Construction Science and Materials

358 Pages·2012·19.016 MB·English

by  Surinder Virdi

Construction Science
and Materials
To
the memory of my parents, Mr Amar Singh Virdi
and Mrs Rattan Kaur Virdi
The book’s companion website is at
www.wiley.com/go/virdiconstructionscience
You will find here freely downloadable support material:
 fully worked solutions to the exercises at the end of chapters
 model answers for the assignment tasks set in Chapter 17
 explanation of settlement and consolidation in structures
 details on the design of building foundations
 daylight calculations
 a task + solution on the design of timber joists
 PowerPoint slides for lectures on: Hooke’s Law; Forces &
Their Effects; Temperature & Heat Loss
Construction Science
and Materials
Surinder Singh Virdi
Lecturer in Construction
Centre for the Built Environment
South Birmingham College
A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication
This edition first published 2012
© 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Virdi, Surinder Singh.
Construction science and materials / Surinder Singh Virdi.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-470-65888-8 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Building materials. 2. Structural analysis
(Engineering) I. Title.
TA403.V57 2012
624.1’8–dc23
2011034247
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in
print may not be available in electronic books.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Set in 9/12.5 pt Interstate Light by Toppan Best-set Premedia Limited
1 2012
Contents
Preface xiii
Acknowledgements xv
List of units, prefixes and symbols xvii
1 Using a scientific calculator 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Keys of a scientific calculator 1
References/Further reading 8
2 Units and their conversion 9
2.1 Introduction 9
2.2 Length 10
2.3 Mass 11
2.4 Area, volume and capacity 12
2.5 Temperature 14
References/Further reading 15
3 Introduction to physics 17
3.1 Speed and velocity 17
3.2 Acceleration 18
3.3 Mass 18
3.4 Gravitation 18
3.5 Weight 20
3.6 Volume 20
3.7 Density 20
3.8 Specific gravity 22
3.9 Newton’s first law of motion 23
3.10 Newton’s second law of motion 23
3.11 Newton’s third law of motion 24
3.12 Friction 24
3.13 Work 26
3.14 Energy 26
3.14.1 Potential energy 27
3.14.2 Kinetic energy 27
3.15 Power 29
References/Further reading 31
v
vi  j  Contents
4 Introduction to chemistry 33
4.1 Introduction 33
4.2 Electrovalency and covalency 36
4.2.1 Covalent bond 36
4.3 Elements and compounds 38
4.4 Symbols and formulae 40
4.5 Acids and bases 40
4.5.1 Acids 41
4.5.2 Bases 42
References/Further reading 43
5 Effects of chemicals and atmosphere on materials 45
5.1 Introduction 45
5.2 Oxidation 45
5.2.1 Experiment: To show that oxygen (or air) and water are
necessary for the rusting of iron 46
5.3 Electrolysis 47
5.4 Electrolytic corrosion 49
5.4.1 Examples of electrolytic corrosion 50
5.4.2 Protection of steel from corrosion 51
5.5 Applications of electrolysis 52
5.5.1 Electroplating 52
5.5.2 Extraction of aluminium 53
5.6 Acid rain 53
References/Further reading 54
6 Electricity 55
6.1 Introduction 55
6.2 Coulomb’s law 55
6.3 Electric current 56
6.4 Potential difference 57
6.5 Electromotive force (e.m.f.) 57
6.6 Ohm’s law 57
6.7 Electrical resistivity and conductivity 59
6.8 Resistors in series/parallel 60
6.8.1 Resistors in series 60
6.8.2 Resistors in parallel 61
6.9 Transformers 64
6.10 Power generation 66
6.11 Power distribution 67
6.12 Supply to small buildings 68
References/Further reading 70
7 Introduction to construction technology 71
7.1 Introduction 71
7.2 Substructure and superstructure 71
7.2.1 Soil investigation 72
Contents  j  vii
7.3 Foundations 73
7.3.1 Settlement 73
7.4 Forms of construction 75
7.5 The external envelope 77
7.5.1 Ground floors 78
7.5.2 Cavity walls 78
7.5.3 Suspended timber upper floors 79
7.5.4 Roofs 80
References/Further reading 82
8 Thermal energy 1 83
8.1 Introduction 83
8.2 Temperature 83
8.2.1 Temperature scales 84
8.3 Units of heat 85
8.4 States of matter 85
8.4.1 Changes in the physical state 85
8.4.2 Experiment: The physical states of water 86
8.5 Expansion and contraction of solids 87
8.5.1 Linear expansion 88
8.5.2 Experiment: Determination of coefficient of linear
expansion 89
8.5.3 Practical examples of expansion and contraction 90
8.6 Heat transfer 93
8.6.1 Conduction 93
8.6.2 Experiment: To compare the thermal conductivity
of metals 95
8.6.3 Convection 96
8.6.4 Practical examples of convection 96
8.6.5 Radiation 96
References/Further reading 98
9 Thermal energy and humidity 99
9.1 Introduction 99
9.2 Thermal insulation 100
9.2.1 Experiment: To compare the thermal insulation values of
expanded polystyrene, vermiculite, mineral wool, glass fibre
and cork 101
9.3 Heat transmission 103
9.3.1 Thermal conductivity 103
9.3.2 Thermal resistivity (r) 103
9.3.3 Thermal resistance (R) 103
9.4 Thermal transmittance 105
9.5 Heat loss from buildings 110
9.6 Temperature drop through materials 113
viii  j  Contents
9.7 Humidity 115
9.7.1 Measurement of relative humidity 115
9.8 Condensation 118
9.8.1 The psychrometric chart 119
9.8.2 Prevention of surface condensation 119
9.8.3 Interstitial condensation 122
9.8.4 Prevention of interstitial condensation 127
References/Further reading 130
10 Forces and structures 1 131
10.1 Introduction 131
10.2 Force 132
10.2.1 Internal and external forces 133
10.3 Bending 133
10.3.1 Deflection 134
10.4 Types of loading 135
10.4.1 Dead load 135
10.4.2 Imposed load 136
10.4.3 Wind load 136
10.4.4 Loading from other effects 136
10.4.5 Point load 136
10.4.6 Uniformly distributed load 136
10.4.7 Triangular load 136
10.5 Stress and strain 140
10.5.1 Stress 140
10.5.2 Strain 140
10.6 Elasticity 141
10.6.1 Experiment 1: Proof of Hooke’s law 142
10.6.2 Experiment 2: Proof of Hooke’s law 143
10.6.3 Factor of safety 146
References/Further reading 148
11 Forces and structures 2 149
11.1 Moment of a force 149
11.1.1 Sign convention 150
11.2 Laws of equilibrium 154
11.3 Analysis of beams 154
11.3.1 Beam reactions 154
11.3.2 Shear force (S.F.) 159
11.3.3 Bending moment (B.M.) 165
11.4 Triangle of forces 172
11.4.1 Bow’s notation 176
11.4.2 Frames and roof trusses 178
References/Further reading 186