DCPT or Dynamic Cone Penetration Test The dynamic cone penetrometer is a portable equipment that can be used to evaluate different layer of a pavement such as unbound granular base, sub-base, sub-grade and also pipeline congested0 narrow trenches where testing with other equipment is difficult and not feasible due to cost, space and time constraints. … Read more
Quality Requirement of Fly Ash Bricks 1. General Quality Bricks shall be free from cracks and flaws and nodules of free lime. Bricks shall have smooth rectangular faces with sharp corners Bricks shall be uniform in colour The proportion of soil and fly ash shall be as per IS-2117-1991. Fly ash used to manufacture of … Read more
Types of Stairs A stair is a series of steps arranged in such a manner as to connect different floors of a building. Stairs are designed to provide as easy and quick access to different floors. A staircase is an enclosure which contains the complete stairway. Generally stairs are of following types Straight stairs Quarter … Read more
Advantages of Prestressed Concrete Most of the prestressed members are precast and therefore all the advantages or precast concrete hold true for prestressed concrete also. To know the advantages of precast concrete click here. In addition, there are advantages to be gained by prestressing when conditions are favorable to its use. Following additional advantages due … Read more
Depth and Spacing of Trial Pits & Borings The depth and spacing of trial pits or exploratory borings should be such as to give a true picture of the underlying soil, with regard to any major changes in thickness, depth or properties of the strata over the base area of the structure and in its … Read more
Scaffolding When temporary structures are provided to support platform for workmen, structural material and appliances required during construction at raised height (normally more than 1.5 m) it is called scaffolding. Applications of Scaffolds Scaffolding is necessary in following situations. To support the working platforms where masons can stand and carry on their duties such as … Read more
HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCK MASONRY Concrete blocks having core void area larger than 25% of the gross area is termed as hollow concrete blocks. These blocks are manufactured in different shapes and sizes as shown in the following figure. Some of the standard sizes of hollow concrete blocks are as follow. Standard size hollow concrete block … Read more
Values of Safe Bearing Capacity The safe bearing capacity of soil should be determined on the basis of soil test data or by performing some field test such as Standard penetration test or Plate load test etc. However, in the absence of soil test data, the values of safe bearing capacity (S.B.C) as given in … Read more
Sources of Defects in Brick Masonry There are 4 primary reasons that cause defects in brick masonry work. These are as follows. Sulphate Attack Crystallization of Salts from Bricks Corrosion of Embedded Iron or Steel Shrinkage on Drying 1. Sulphate Attack The common forms of defects due to sulphate attack are Chipping and spalling of … Read more
Laboratory Vane Shear Test of Soil Aim To determine shear strength of clay soil using laboratory vane shear apparatus. Theory In soil, shear strength is contributed by the two properties. Cohesion, and Angle of internal friction In pure clays the shear resistance due to internal friction is negligible. Hence, the complete shear strength in clays … Read more