged
or because there is a very great depth of poor soil. Piles are solid lengths of
timber, steel, or reinforced concrete, generally from 20 to 80 feet long driven
into the ground by a heavy beam hammer. Sometimes hollow steel tubes are
used, being driven into the ground in the same way as solid piles and
afterwards filled with concrete. Before the concrete hardens, the tubes are
withdrawn and can be used again.

4.1.2 Vocabulary

foundation (n) : nền móng ( lớp gạch, bê tông tạo

nền móng cứng dưới mặt đất của 1 tòa nhà )
independent foundation (n) : móng độc lập
pile foundation (n) : móng cọc
raft foundation (n) : móng bè, móng tấm
strip foundation (n) : móng băng, móng dải
caisson foundation (n) : móng ketson, móng giếng chìm
rock (n) : đá , khối đá, tảng đá
layer (n) : tầng (đất, đá )
to bear the weight of ... (v.phr) : chịu được trọng lượng của ...
to withstand the force of (v.phr) : chịu được lực, năng lượng của ...
nature (n) : chất , tính chất, thiên nhiên
to calculate (v) : tính toán

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 to crack (v) : rạn nứt, nứt nẻ, vỡ, gãy
beneath (giới từ) : ở dưới thấp, ở dưới
cathedral (n) : nhà thờ lớn, thánh đường
to pump (v) : bơm (nước, khí gas)
neighboring sites (n.phr) : những vị trí lân cận
excavation (n) : sự khai quật/đào/bới
earthquake stress (n) : hiệu ứng động đất
coarse (adj) : thô, to sợi, to cánh, không mịn
gravel (n) : sỏi
finer soils (n) : đất tốt
clay subsoil (n) : lớp đất sét
pier (n) : trụ cầu, cột , cọc móng
to be unevenly spaced : được đặt không đều nhau
to be unequally loaded : được chất không bằng nhau
pad (n) : cái lót, đệm
plain (adj) : thường, đơn giản
base (n) : đế, mặt đáy, nền, nền móng
spread (v) : trải ra, căng ra, loang ra
row (n) : hàng, dãy
mass (n) : khối, đống
breadth = width (n) : bề rộng
lay-laid-laid (v) : đặt, để

4.1.3 Comprehension check

1. Why must the foundation of a modern building be strong enough?

2. What has to be done before laying the foundation? Why? (Để đặt nền
móng thì cần phải thực hiện những điều gì? Tại sao? )
3. Why are towering skycrapers hardly built in London? (Tại sao ở
Luân Đôn, những tòa nhà cao chọc trời lại khó xây dựng? )

28
 4. What are independent foundations used for? (Móng độc lập được
dùng với mục đích gì? )
5. When are strip foundations used?
6. When are raft foundations used in stead of strip foundations?
7. When are piles used?

4.2 SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

4.2.1 Excercise 1 (Reading and writing)

Match a line in A with a line in B

A B
1. Pad foundations are a. for load-bearing walls (tường chịu lực)
2. Strip foundations used and for rows of columns (hàng cột)
3. Widestrip foundations which are spaced so closely that pad
4. Raft foundations foundations would nearly touch each
5. Bearing piles other.
b. to support structural columns.
c. Where the bearing capacity (khả năng
chịu tải) of the soil is low enough to
necessitate (đòi hỏi, bắt buộc) a strip so
wide that transverse bending (uốn
ngang) occurs .
d. Where the soil at normal foundation
level cannot support ordinary pad, strip
or ...
e. For soils of low bearing capacity or
where structural columns or other loaded
areas are so close in both directions.

29
4.2.2 Excercise 2 (Reading and writing)

Look and read

Cause Effect
foundation subsided column moved
column moved span increased
span increased beam deflected excessively
beam deflected excessively crack formed on the underside of beam

Example: the foundation subsided with the result that the column moved.
Now use the above table to write similar sentences about the causes and
effects.

30
 CHAPTER 5: BUILDING MATERIALS

5.1 READING

5.1.1 Topic: Building materials

Building materials are used in two basic ways. In the first way they are used
to support the loads on a building and in the second way they are used to
divide the space in a building. Building components are made from building
materials and the form of a component is related to the way in which it is used.
We can see how this works by considering three different types of
construction:
1. In one kind of construction, blocks of materials such as brick, stone, or
concrete are put together to form solid walls. These materials are heavy,
however, they can support the structural loads because they have the
property of high compressive strength. Walls made up of blocks both
support the building and divide the space in the building.
2. In another type of construction, sheet materials are used to form walls
which act as both space-dividers and structural support. Timber, concrete
and some plastics can be made into large rigid sheets and fixed together
to form a building. These buildings are lighter and faster to construct
than buildings make up of blocks.
3. Rod materials, on the other hand, can be used for structural support but
not for dividing spaces. Timber, steel and concrete can be formed into
rods and used as columns. Rod materials with high tensile and
compressive strength can be fixed together to form framed structures.
The spaces between the rods can be filled with light sheet materials
which act as space dividers but do not support structural loads.
(Source: James Cumming, English for Science and Technology – Architecture
and Building Construction, Longman, 1985)

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5.1.2 Vocabulary

Building component : cấu kiện công trình

Block : khối
Block of materials : khối vật liệu
Rigid : cứng
Property : đặc tính, tính chất
Structural load : tải trọng công trình
Sheet materials : vật liệu dạng tấm
Tensile strength : cường độ chịu kéo
Compressive strength : cường độ chịu nén
Structural support : sự đỡ kết cấu
Space-divider : vách ngăn
Fix : lắp, lắp ghép
Rod materials : vật liệu dạng thanh
Framed structure : kết cấu dạng khung
Fill : lắp kín
Planar construction : xây dựng tấm phẳng
Framed construction : xây dựng khung
Mass construction : xây dựng khối

5.1.3 Comprehension check

1) Which paragraph discusses:

a) Planar construction 2
b) Frame construction 3
c) Mass construction 1
2) Answer the following questions:
1) How are building materials used?
2) What are building components made from?
3) What is the form of a component related to?
4) How many forms of building components are there? What are they?

32
 5) How many types of construction are there? What are they?

5.2 SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

5.2.1 Exercise 1 (Reading and writing)

a) Read the text again and complete this table by putting ticks in the boxes to
show the functions of the components
Function of components
Structural Space Both structural support
Form of material
support only dividing only and space dividing
Blocks
Sheets
Rods

b) Now say whether these statement are true or false. Correct the false
statements.
1) Rod materials can be used for both dividing space and supporting the
building.
2) Concrete can be used as a block material, a sheet material and a rod
material.
3) Steel can be used for frame construction because it has high tensile
strength and low compressive strength.
4) The sheet materials, which act as space dividers in a frame construction
building, can be very light because they do not support structural loads.
5) Mass construction buildings are light whereas planar construction
building are heavy.
c) Now complete the following sentences:

33
 1) Wall made up of blocks are used to...........................
2) Sheet materials used in planar construction function.......................
3) Rod materials used in frame construction are not used
for................................

5.2.2 Exercise 2 (Reading and writing)

a) Now look at the following drawings and examples

A man can bend a rubber tile but
not a concrete tile
Rubber is flexible but concrete is
rigid
Wood can burn but concrete can
not burn
Wood is combustible but concrete
is non-combustible

Water vapour can pass through

stone but not through bitumen
Stone is permeable but bitumen is
impermeable
You can see through glass but not
through wood
Glass is transparent but wood is
opaque
Stainless steel can resist corrosion
but mild steel cannot
Stainless steel is corrosion
resistant but mild steel is not
corrosion resistant

34
 Heat can be easily transferred
through copper but not through
wood
Copper is good conductor of heat
but wood is a poor conductor of
heat
Rubber can be stretched or
compressed and will then return to
its original shape but clay are not
Rubber is elastic but clay is plastic

Bitumen can be dented or

scratched easily but glass cannot
Bitumen is soft but glass is hard

Flexible : dễ uốn
Combustible : bắt lửa
Non-combustible : không bắt lửa
Water-vapour : hơi nước
Permeable : thấm nước
Impermeable : không thấm nước
Transparent : trong suốt
Opaque : mờ đục
Stainless steel : thép không gỉ
Corrosion resistant : chống được ăn mòn
Mild steel : thép thường
Transfer : truyền
A good conductor of heat : chất dẫn nhiệt tốt
A poor conductor of heat : chất dẫn nhiệt kém
Stretch : kéo dãn ra

35
 Compress : ép lại, co lại
Original shape : hình dạng ban đầu
Elastic : đàn hồi
Dent : dập nổi
Scratch : cà xước, làm xước
Rubber : cao su
Tile : ngói, gạch lát
Bitumen : nhựa đường
Copper : đồng
Wood : gỗ
Heat : nhiệt
Clay : đất sét
Polythene membrane : màng pô-li-ê-ti-len
Aluminium : nhôm
Chemical action : phản ứng hóa học
Crane : cần trục, cẩu
Corrugated iron : mái sắt lượn
Glass wool : bông thủy tinh
Ceramic tiles : gạch gốm
Asbestos : tấm a-mi-ăng
Fireproof door : cửa chống cháy
Blind : bức rèm che cửa
b) Now complete these sentences with properties:
1) The polythene membrane can prevent moisture from rising into the
impermerble
concrete floor. This means that polythene is...............................
2) The T-shaped aluminium section can resist chemical action, i.e.
Stainless steel
aluminium is...............................
3) The stone block cannot be lifted without using a crane. This means that
stone is...............................

36
 4) The corrugated iron roof cannot prevent the sun from heating up the
good conductor
house, i.e. iron is...............................
5) Glass wool can help to keep a house warm in the winter and cool in the
a poor conductor
summer, i.e. glass wool is...............................
6) The ceramic tiles on the floor cannot be scratched easily by people
corrosion resistant
walking on them. This means that ceramic tiles are...............................
7) Asbestos sheeting can be used to fireproof doors. In other words
scratched
asbestos is...............................
8) Black cloths blinds can be used to keep the light out of a room, i.e.
opaque
cloth is...............................
c) Look at these diagrams. Match the letters A-H in the diagrams with the
sentences in b.

d) Make sentences about four other properties of materials from these tables:

37
Steel Good sound insulation
Stone Good thermal insulation
Has the property of
Glass wool High compressive strength
Brick High tensile strength

It can resist high compressive forces

It can resist high tensile forces
This means
It does not transmit heat easily
It does not transmit sound easily

5.2.3 Exercise 3 (Reading and writing)

Now look at this table:

a) Identify these materials from the table:

1) This material has a slightly lower density than aluminium.
2) This material has a much higher melting point than glass.
3) This material has a tensile strength much higher than concrete, but
slightly lower than zinc.
4) This material is slightly lighter than oak but is much stronger in tension.
5) This material has a considerably higher melting point than copper, but a
much lower tensile strength.

38
 6) This material has a tensile strength approximately twice that of pine.
7) The melting point of this material is approximately 3/2 time as high as
that of copper.
8) The density of this material is approximately half that of pine
9) This material is ten times as strong as concrete in tension.
10) These two materials have very nearly the same tensile strength.
b) Read this sentence:
The tensile strength of copper is approximately three times that of zinc.
Or Copper has a much higher tensile strength than zinc.
Now make similar sentences to compare the following:
1) Copper and aluminium with regard to their densities.
2) Zinc and oak with regard to their tensile strength.
3) Mild steel and aluminium with regard to their tensile strength.
4) Glass and concrete with regard to their densities.
5) Mild steel and copper with regard to their melting points.

5.2.4 Exercise 4 (Speaking)

Look at this table:

Building component Possible materials Performance requirement
aluminium mild steel a tensile strength of not
cladding
less than 90N/mm2
pine a tensile strength of not
beam
oak less than 35N/mm2
zinc weight should not exceed
roof covering
copper 8000 kg/m3
mild steel melting point should be in
fire door
copper excess of 1000oC

Word in pairs. Use this table together with the table in the exercise 3 above to
make conversations like the following:

39
CLIENT : What do you think is the best material to use for the
cladding?
ARCHITECT : Well, aluminium isn’t really suitable. IT’s strong enough but
it’s too expensive. I think we should use mild steel. It’s not
only strong enough but it’s also cheaper.

40
 CHAPTER 6: SITE LABOUR

6.1 READING

6.1.1 Topic: Site labour

The two most important men on a construction site are the contractor's
agent and the navvy. The agent is important because he acts for the contractors
and has the authority of the contractor on the site. The navy is important
because he, with perhaps hundreds of other navvies, does most of the work.
Compared with these two, although no civil engineer will happily admit it, the
resident engineer comes third, for without him the work would be completed
in time, though perhaps badly and at high cost to the client. Most of the civil
engineering design has been done by the time the contract has been signed,
and the contractor is bound to follow the design as it is laid down in the
drawings, though normally no contract is left without the supervision of a
resident engineer or at least of a clerk of the works or a civil engineering
inspector.
But between the agent and the navvy there are many other men who
organize the work, help it to go smoothly, see to the arrival of the essential
materials, check their quality and help to get the contract finished on time. The
chief of these is the general foreman, a man who has worked for many years
on construction sites, either as a navvy and then as a ganger in charge of a
group (gang) of navvies, or more usually, as a tradesman and then a foreman
of his trade.
Tradesmen in civil engineering or building is the name given to masons,
bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers, mechanical fitters and others who do a
special kind of work with their hands (a trade) for which they gained the skill
by a boyhood apprenticeship to a skilled man.

41
 Since navvies do the concreting and digging which are essential to most
foundation work, and foundations are the first work after the demolition and
site clearance, navvies are usually the first men employed on a building site.
(Source: JOHN. S. COTT, Civil Engineering, Longman, 1975)

6.1.2 Vocabulary

cơnstructor's agent (n) :người phụ trách thi công

navvy (n) : thợ
to be bound to do smth : buộc phải làm gì
supervise (v) : giám sát thi công
supervisor (n) : người giám sát thi công
supervision (n) : sự giám sát
clerk (n) : người theo dõi tiến độ
civil engineering inspector :người giámsát kỹ thuật,
dịp (v) : đào
smoothly (adv) : trôi chảy
foreman (n) : đốc công
trademan (n) : thợ công trình
ganger (n) : đội trưởng
to be in charge of : phụ trách chính
mason (n) : thợ xây, nề, đá
bricklayer (n) : thợ xây
carpenter (n) : thợ mộc
plasterer (n) : thợ trát tường
mechanical fitter :thợ lắp ráp thiết bị, máy móc
gam (v) : đạt được
boyhood (n) :thời niên thiếu
apprentice ship (n) : thời gian học việc
skilled man : thợ lành nghề.

42
6.1.3 Comprehension check

1. Why the the agent and navvy important ơn the construction sức?
2. When has most of the civil engineering design be en do ne?
3. Besides the agent and the navvy who organize the work? What do they
do?
4. What does " tradesmen” mean?
5. Who are the first men employed on a building site?

6.2 SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

6.2.1 Exercise 1 (Reading and writing)

Look and read

Bar chart of the sequence of trades on a building site

43
Trade: steel erectors Trade: cladding fixers
Job : erecting the steelwork Job : fixing the cladding
Weeks working: 9 to 15 Weeks working: 16 to 30

Trade: bricklayer
Job: building the brickwork
Weeks working: 13 to 21
During weeks 13 ,14 and 151
From the beginning of week 13 to the end of week 15 the steel
erectors
rsimultaneously with
work the bricklayers.
at the same time as

While the former erect the steelwork, the latter build the brickwork.
as soon as
Immediately after the steel erectors have finished, the cladding
fixers begin
Use the bar chart to help you label the following drawings. Then make similar
paragraphs:

44
a)
Trade: ________________ Trade: ________________
Job: ............. Job: .............
Weeks working: ............. Weeks' working: .............

Trade __________ __________

Job: .............
Weeks working: ........
b)
Trade
Job: .............
Weeks working: .............

Trade: ________ Trade:_________

Job: ............. Job: .............
Weeks working: ............. Weeks working: .............

45
6.2.2 Exercise 2 (Reading and writing)

Look and read

Assembly sequence of a prefabricated building
The sequence is divided into four stages of phases:
Phase 1

Initially The ground is

Event1
first excavated.
Then, the concrete foundations are constructed.
Event2

Later The column base plates

Event3
subsequently are fixed.
Finally, the steel columns are erected.
Event 4

Now look at the drawings of the next three 8tages and make statementsabout
the sequence of events in phases 2, 3, and 4.

46
47
6.2.3 Exercise 3 (Speaking)

Pairwork: Work in pairs. Look at the drawings for phases 1, 2, 3 and 4 and
make questions to which these are the answers like the example.
Example:
Questions: Why are the upper floor steel columns erected before the roof
decking has been put in place?
Why is the roof decking put in place after the upper floor steel
columns have been erected?
Answer: Because the roof decking requires the upper floor steel columns to
support it.
a. Because the concrete foundations require solid ground to support them.
b. Because the column base plates need a flat rigid surface - to support them.
c. Because the steel columns transmit their loads through them to the
foundations.
d. Because the concrete floors are supported by the beams.
e. Because the weatherproof membrane is laid over the balustradefixing
plates.
f. Because the horizontal cladding panels are fixed to the corner units.
g. Because the vertical cladding panels are flxed to the horizontal cladding
panels.
h. Because the workmen require access to the ceiling void to install the
i. Because the partitions are fixed to the suspended ceilings.

48
 TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER 1: HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE ........................................ 1

1.1 Reading .................................................................................................. 1

1.2 Skills development ................................................................................ 3

CHAPTER 2: THE PROCEDURE OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION .. 9

2.1 Reading .................................................................................................. 9

2.2 Skills development .............................................................................. 11

CHAPTER 3: STRUCTURES ...................................................................... 19

3.1 Reading ................................................................................................ 19

3.2 Skill development ................................................................................ 21

CHAPTER 4: FOUNDATIONS ................................................................... 26

4.1 Reading ................................................................................................ 26

4.2 Skills development .............................................................................. 29

CHAPTER 5: BUILDING MATERIALS ................................................... 31

5.1 Reading ................................................................................................ 31

5.2 Skills development .............................................................................. 33

CHAPTER 6: SITE LABOUR...................................................................... 41

6.1 Reading ................................................................................................ 41

6.2 Skills development .............................................................................. 43

49