Sub: Introduction to Civil Engineering (22ESC241)

Module-1 Notes
(Dr. Leeladhar S Pammar, Associate Professor, Dept.of.Civil Engg.,
KLS GIT, Belagavi)

Introduction to Civil Engineering

Engineering: It is a profession of transforming scientific knowledge into useful practical

applications, where the materials & forces in nature are effectively used for the
benefit of mankind.

An Engineer plays key role in transforming plan and design to applications.

Civil Engineering: It is the oldest branch of professional engineering, where the civil
engineers are concerned with projects for the public or civilians.
The role of civil engineers is seen in every walk of life or infrastructure development
activity such as follows: -

1. Providing shelter to people in the form of low cost houses to high rise apartments.
2. Laying ordinary village roads to express highways.
3. Constructing irrigation tanks, multipurpose dams & canals for supplying
water to agricultural fields.
4. Supplying safe and potable w water for public & industrial uses.
5. Protecting our environment by adopting sewage treatment & solid waste disposal
techniques.
6. Constructing hydro-electric & thermal-power plants for generating electricity.
7. Providing other means of atransportation such as railways, harbor & airports.
8. Constructing bridges across streams, rivers and also across seas.
9. Tunneling across mountains & also under water to connect places easily & reduce distance.

Objectives
• To know the different fields of Civil Engineering
• To understand the importance of different building materials used for
construction of buildings.

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 Different Fields of Civil Engineering

As seen above, civil engineering is a very broad discipline that incorporates many activates in various
fields. However, civil engineers specialize themselves in one field of civil engineering. The different
fields of civil engineering and the scope of each can be briefly discussed as follows.
Fields of Civil Engineering
1. Surveying: Scope of surveying are
• For preparing the contour map to determine the best possible route and amount of
earthwork required
• For preparing the engineering map showing engineering details like highways,
railways, canals, dams, reservoirs, etc.
• Maps prepared for marking boundaries of countries, states, districts etc., avoid
disputes
• For preparing the contour map to determine the best possible route and amount of
earthwork required
• For preparing the engineering map showing engineering details like highways,
railways, canals, dams, reservoirs, etc.
• Maps prepared for marking boundaries of countries, states, districts etc., avoid
disputes

2. Geotechnical Engineering: Scope of Geotechnical Engineering are

• To assess the quality and strength of soil to construct civil engineering structure
• To design retaining walls for soil detainment.
• To decide type of foundations for different type of structures.
• For design of underground structures such as Tunnels, Shafts, Conduits.
• Design of earthen dams for storage of water.
• For design of Roads for transportation facilities.

3. Structural Engineering: Scope of structural Engineering are

• Analysis and design of Dams, Bridges, Stadiums, Auditoriums, Multi - storied
buildings.
• Analysis and design of power generation stations
• Analysis and design of steel industrial structures
• Repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of structures
• Design of nuclear Power plants.
• Design of structural reinforcement for different type of structural components

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4. a) Hydraulics Engineering: Scope of Hydraulic Engineering are
• To measure the discharge of water in rivers for design of bridges
• Design of hydro power plants for generation of electricity.
• Design of Pumps and turbines
• Design of water supply schemes for the city which includes design of pipes and pumps.
• Design of canals to carry water to irrigation land from dams.
• Design of Weirs for Dams.

b) Water Resource Engineering: Scope of water resource engineering are

• To arrive the total discharge of water from catchment areas

• To design the reservoir capacity to store the water
• For water quality management and pollution control.
• Supply of water for garden and recreational centers.
• Design of water supply systems for the cities and industries.
• To measure the total rainfall

5. Transportation Engineering: Scope of Transportation engineering are

• It involves planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of transportation
facility.
• Planning and design of runways, roads, harbors and railways
• Maintenance and up gradation of harbors, airports, railway system based on
requirements.
• It contributes economic, industrial, social and cultural development of any country.
• Design of traffic signals for control of traffic.

6. Environmental Engineering: Scope of Environmental Engineering are

• Involves collection of water, Purification and supply for drinking.
• Waste water collection, treatment and disposal
• Air pollution control and treatments.
• Solid waste management and control
• E-Waste management control and Treatment
• Construction waste management and control

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7. Construction planning and Project Management: Scope of Constructionplanning and
Project Management are
• It involves the choice of technology, the estimation of the required resources and
durations for individual tasks etc,.
• A good construction plan is the basis for developing the budget and the schedule for
work
• In is the master plan that ensures a construction project runs smoothly and meets all its
deadlines, budget constraints, and quality standards.
• It involves the material storage, labors and equipment’s’ required for completion of the project.
• Critical Path Method (CPM) is used to execute the work in a planned manner such
that the project is completed within specified time and allotted budget.

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 Basic Materials of Construction

Following are the basic materials of construction:

1. Brick:
Brick is a small rectangular block typically made of fired or sun-dried clay, used in
construction.
Good qualities of Bricks:

• The bricks should be table-molded, well burnt in kilns, copper-colored, free from
cracks and with sharp and square edges.
• The bricks should be uniform in shape and should be of standard size.
• The bricks should give a clear metallic ringing sound when struck with each other.
• The brick should not absorb water more than 20% by weight, for first class bricks and
22% by weight for second class bricks, when soaked in water for a period of 24hours.
• No impression should be left on brick surface, when it is scratched with finger nail.
• The bricks should not break into pieces when dropped flat on hard ground from aheight
of about one meter.
• The bricks should have low thermal conductivity and they should be sound proof.
• The bricks, when soaked in water for 24 hours, should not show deposits of white salt
when allowed to dry in shade.
Types of Bricks
1. Sun-dried bricks

Unburnt bricks or sundried bricks are the most basic example for bricks. They are not so
strong, have reduced fire and water resistance, and hence they are used in temporary
structures
2. Burnt Clay Bricks

Burnt bricks are good quality bricks and burnt bricks are classified into four types and they
are
• First class bricks: They are table-molded and burnt in large kilns. So, these bricks
contain standard shape, sharp edges and smooth surfaces.
• Second class bricks: Second class bricks are moderate quality bricks and they are
molded by ground-molding process. These bricks are also burnt in kilns. But because
of ground molding, they do not have smooth surfaces as well as sharp edges
• Third class bricks: Third class bricks are poor quality bricks which are generally used
for temporary structures like unburnt bricks.
• Fourth class bricks: Fourth class bricks are very poor quality bricks and these are not
used as bricks in the structure. They are crushed and used as aggregates in the
manufacturing of concrete.
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 3. Fly Ash Bricks

Fly ash bricks are manufactured using fly ash and water. These bricks have better
properties than clay bricks and great resistant to freeze thaw cycles
4. Concrete Bricks

Concrete bricks are manufacturing using concrete with ingredients as cement, sand, coarse
aggregates and water. These bricks can be manufactured in sizes as required.
5. Sand Lime or Calcium Silicate Bricks
Calcium silicate bricks are made of sand and lime and popularly known as sand lime
bricks. These bricks are used for several purposes in construction industries such as
ornamental works in buildings, masonry works etc.
Tests on Bricks:

1. Absorption Test on Bricks

Absorption test is conducted on brick to find out the amount of moisture content absorbed
by brick under extreme conditions. For a good quality brick the amount of water absorption
should not exceed 20% of weight of dry brick.
2. Crushing Strength or Compressive Strength Test on Bricks:

Crushing strength of bricks is determined by placing brick in compression testing machine.

Minimum crushing strength of brick is 3.50N/mm2, if it is less than 3.50 N/mm2, then it is
not useful for construction purpose.
3. Hardness Test on Bricks

A good brick should resist scratches against sharp things. So, for this test a sharp tool or finger
nail is used to make scratch on brick. If there is no scratch impression on brick then it is said
to be hard brick.
4. Shape and Size Test on Bricks

Shape and size of bricks are very important consideration. All bricks used for construction
should be of same size
5. Color Test of Bricks

A good brick should possess bright and uniform color throughout its body

6. Soundness Test of Bricks

In this test, 2 bricks are chosen randomly and struck with one another. Then sound produced
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 should be clear bell ringing sound and brick should not break. Then it is said to be good brick.

7. Efflorescence Test on Bricks

A good quality brick should not contain any soluble salts in it. If soluble salts are there, then it
will cause efflorescence on brick surfaces.

Advantages of Brick Masonry:

• Bricks are having uniform shape and size.

• Handling is easy with brick as the bricks are light in weight.
• Brick is easily available and transportation cost is less
• Construction cost can be reduced in brick masonry as mortar joints are thin.

Disadvantages of Brick Masonry

• Not as strong as other materials such as stone.

• Not as durable compared to stone.
• Brick masonry needs plastering to protect from weathering.
• Brick absorbs water which will cause dampness and damage to the structure.
• Less aesthetic view with brick as there is limited sizes and colors.

2) Cement:

Cement is a powder of alumina, silica, lime, iron oxide, and magnesium oxide burned together
in a kiln and finely powdered and used as binding material in mortar and concrete.
Uses of Cement

• The most significant use of cement is production of concrete and mortar

• It is used in concrete for laying floors, roofs and constructing lintels, beams, stairs, pillars
etc.
• It can be used for preparation of foundations, watertight floors, footpaths, etc.
• It can be used for manufacturing precast pipes, garden seats, flower pots, dust bins, fencing
posts, etc.
• It is used in the construction of water Tanks.

Different types of cements

• Ordinary Portland cement: This cement is used in general concrete construction where
there is no exposure to sulphates in the soil or in groundwater
• Portland pozzolana cement: PPC is used for the structures having direct contact with
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 water such as marine structure, dams, bridge piers, sanitation system like Sewers and thick
foundation where mass concrete is used.
• Rapid hardening Portland cement: It is generally used in road work and bridge
construction where the time factor is very important.
• Portland slag cement: It can be used in mass concrete structures such as retaining walls,
foundation, and dams.
• Sulphate resisting Portland cement: Since ordinary Portland cement is susceptible to
attack of sulphate hence sulphate resisting Cement is developed to use where the soil is
infected with sulphates
• Quick setting Cement: Quick setting cement sets very fast. This cement is used for
foundation where pumping of water is needed

Requirements of good cement:

1) Fineness of Cement

The size of the particles of the cement is its fineness. The required fineness of good cement is
achieved through grinding the clinker in the last step of cement production process. Fineness of
cement should not be more than 10%
2) Soundness of Cement

Soundness refers to the ability of cement to not shrink upon hardening. Soundness should not be
more than 10mm
3) Consistency of Cement
The ability of cement paste to flow is consistency. It is measured by Vicat Test. Generally the
consistency of cement is 29%.
4) Strength of Cement

• Compressive Strength: It is the most common strength test on cement. The test specimen
of 50mmx50mmx50mm are casted and after curing the specimens are tested under
compressive loads until failure
• Tensile strength: Split tensile test is conducted for determining the tensile strength of
cement.
• Flexural strength: This is actually a measure of tensile strength in bending. The test is
performed on a 40 x40 x 160 mm cement mortar beam, which is loaded at its centre point
until failure.
5) Setting Time of Cement

Cement sets and hardens when water is added.

• Initial setting time: When the paste begins to stiffen which is typically occurs within 30-
45 minutes
• Final setting time: When the cement hardens, being able to sustain some load which
occurs in between6 to 10 hours
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 6) Specific Gravity (Relative Density)

Specific gravity is generally used in mixture proportioning calculations. Portland cement has a
Specific gravity of 3.15

3 Mortars

Mortar is a bonding agent which is generally produced by mixing cementing or binding material
Types of Mortar

1) Cement Mortar
Cement mortar is a type of mortar where cement is used as binding material and sand is used as
fine aggregate. Depending upon the desired strength, the cement to the sand proportion of cement
mortar varies from 1:2 to 1:6. like Lime or Cement and fine aggregate sand or surkhi with water.
2) Lime Mortar

Lime mortar is a type of mortar where lime (fat lime or hydraulic lime) is used as binding material
and sand is used as fine aggregate.
3. Surkhi mortar

Surkhi mortar is a type of mortar where lime is used as binding material and surki is used as fine
aggregate.

4. Mud Mortar

Mud mortar is a type of mortar where mud is used as binding material and sawdust, or cow-dung
is used as fine aggregate. Mud mortar is useful where lime or cement is not available.
Qualities of good mortar:

• The main quality that mortar should possess is adhesion. Good mortar should provide good
adhesion to building units (bricks, Stones etc).
• Mortar should be water resistant. It should have the capability of resisting the penetration
of water.
• Deformability of mortar should be low.
• Mortar should be easily workable in the site condition.
• It should possess high durability
• Cracks should not be developed in the joint formed by mortar.

Functions/uses of Mortar in Construction:

• Mortar is used to bind together the bricks or stones in brick or stone masonry.

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• It is used to give a soft even bed between different layers of brick or stone masonry for
equal distribution of pressure over the bed.
• It is used to fill up the spaces between bricks or stones for making walls tight
• It is used to fill up the spaces between bricks or stones for making walls tight
• It is used in pl astering works to hide the joints and to improve appearance

5. Plain Cement Concrete

Plain cement concrete is the mixture of cement, fine aggregate (sand) and coarse aggregate
without steel.
Material Used in Plain Cement Concrete:

1. Coarse Aggregate

Coarse aggregate used in the PCC must be of hard broken stone of granite or similar stone,
free from dust, dirt and other foreign matter. The stone ballast shall be 20 mm in size and
smaller.
2. Fine Aggregate

Fine aggregate shall be of coarse sand consisting of hard, sharp and angular grains and free
from dust, dirt and organic matter.
3. Cement

Portland Pozzolana cement (P.P.C) is normally used for plain cement concrete.

4 Water

Generally, potable water shall be used having a pH value not less than 6.

Uses of Plain cement concrete

• As bed concrete below the wall footings, column footings

• As sill concrete to get a hard and even surface at window and ventilator sills.
• As to coping concrete over the parapet and compound walls.
• It is used in rigid pavement construction for transportation
• Storm/ Sewer at drains, small retaining walls.
• To make tennis courts, basketball courts etc

6. RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete)

Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) is a composite building material consisting of concrete
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 reinforced with steel.
Advantages of Reinforced Cement Concrete:
• Fresh concrete will be in the form of fluid and so it can be poured and casted into
any shape. It gives easiness to the engineer to decide the shape of structure based
on architectural aspects.
• RCC with proper cover will withstand to fire for about 3 – 4 hours. RCC will also
resist any type of weathering.
• After the completion of work low maintenance is needed for concrete structures
compared to the other (steel and timber) type of structures.
• Steel and Concrete are a commonly used construction material and so it is easily
available to prepare reinforced cement concrete.
• Reinforced Concrete members are good in rigidity due to their stiffness.

Disadvantages of RCC:

• RCC sections are heavier comparatively to the sections made with other
construction materials like Steel, wood, etc.
• It requires lots of formwork, centring and shuttering to be fixed
• RCC takes time to gain its full strength, because cement gains strength very slowly.
• RCC needs too much maintenance during its construction, like proper curing,
checking of cracks, prevention from direct sunlight, etc.
• RCC sections consume more space than other sections made with construction
materials like Steel.
Uses of RCC
• Reinforced concrete is used for the construction of roof slabs, columns, beams and
footings in residential and commercial structures.
• Reinforced concrete is used for construction of bridges of small, medium and long
spans resulting in aesthetically superior and economical structures in comparison
with steel bridges
• Reinforced concrete is used in the construction of roads that is designed to carry
heavy traffics loads.
• Pipes and conduits have been constructed from reinforced concrete
• Electric poles are made from reinforced cement concrete.
• For construction of bunkers the reinforced concrete is used.

7. PSC (Pre-stressed concrete)

Pre-stressed concrete is a structural material in which predetermined, engineering stresses
are introduced in to resist the stresses that occur when the material is subject to loading.
Following are the uses of PSC:
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 1) Construction of Bridges:
Pre-stressed concrete has applications in the construction of bridges. This type of bridge is
very strong and durable and is often used in the construction of long-span bridges.
2) Construction of Buildings:
Pre-stressed concrete is a construction material that is commonly used in the construction
of buildings. Pre-stressed concrete is often used for beams and columns, as well as for floor
and roof slabs in pre-stressed concrete buildings
3. Construction of Storage Tanks:
Pre-stressed concrete is commonly used in the construction of storage tanks. The advantage
of using pre-stressed concrete tanks is that they can be designed to resist the internal
pressure of the tank contents. This results in a lighter and thinner wall, which reduces the
overall weight of the tank
4. Railway sleepers:
Pre-stressed concrete sleepers are used in rail tracks. The PSC sleepers are extremely
strong and durable and is less likely to be damaged by weathering or other environmental
factors.
5. Concrete Pavements:
Pre-stressed concrete is used in concrete pavements to improve their strength and
durability.

8. Structural steel:

Steel is a kind of metal alloy that's made of iron and carbon. Due to its high strength it is
often used to build the framework of high rise buildings.
Uses of structural steel:

1) To Build High Rise Buildings

Structural steel is resistant to external forces such as wind and earthquakes. Hence the high
rise buildings are constructed using steel members.
2) To Build Industrial Sheds

Another benefit of structural steel is that it is cost effective and hence it is used in the
construction of industrial sheds
3) To Build Bridges

Steel has a high strength to weight ratio, which means, steel is a tensile metal and is used in
construction of bridges
4) To Build Parking Garages

Structural steel is useful to build parking garages. Due to light weight of structural members
it easier to construct structures.
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 5) To Build Residential Buildings

They should be able to withstand external forces such as wind, earthquakes, and storms
hence used in residential buildings.Classification of steel

1) Low-carbon steel – This class of steel contains up to 0.30% C. Low carbon steel is used
for automobile body panels, tin plates and wire products.
2) Medium-carbon steel – This class is similar to low carbon, except it ranges from 0.30%
– 0.60% C. Medium carbon steel is mainly used for shafts, axles, gears, crankshafts,
couplings and forgings.
3) High-carbon steel– This of steel ranges from 0.60% – 1.00% C. High carbon steel is
used for spring materials and high-strength wires.
4) High-strength low-alloy steel – This steel alloy is designed to provide better mechanical
properties and greater resistance to atmospheric corrosion.
5) Low-alloy steels – This alloy’s primary function is to increase its strength and toughness
after heat treatment.

8. Construction Chemicals:
1. Concrete Admixtures
Admixture is a material which is one of the ingredients of concrete apart from cement,
water and aggregates. It is added to the batch immediately before or during mixing. In some
conditions, ordinary concrete fails to give the required quality performance or durability.
In such situations, admixtures are used to modify the properties of ordinary concrete so as
to match the requirement, thereby making it more suitable for the situation.
Some of the admixtures are given below:
i) Plasticizers (Water Reducers)
The organic substances or the combinations of organic and inorganic substances, which
offer a higher workability at the same water content, are known as plasticizing admixtures.
ii) Super Plasticizers
Use of super plasticizers allows the reduction of water to the extent up to 30 % without
reducing workability
iii) Retarders and Retarding Plasticizers
Retarders are admixtures that slow down the chemical process of hydration so that concrete
remains in the plastic state and it remains workable for a longer time than concrete without
the retarder.

iv). Accelerators and Accelerating Plasticizers

Accelerating admixtures are added in the concrete to increase the rate of early strength
development in concrete so as to Permit earlier removal of formwork and reduces the
required period of curing
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 v) Bonding Admixtures:
Bonding admixtures are water emulsions of several organic materials that are mixed with
cement or mortar grout for applying on an old concrete surface just prior to patching with
mortar or concrete.
2. Concrete Curing Compounds
Liquid membrane curing compounds are used to reduce the loss of water from concrete
during the early period of setting and hardening.

3. Polymer Bonding Agents

The use of bonding agents improves the adhesion of new concrete or mortar to old surface.
The mixing of bonding agents with concrete or mortar improves the workability even at
lower water cement ratio and thereby reduces the shrinkage property.
4. Mould Releasing Agent

Wooden planks, ordinary plywood, shuttering plywood, steel plates etc. are used as
shuttering materials. Concrete when set and hardened, adhere to the surface of the
formwork and it becomes difficult to de-mould. To reduce the bond between formwork
and concrete, special mould releasing agents are used.

Question Bank

1) Write the scope of following fields of civil Engineering

i) Surveying
ii) Structural engineering
iii) Geotechnical engineering
iv) Hydraulics and water resource engineering
2) Write the scope of following fields of civil Engineering
i) Transportation Engineering
ii) Environmental engineering
iii) Construction planning and Project management
3) Explain brick. What are the uses of bricks and what are the qualities of good bricks?
4) Explain Cement. What are the Uses of cement?
5) What are the different types of cement and what are the good qualities of cement?
6) Explain mortar and what are the uses of mortar
7) Explain plain cement concrete. What are the uses of plain cement concrete?
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8) Explain Reinforced cement concrete. What are the uses of RCC?
9) Explain Pre stressed concrete and uses of Pre stressed concrete
10) What is structural steel? Explain different types of steel
11) What are the uses of structural steel?
12) Explain different types of chemicals used in construction.

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