CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

& TESTING
 Two main focus of the subject:

1. Characteristics of materials used in civil

and construction engineering
 
2. Laboratory methods for the evaluation of
materials
Two main focus of the subject:

1. Characteristics of materials used in civil

and construction engineering
a. Basic structure of the materials
b. Material production process
c. Behavior of the material and other
properties
d. Environmental influences
e. Construction consideration
Two main focus of the subject:

2. Laboratory methods for the evaluation of

materials
a. Sampling of the material
b. Testing of the sampled material
Materials Engineers – they are responsible for
the selection, specification, and quality control
of materials to be used in a job. These
materials must meet certain classes of criteria
or materials properties.
ROLE OF A MATERIALS ENGINEER

1. Ascertains that all materials incorporated into the work pass

the requirements of the DPWH Standard Specifications for
Highways, Bridges and Airports and to strictly comply with the
schedule of Minimum Testing Requirements;

2. Advises the Project Engineer on the acceptance or rejection of

construction materials intended for use in the project, based on
test results;

3. Recommends to the Project Engineer remedial measures for

the correction of unsatisfactory conditions of materials;

4. Checks/certifies design mixes prepared by contractors for

concrete and bituminous mixtures;
5. Acquaints himself fully with the standard
procedures of sampling, testing and control;

6. Sees to it that the field laboratory is

adequately equipped so that the progress of the
work will not be impeded;

7. Keeps a record of the daily activities ready for

inspection anytime; and

8. Submits within required time frame test

reports and other pertinent documents.
An accredited Materials Engineers I may be assigned to
one (1) DPWH projects not more than P100 Million or
three (3) projects located within the same province
with an aggregate cost of not more than P20 Million.
Materials Engineers II can handle one (1) project with
no cost limit or two (2) projects located within the
same province with an aggregate cost of not more than
P100 Million.
• The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will
conduct accreditation examination of Contractors' and
Consultants' Materials Engineers.

• The accreditation examination is to strengthen Quality

Assurance Program of the Department and to ensure that
only qualified and accredited Materials Engineers can be
assigned by Contractors and Consultants to DPWH projects.
• All registered and licensed civil engineers, including
foreigners, may apply for accreditation.

• Applicants have to file their applications in any DPWH

Regional Offices for initial processing. The evaluated
applications received, stamped and sealed by authorized
DPWH Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division personnel in
any Region have to be submitted to Bureau of Research and
Standards (BRS)
EXAMINATION COVERAGE

Construction materials specifications, sampling and

testing procedures, test results
calculations/interpretation/evaluation, DPWH
minimum testing requirements, materials quality
control terminologies/practices, duties and
responsibilities of materials engineers, and quality
control implementation/documentation.
Criteria in Material Selection

a. economic factors
b. mechanical properties
c. nonmechanical properties
d. production/construction considerations
e. aesthetic properties
f. sustainable design
Materials most
frequently used in
construction include:

a. steel
Materials most
frequently used in
construction include:

a. steel
b. aggregate
Materials most
frequently used in
construction include:

a. steel
b. aggregate
c. cement
Materials most
frequently used in
construction include:

a. steel
b. aggregate
c. cement
d. concrete
Materials most
frequently used in
construction include:

a. steel
b. aggregate
c. cement
d. concrete
e. masonry
Materials most
frequently used in
construction include:

a. steel
b. aggregate
c. cement
d. concrete
e. masonry
f. asphalt
Materials most
frequently used in
construction include:

a. steel
b. aggregate
c. cement
d. concrete
e. masonry
f. asphalt
g. wood
 Materials used to a
lesser extent include:
 
a. aluminum
 Materials used to a
lesser extent include:
 
a. aluminum
b. glass
 Materials used to a
lesser extent include:
 
a. aluminum
b. glass
c. plastics
 Materials used to a
lesser extent include:
 
a. aluminum
b. glass
c. plastics
d. fiber-reinforced
composites
 Criteria in Material Selection
1. Economic Factors
- availability and cost of raw materials
- manufacturing costs
- transportation
- placing
- maintenance
- manufacturing cost
- placing
 Criteria in Material Selection
1. Mechanical Properties
The mechanical behavior of materials is
the response of the material to external
loads. All materials deform in response to
loads; however, the specific response of a
material depends on its properties, the
magnitude and type of load, and the
geometry of the element.
1.1. Loading Conditions

2 Types of Loads

Static loading (dead loads) implies a sustained loading of the

structure over a period of time. Generally, static loads are
slowly applied such that no shock or vibration is generated in
the structure.

Dynamic loads can be classified as a. periodic, b. random, or c.

transient.
Static Loading Dynamic Loading
1.2. Stress – Strain Relation
Materials deform in response to loads or forces. The amount of
deformation is proportional to the properties of the material and its
dimensions. The effect of the dimensions can be normalized. Dividing the
force by the cross-sectional area of the specimen normalizes the effect of
the loaded area. The force per unit area is defined as the stress, σ, in the
specimen (σ = force/area). Dividing the deformation by the original length
is defined as strain, ε, of the specimen (ε = change in length / original
length)

Typical uniaxial stress – strain diagrams for engineering materials: (a) glass
and chalk, (b) steel, (c) aluminum alloys (d) concrete (e) soft rubber
1.3. Elastic Behavior

If a material exhibits true elastic behavior, it must have an instantaneous

response (deformation) to load, and the material must return to its
original shape when the load is removed. Many materials, including most
metals, exhibit elastic behavior, at least at low stress levels.

The proportional constant between normal stress and normal strain of an

axially loaded member is the modulus of elasticity or Young’s modulus, E,
and is equal to

where σ is the normal stress and ε is the normal strain.

.
1.3. Elastic Behavior
In the axial tension test, as the material is elongated, there is a reduction of
the cross section in the lateral direction. In the axial compression test, the
opposite is true. The ratio of the lateral strain εl, to the axial strain εa, is
Poisson’s ratio,

If a homogeneous, isotropic cubical element with linear elastic response is

subjected to normal stresses σx, σy, and σz in the three orthogonal directions,
the normal strains εx, εy, and εz can be computed by the generalized Hooke’s
law,

.
1.4. Elastoplastic Behavior
For some materials, as the stress applied on the specimen is
increased, the strain will proportionally increase up to a point; after
this point the strain will increase with little additional stress. In this
case, the material exhibits linear elastic behavior followed by plastic
response. The stress level at which the behavior changes from
elastic to plastic is the elastic limit. When the load is removed from
the specimen, some of the deformation will be recovered and some
of the deformation will remain. As discussed in plastic behavior
indicates permanent deformation of the specimen so that it does
not return to its original shape when the load is removed.

1.5. Viscoelastic Behavior

Typical viscoelastic materials used in construction applications are
asphalt and plastics. Viscoelastic materials have a delayed response
to load application.
 Criteria in Material Selection
3. Nonmechanical Properties
- density
- unit weight
- specific gravity
- thermal expansion
- surface characteristics
• Density is the mass per unit volume of material.
• Unit weight is the weight per unit volume of
material.

• Specific gravity is the ratio of the mass of a substance

relative to the mass of an equal volume of water at a
specified temperature. According to the definition,
specific gravity is equivalent to the density of a
material divided by the density of water.
• Thermal Expansion
Practically all materials expand as temperature
increases and contract as temperature falls. The
amount of expansion per unit length due to one unit
of temperature increase is a material constant and is
expressed as the coefficient of thermal expansion
• Surface Characteristics

- Corrosion and Degradation

- Abrasion and Wear resistance
- Surface Texture
4. Production and Construction
Even if a material is well suited to a specific
application, production and construction
considerations may block the selection of the
material. Production considerations include
the availability of the material and the ability
to fabricate the material into the desired
shapes and required specifications.
5. Aesthetic Characteristics
The aesthetic characteristics of a material
refer to the appearance of the material.
Generally, these characteristics are the
responsibility of the architect. However, the
civil engineer is responsible for working with
the architect to ensure that the aesthetic
characteristics of the facility are compatible
with the structural requirements.
6. Sustainable Design
Sustainable design is the philosophy of
designing physical objects, the built
environment and services to comply with the
principles of economic, social, and ecological
sustainability.
Rating system to evaluate the sustainability of
the project:
 
a. Sustainable sites
b. Water efficiency
c. Energy and atmosphere
d. Materials and resources
e. Indoor environmental quality
f. Innovation in design
g. Regional priority