TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MOMBASA

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

A REPORT ON EXTERNAL ATTACHMENT AT DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE PUBLIC WORKS MOMBASA01/05/2023-
31/07/2023 FROM 15/05/2023-07/07/2023

PRESENTED BY;

Name: WAFULA MASIKA TIMOTHY

Registration No: BTCE/401J/2021

Mobile No: 0112803735

Attachment period: 8 WEEKS

 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this report is my own work except for extracts and summaries for which
the original reference is stated herein.

____________________________________ _____________ _________

Name Signature Date

DEDICATION

This report is dedicated to all who materially, intellectually ,physically and financially contributed to
make my training a success .

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank the Almighty God for good health throughout the period , my dear parents who
encourage and support me in all my studies and most especially the entire staff in the Roads Department
for according me this great privilege and restlessly helping me advance my knowledge for a successful
career ahead .
 LIST OF CONTENTS
SL.NO TOPICS PAGE.NO.

1 INTRODUCTION 4
2 COMPONENTS OF SOIL 5
2.1 Common soil tests 5
3 BEARING CAPACITY 6
3.1 Piles 8
3.2 Short Column 12
3.3 Grade beam 13
4 BRICK WORK 18
4.1 Attention during brick work 19
4.2 Brick layout 20
5 PLASTERING WORK 21
5.1 Attention to be made for plaster work 22
5.2 Plastering Check 22
5.3 Curing 22
5.4 Attention during Curing 22
6 SEQUENCE OF FINISHING WORK 25
7 TILES WORK 26
7.1 Materials Required 26
7.2 Work Procedure 26
7.3 Attention during tiles work 27
7.4 Check for an engineer 27
8 SANITARY AND PLUMBING WORKS 27
8.1 Materials Required 27
8.2 PVC Fitting 28
9 PAINT 30
9.1 Procedure 30
9.2 Check for an engineer 30
 INTRODUCTION:
For a career-oriented applied education, TUM has a significant Civil Engineering students’
Attachment Program for level-2 students. This attachment bridges the gap between theory and
practice and provides students with practical, field-based, real-world experiences during their
years of study. During this training period, we, the students learn how to relate our theoretical
knowledge with practical fields. What are the difficulties faced by an engineer. How to manage
everything & what are the duties of an Engineer. For these practical & technical skills I participated
under “Department of Transport and Infrastructure Public Works”

Aim:
 The attachment aims to develop our skills to implement theoretical knowledge into practical
fields.

Objectives:
 To orient us with the practical CE works.
 To allow us to apply our theoretical knowledge into practical fields.
 To let us gaining practical experience.
 To let us understand the planning, design, drawing of construction.
 COMPONENTS OF SOIL:
 air
 water
 solid matter

Engineering properties of soil:

Basic properties:
 Unit weight
 Void ratio
 Water content
 strength
 compressibility(consolidation)
 seepage
 compaction characteristics

Common soil test:

Ex situ test
 Unit weight
 Grain size distribution
 Water content
 Liquid limit  Plastic limit  Unconfined compression test:
 Direct shear test  Consolidation
 Compaction test

In situ test
 SPT(standard penetration test)
 Most common in-situ test
 Less expensive
 Performed inside exploratory boring
 Well established in CE practice
 soft clay;N<5
 Avg stiff clay ;20<N<50
 Very dense and hard clay;N>50
 Rock ;N>75
 Our country N>9 ,we go for footing foundation.
 CPT(cone penetration test)  Another common situ test
 Define soil profile better than spt.

Rf (friction ratio) Soil condition

.2-.6 Gravel and CA
.6-1.2 Sand
1.2-4 silt
7-10 peat

BEARING CAPACITY:
 The conventional method of foundation design is based on the concept of bearing capacity or
allowable bearing pressure of the soil. The bearing capacity is defined as the
 Load or pressure developed under the foundation without introducing damaging movement in
the foundation; since damaging movement may result from foundation failure. The following
criteria must always be in evaluating the bearing capacity
 adequate factor of safety against failure
 Adequate margin against excessive settlements.

Clear cover :
Footing 3”
Grade beam 2”

Column 2.5”
Below grade beam
Above grade beam 1.5”

Beam 1.5”
Slab ¾”
Stair 1”
Under ground water reservoir 2”

Bottom slab
Vertical wall 2”
Top slab 1”
 Lap length:
 Beam, grade beam, slab:38D
 Column: 30D
 Where D is rod diameter.

Initial attempt to start work:

 Make Labor shed, enclosed boundary & take all necessary attempt (any permission) to start
work.
 Arrange all utility connection (Electricity, water & sanitary toilet).
 Collect Drawing sheet and Check it thoroughly, if any problem arises contact with respective
Engineer.
 Collect work schedule-chart and study it with great care and prepare work program step by step
if find any problem consult with respective Project Representative and adjust work program.
 Arrange manpower as site Engineer, store keeper, Security gird set by office, order.
 Ensure selection of civil contactor

Pile foundation may be used for following purpose

 To carry the foundation
 To transfer loads through the soft soil
 To compact granular soil
 To resist uplift or overturning
 To control settlement
 To add additional safety for bridge construction

CONCRETE PILE:
 Pre-cast
 Cast in situ
 It is formed by drilling a hole in the ground and filling it with concrete
 Initial work:
 From nearby road , a level is maintained i.e floor level will be 2’ up from that level.
 According to set back rule the grid lines are aligned.
 As per drawing the pile centers are marked. In the practical ground, small rods are drive at the
center of piles and fixed by cement sand.

PILES :
 Usually, now piles are cast in situ.
 Mixing ratio: 1:1.5:3
 Pile reinforcement is made with spiral ties according to design.
 Ties are jointed by welding
 For vertical reinforcement development length =20”(welding )
 Not welding =27-28”
 Clear cover =3” Equipment:
 Rigs

Fig: pile reinforcement

Fig: pile driving
 PROCEDURE OF PILE DRIVING
 In the practical ground, piles are centered by dropping water. If water from sizzle drop exactly
on top of pile pointing, then centering is okay, if not then moving the tripod and adjust the pile
centering.
 Wash boring is done up to the requirement.
 To keep a clear hole, bentonite is used.
 Pile casing drives the hole and put the reinforcement onto it.
 By trimme pipe, mortar is given.

Attention during pile work:

 Make a mud house in a suitable position minimum of dimension 10'xl6'x05'or equal to the
volume of two piles and make provision for two-chamber.
 Check the diameter of the sizzle (15” for 18" dia pile and 17" for 20" dia pile).
 Check the diameter of the casing (inner diameter must be equal to the specified diameter of the
pile), casing length minimum of 10'.
 Confirm boring length by measuring the boring pipe.
 Wash borehole by clean water and confirm cleanness of mud from borehole (wash minimum
50minutes)
 Check reinforcement casing for length, welding (longitudinal bar lapping must be welded in 3
points each 4" minimum in length and alternative touching point for spiral reinforcement) and
spacing (both spiral and longitudinal bar)
 Provide clear cover with applying chair for every 10' length (from a minimum of three
directions) and wrap it with tape
 Maintain 1.5feet to 2feet CC casting in the lower point of the pile and must use a hanger for
hanging reinforcement casing to install it to borehole also maintain cut off level. (3' feet from
EGL
 Check the length of the trimming pipe it must lower up to the bottom point of pile casting.
 After completing a pile casting start 2nd one maintaining a minimum distance of 10' feet from
last one.
 Break false casting after a mature period of minimum 28 days.
 PILE CAP:
 The pile cap is used for group pile to hold the piles together and to distribute the column load
equally to every pile of the pile group.
 After construction of the pile, from 7day to 21day casting of pile cap is done.
 According to design, pile cap may be rectangular, square, hexagonal etc.
 To maintain the different size, only wood is used as form work of pile cap.
 Usually 18inch ‘mataum’(local language) is used.
 Pile cap height is given according to design.
 Soil is excavated from ground level according to design(we saw excavation 6ft from ground
level and 3ft pile cap).
 Then formwork is placed and check (grid, height, distance etc) is done by engineer.
 Then the pile cap casting is done. (1:1.5:3), (cement: sand: brick chips)
 Before ‘ pile cap’ casting, piles are broke by using drill machine.
 Minimum 6inch of piles must remain in pile cap. (for better bonding and strength).
 Minimum two ‘ring’ or spiral should be broke (to find hard concrete of pile).
 Broken of pile : is necessary because –
 When pile was driven, then some soil must be in the top of pile (due it was driven manually).
 This soil is harmful for good bonding in between piles and pile cap.
 After breaking pile head, pile bars are bend inside the pile cap (formwork), and then casting is
done.

Fig: pile cap

 SHORT COLUMN :
 Generally the floor should be 2ft above the road level.
 From this 2 ft,1ft distance plus grade beam thickness is deducted.
 The height up to pile cap short column is constructed.
 2.5 inch clear cover is given, which is maintained by using concrete block.
 According to design bars and ties are given.
 The spacing of ties usually less compare to other column.
 In case of pile foundation, short column is seen from pile cap to grade beam.(we saw it) 
 The kicker is not used in short column casting.

Fig: short column

GRADE BEAM:
 That part of the foundation system which supports the exterior wall of the superstructure.
 Commonly designed as a beam which bears directly on the column footings.
 All column loads are distributed by grade beam.
 All columns are joined together by grade beam.
If grade beam is not given,
 floor column and short column are become free, which reduces the ability of earthquake
resisting.
 load is not distributed properly.
 2-inch clear cover is given in grade beam. (to resist moisture from soil)
 Fig: grade beam

Fig: underground water tank.

RAMP:
It is a flat surface whose endpoints are at different heights. By moving an object up an inclined
plane rather than completely vertical, the amount of force required is reduced. Usually, ramps are
made for basements.

Fig: ramp
BASEMENT:
The basement is the floor of a building that is below the ground floor. Shallow foundation buildings
do not have basements. Mat foundation is required for the basement.

Fig: basement
INVERTED BEAM:
An inverted beam is a structural element that is cable of withstanding load primarily by resisting
bending. These beams are not hanging like the ordinary beams. They are constructed in the same
way like the ordinary beams but they are to placed where beams are not shown hanging from the
slab

Fig: inverted beam

CONCEAL BEAM
These beams are not actual beams. They are kept secret (i.e inside the slab.) Usually used near the
stairs or the column

Fig: conceal beam

LIFT (ELEVATOR):

Lift is a vertical transport that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building They
are powered by electric motors.

Fig: lift core

 Fig: overhead water tank

Fig :project plan

 CHAIR:
To keep the clear spacing between the top reinforcement & bottom reinforcement chairs were used.
The spacing of the chair is kept about 2’to3’.
• 16mm rod used for chair

Fig: chairs

Peripheral beam:
This beam covering the periphery of the slab. Like-edge beam. Good for earthquake resistance.
And better than flat slab.

Fig: peripheral beam

 Types of brick:
 1st class brick.
 2nd class brick.
 3rd class brick.
Test of brick:
 T-test:
 Form two brick as T then fall down around 6’ then if its break then bad if not then it is good brick.
Others :
 Metallic sound for 1st class brick
 The shape and size of 1st class brick is uniform
 Size:9.5”*4.5”*2.75”

BRICK WORK :

Materials required :
 1st class brick
 Portland cement
 Local coarse sand (FM 1.2-1.5)

Motar (cement sand mixture ) proportion:

 1.250 mm or more thick brickwork , cement sand mortar ratio is 1:6
 2. 125mm or less thick brickwork , cement sand mortar ratio is 1:4.
 Work procedure:
 use 1st class brick of good quality.
 Bricks should be fully submerged under clear water for at least 12 hrs and be used after 1-2 hours.
 clean and chip the surface
 layout the brick
 check the horizontal alignment
 thickness of joint not exceed 12mm
 the brick should be cured properly. Started after 24 hrs to 10days.
 Fig: brick work (English bond) 

Material consumption:
 For 100sft of 10’’ brickwork(1:6)
 Material requirement
 Brick 1150nos
 Cement 4bags
 Medium coarse sand 33-36cft
 For 100 sft of 5” brickwork (1:4) material requirement is as follows
 Brick 500nos
 Cement 2bag
 Medium coarse sand 11-14cft
Attention during Brick work:
 Apply brick layout with architectural floor plan, if any problem arises consult with respective
Architect.

 For any necessity change it will be implemented after amendment and approval from responsible
authority.
 Brick must saturate 24 hours and confirm fungus & salinity free before use.
 At the time of brick work complete selection of Grill, Wood, Electrical & Sanitary contractor.
Also prepare estimation for grill, wood, electrical assembly & sanitary assembly materials.
 Check for absorption capacity (maximum 1/6 of the weight of brick)
 Prepare maximum quantity of mortar at a time so as to consume within 45 minutes.
 Make mortar as per ratio 1:4 for outer side & 1:5 for inner side work.
 During brick work vertical lining check with plum bob and also check for horizontal lining.
 Maximum vertical 3' 6" brick work complete in a day.
 Brick work must leakage free. Check mortar plashing between the bricks.
 After rubbing C.C and R.C.C surface then apply brick work incase of in contact with C.C or
R.C.C.
Brick layout check format for an engineer:
 All dimensions of the room as per architectural drawing.
 Two diagonals of the rectangular rooms are equal.
 All corners are checked with tri-square scale.
 Clear distances of the bathroom checked properly for placing commode, basin, bathtub etc.
 Width of the lobby as per architectural drawing.
 Layout of the kitchen work top/cabinet basin work top as per drawing.
 Layout for duct and other ornamental works confirmed as per architectural drawing.
All openings of door, window/high window/window a/c as per architectural drawing.
Lintel:
It is horizontal member placed across an opening
RCC lintel :it may be pre-cast or cast in situ
Mixing Ratio=1:2:4

Fig: lintel
 Chipping:
Cheeping is mainly used to rough the surface.
• Minimum of 2- no. of cheep exist per square inch
• Depth of cheep nearer 2 mm
• The distance of one cheeping to another ¾”

Fig: chipping

PLASTERING WORK:

Material required :
 Ordinary Portland cement
 Local coarse sand (FM from 1.2-1.5)
Work procedure:
 Chipped with pointed hammer (byesla)
 Wash the surface with clean water.
 For RCC work mortar mix will be 1:4;brick work mix will be 1:6
 Apply cement grouting on RCC surface
 Make 3*3 level(paya) of plaster as reference level
 Thickness will be for RCC is ½, and brick is ¾ .
 Check the level with aluminum straight edge (patta)
 Groove in plaster around door frame
 Curing the finished plastered surface.
 Attention to be made for Plaster work:
 For plaster in use Mymensing sand.
 Make a sand washing house for washing the sand and check for decantation test to ensure mud free.
 If fungus or salinity exists then clear it by washing, (ie before using sand).
 Complete ceiling plaster before wall plaster and maintain plain surface by checking water level
 All joint such as Beam-Ceiling, Beam-Wall, and Column -Wall etc. must be sharp and straight lined
 Beam bottom must be plain & all angles to be right angles.
 Maintain smooth & plain surface in case of all vertical surface by diagonal and lining checking.
 Mortar ratio 1:4 for roof &1:5 for all other surface

PLASTERING: CHECK
light check:
 After plastering “patta” is hold at an angle both vertically and horizontally, then light is allowed for
passing.
 If light is passed, then it indicates that the plaster is not good.
 If not passed , then it indicates good plastering.
Others:
 After plastering , angular check(90 degree) is done by using  tri- square at the corner of plaster.
 If the color of plaster is uniform then it also indicates good plastering.
 By touching the plaster, if loose sand is found in hand, then indicates plastering is not good
Curing:
 The objectives of curing at normal temperature is to keep concrete saturated, or as nearly saturated
as possible ,until the originally water filled spaced in the fresh cement paste has been occupied to
the desired extent by the products of hydration of cement .Hydration at maximum rate can produce
under the condition of saturation .
The necessity for curing condition arises from the fact that hydration of cement can take place only
in water filled capillaries

Attention during curing :

 Curing applies with making a curing chart and it must be maintained by site engineer.
 Spray water in all vertical surface minimum of 3 times in a day.
 Make a water log in case of all horizontal surfaces to apply curing water.
 Incase of column curing wrap it with jute cloth and wet minimum of 3-times in a day.
 Ready mix :
 If instead of being batched and mixed on site ,concrete is delivered for
 Placing from a central plant, it is referred to as ready mixed concrete or premixed
 Concrete.
Advantages :
 Close quality control
 Use on congested site
 To prevent segregation and maintaining workability
 convenience when small quality of concrete or intermittent placing is required

Fig: Transporting concrete through a truck

Fig: Putting concrete in a container

Fig: Placing and compacting by vibrator

Fig: Check the thickness of slab or beam

Fig: Use patta as level the surface

 Limitation:
 Use CA singles which has less crushing strength .
 use more fine aggregate for workability
 use more chemical which delay the initial setting time but may loss the natural power of cement 
more chemical, less water may be right may not be.
 Truck will allow in the day but there is question about ready mix truck.

SEQUENCE OF FINISHING WORK:

 Floor brick layout as per drawing
 Layout confirmation from customer service
 Brick work as per approved from customer service
 Door fixing
 Electrical conduit laying and box fixing
 Sanitary line
 Window grill verandah and staircase railing fitting work
 Inside plaster work
 Kitchen work top and bath room cabinet basin slab casting after approval from customer service
 Selection of tiles from customer service
 Pressure test of water supply line
 Tiles work
 Outside side plaster work
 Floor tiles work
 Paint work 1st coat
 Aluminum work
 Door shutter fixing including lock and accessories
 Electrical wiring work
 2nd coat paint
 Electrical fitting work
 Final coat of paint
 Lift installation and main gate fitting
 Cleaning and hand over.
 TILES WORK

Materials required
 1.Tiles
 2.Portland cement
 3.Local coarse sand
 4.White cement

Work procedure

 General
 Clean and chip the surface properly where the tiles work will be done. clean all the debris, dust,
loose materials from concrete or brick surface where tiles are to be laid.
 The tiles should be of proper size, shape and defect free.
 The tiles will be kept in submerged condition for 2 hours.
 The joints should be properly filled with mixture of white cement.
Floor or wall should be clean with water then cement grouting should be done.
”Suta” (local language) is used for marinating straight laying of tiles.

For wall (brick surface)

 Groove (for electric pipe setting) should be cut on wall before placing the tiles.
 Wall should be washed then cement grouting should be done.
 Vertical level should be done (using plum bob).
 Base should be fixed by one layer of tiles. then other layer of tiles are given (with the help of mortar
(1:3))

For floor (concrete surface)

 Horizontal level is done. here, any wall is used as base.
 Vertical level is done with the help of plumb bob which is known as “shol”(local language).
 Base is fixed by one layer of tiles then other tiles are laying.
 Before laying tiles, after giving cement grouting local sand is given.
 Attention dining tiles work:
 All plaster work (inside) including false slab must be completed before execution of tiles work
 Wet tiles for 24 hours before use.
 Adjust wall area and no. of tiles needed by false fitting before finally fitting that.
 Fix up decor and border position in the respective area.
 Incase of all tiles work surface must be plain. To maintain plainness & smoothness check for
diagonal and lining test.

Check for an engineer:

 Check the tiles are proper size ,shape ,and defect free.
 Check the surface are free form dirt ,dust, concrete mortar and washed.
 Check the soaking of tiles of tiles at least for 2 hrs and discontinue for 30 minutes.
 Check the level paya.
 Check the tiles are properly fitted
 Check the joint
 Check the gap by wooden mallet
 Check the skirting 4” and wall flashed.

SANITARY AND PLUMBING WORKS

Materials requirement:
 Ultra violet ray controlled PVC fittings
 Paints
 Jute
 Pipe fittings
 Polyvinyl chloride pipes
 Galvanized iron pipes
Fig:U pvc Fitting

Shutter:
 PAINT
 Provide the missionary surface or concrete surface for protection against corrosion, wear, dirt and
accumulation.
 It is used to produce smooth surface and for good looking.

Procedure
 14 days of curing
 45 days of drying
 Washing the wall or ceiling
 Use the sealer or primer
 Use lime putty (4 days)
 Rubbing the surface by sand paper
 1st coat (4 days)
 Use touch putty
 Check by 200watt bulb to find out uneven surface
 2nd coat

Check for an engineer

 Check the surface are free from dirt, dust, concrete mortar with stone and washed and dried again
 Sealer applied uniformly.
 1st coat line putty applied and dried for 4 days
 Rubbed with paper to remove all the undulation
 Check the coating 1st and 2nd of 4 days dried up.
 Check the is uniform in color or not .
 Check the fungi attack

