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Building Materials

Course developer

Replaced course

BūvZB054 [GBUVB054] Building Materials

Course abstract

In lectures: students gain knowledge about the levels of cognition of material structure: classification of materials by function, by structure; macro and microstructure of materials, the internal structure of the substance; structural, surface defects and their significance; material properties (mechanical, physical, chemical, acoustic, etc.); loading of materials - products (bending, pressing, tensioning), the collapse of materials (force, deformation, stresses, etc.). Gains knowledge of the most widely used building materials and construction products (binders - mineral, air-curing, hydraulic; special types of cement, mortars, concretes, reinforced concrete and structures thereof, building ceramics, glass and other fused rock products, thermal insulation and acoustic materials, bitumen, tar and building materials based on them, metals, polymer building materials, varnishes and paints, timber). Construction product circulation regulation, testing standards and Latvian construction standard.
In the laboratory works: before the laboratory works the students develop the summaries of the corresponding topic - theoretically get acquainted with the testing algorithm of the specific building material (testing methodology). During the work of the laboratory practically develops and observes (documents - records, photo fixation) the experiment - test process, analyzes the obtained results, provides written conclusions. Laboratory works and their summaries are developed, defended and filed in a common folder.
Practical works:
• students listen to the theoretical introduction and observe a practical demonstration of the corresponding process, perform documentation, develop a protocol (observation, analysis, conclusions). Protocols of practical work are developed, defended and placed in a common folder with laboratory work.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge: Knowledge of the structure, manufacture, properties, application of building materials, normative materials, as well as practical techniques for testing building materials (knowledge assessment: tests are written). Exam: written - verbal.
Skills: skills to choose the technological method for obtaining materials, guided by the required specific properties and application. Ability to choose the best material for a specific application to obtain the required result (skills assessment: defended laboratory and practical work reports - protocols - summaries).
Competence: is able to evaluate and rationally justify the choice of construction materials, apply construction norms and appropriate standards, use professional terminology (competence assessment: verbal defence of laboratory and practical work; exam).

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Lecture: Material structure, physical, physicochemical, chemical properties - 2 h. Laboratory works: Introductory instruction and determination of substance density - 2 h. Practical work: Obtaining powdered material.
2. Lecture: Mechanical properties, properties depending on the production technology, standardization of technological properties - 2 h. Laboratory works: Determination of density and bulk density of a substance - 2 h. Practical work: Introduction to the morphology of powdered material.
3. Lecture: Mineral binders, air-curing, hydraulic binders - 2 h. Laboratory work: Sand tests - 2 h.
4. Lecture: Mineral binders and special cements - 2 h. Laboratory work: Crushed stone tests - 2 h. Practical work: Calculation of heavy concrete composition – 2 h.
5. Lecture: Construction mortars and products based on mineral binders - 2 h. Laboratory work: Production and testing of heavy concrete - 2 h.
6. Lecture: Concretes and standards applicable to them (standards, ICS group 91, Building materials and construction) - 2 h.
7. Lecture: Reinforced concrete and structures from it - 2 h.
8. Lecture: Building ceramics, Fireproof materials - 2 h.
9. Lecture: Glass and other molten rock products - 2 h.
10. Lecture: Thermal insulation and acoustic materials - 2 h.
11. Lecture: Bitumen, tar and building materials based on them - 2 h.
12. Lecture: Metals - 2 h.
13. Lecture: Varnishes and paints - 2 h.
15. Lecture: Timber. Industry news - 2 h.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Protocols of laboratory and practical work have been developed and verbally defended. Developed laboratory and practical work summaries, reports. Laboratory and practical work materials are compiled in one folder, which is submitted one week before the exam session. To pass the exam, a folder of defended laboratory and practical work must be submitted. Passed the written-verbal exam.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: determination of substance density - 2 h. Lecture and practical work material studies: obtaining powdered material – 2h.
2. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: determination of substance density and bulk density - 2 h. Lecture and practical work material studies: morphology of powdered material - 2 h.
3. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: sand tests - 2 h. Lecture material studies - 2 h.
4. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Crushed stone tests - 2 h. Lecture and practical work material studies: Calculation of heavy concrete composition - 2 h.
5. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Production and testing of heavy concrete - 2 h. Lecture material studies - 2 h.
6. Lecture material studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Concretes and standards applicable to them (standards, ICS group 91, Building materials and construction) - 2 h.
7. Lecture material studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Reinforced concrete and structures from it - 2 h.
8. Lecture material studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Building ceramics, Fireproof materials - 2 h.
9. Lecture material studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Glass and other molten rock products - 2 h.
10. Lecture material studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Thermal insulation and acoustic materials - 2 h.
11. Lecture material studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Bitumen, tar and building materials based on them - 2 h.
12. Lecture material studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Metals - 2 h.
13. Lecture material studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Varnishes and paints - 2 h.
14. Lecture material studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Timber - 2 h.
NOTE: the student independently prepares handwritten conspectuses on the listed topics of laboratory work before the laboratory work, that is, arrives at a laboratory work lesson with a theoretical knowledge base on the task to be performed in the laboratory work. Conspectuses should be made on an A4 format sheet, which is then placed in a common folder (the student can prepare copies of the abstract, which will be handed over to the lecturer).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Practical and laboratory works are assessed by the lecturers in accordance with the assessment procedure and defined requirements (some pointers: calculated results and units of measurement must be presented; clearly, comprehensibly and legibly written; stripes (corrections) must be covered with a white proof-reader; ballpoint pen used as a pen, laboratory and practical work protocols must be signed). All works are designed in accordance with the Faculty of Environment and Civil Engineering student work methodological instructions. Additional criteria for the assessment of study results: attitude, adequacy and correctness of information; demonstration of knowledge, skills and competence in defending laboratory work.

Compulsory reading

1. Popovs L. Būvmateriāli un būvizstrādājumi. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1990. 252 lpp.
2. Laboratorijas darbu praktikums būvmateriālos. RTU, LLU. Sast. I.Šulcs, V.Zvejnieks, A.Zīle, J.Skujāns, A.Šteinerts. Jelgava: LLU, 1994. 158 lpp.
3. Ashby M., Shercliff A., Cebon D. Materials engineering, science, processing and design. Oxford, UK; Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann/Elsevier, 2007. 514 p. E-grāmata. Resurss pieejams ar LLU IS lietotājkontu datubāzē “EBSCO eBook Academic Collection”

Further reading

1. Askeland D.R., Wright W. J. The science and engineering of materiāls. 7th edition. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2016. 870 p.
2. Chudley R., Greeno R. Building Construction Handbook. 10th edition. London; New York: Routledge, 2014. 966 p. ISBN13: 978-0-415-83638-8

Periodicals and other sources

1. Žurnāls “Būvinženieris”. Pieejams: http://www.buvinzenierusavieniba.lv/zurnals
2. Būvniecības nozares medijs. Pieejams: https://abc.lv/
3. Žurnāls “Construction and Building Materials”. Pieejams: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/construction-and-building-materials

Notes

Compulsory study course in the first level professional higher education study programme Civil Engineering