Selection of Concrete Mix Proportions Concrete mix proportions is a process of optimization of several desirable characteristics based on the project requirements. The characteristics to be optimized are economy, strength, durability, and placeability. 1. Economy The primary reason for systematically determining mixture proportions is economy. The maximum economy can be achieved by minimizing the amount … Read more
Characteristics of Good Mortar The chief properties of hardened mortar are strength, development of good bond with building units, resistance to weathering and those of green mortar mixes are mobility, placability and water retention. In addition, the mortar should be cheap and durable and should not affect the durability of building units in contact. The … Read more
Processing of Borrow Area Soils / Backfill Materials The construction of subsurface structures often requires the construction of elements of the structure within or upon large masses of backfill. The proper functioning of these elements are often critically affected by adverse behavioral characteristics of the backfill. Behavioral characteristics are related to material type, water content … Read more
Telltale Signs for Choosing Right Concrete Cutting Contractor for Your Construction Project Most construction projects witness the need for concrete cutting and drilling for various purposes. And thus, it is essential for every size of a contractor, or a construction business, to have a good understanding of concrete cutting and how it can benefit your … Read more
What is Corrosion of Steel? The term corrosion is defined as an act or process of gradual wearing away of a metal due to chemical or electro-chemical reaction by its surroundings such that the metal is converted into an oxide, salt or some other compound. A substance known as rust results from such a process. … Read more
Some Issues in the Usage of Fe- 500 or Higher Grade TMT Steel Bars in Residential Buildings Some contractors report a tendency among few design Engineers to specify Fe-500 or higher grade steel in residential buildings citing its high strength. Customers are advised that if they use Fe 500 or higher grade steel in building … Read more
Types of Backfill Materials Different types of backfill materials are used in construction industry. Backfill materials that are commonly used are described below with their engineering properties. 1. Coarse-grained soils Coarse-grained soils include gravelly and sandy soils and range from clayey sands (SC) through the well-graded gravels of gravel-sand mixtures (GW) with little or no … Read more
Type of Pier Pier is usually used as a general term for any type of substructure located between horizontal spans and foundations. However, from time to time, it is also used particularly for a solid wall in order to distinguish it from columns or bents. From a structural point of view, a column is a … Read more
Impurities in Sand Clay, silt, salts, mica and organic matter are a source of impurities in sand. All sands are generally found to contain some percentage of silt and clay. Mica is easily discernible from its shining surface. A certain percentage of impurities are inevitable in sand; a maximum of 6 % of silt and … Read more
Quality Control for Brickwork Bricks should be soaked in water for at least one hour before use for brickwork in cement and lime mortars. The bricks should be sufficiently soaked before use but not excessively so. The absence of bubbling when the soaked brick is immersed in water is the test for through soaking. Also … Read more