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Building Materials

Course developer

Replaced course

BūvZ2061 [GBUV2062] 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, 3D technologies and building materials). Construction product circulation regulation, testing standards and Latvian construction standard. Prepares written summaries of lecture topics and collects them in one folder with laboratory works.
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.

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.
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.
3. Lecture: Mineral binders, air-curing, hydraulic binders - 2 h. Laboratory work: Determination of bulk density and sand tests - 2 h.
4. Lecture: Mineral binders and special cements - 2 h. Laboratory work: Sand tests - 4 h. Test: 1st, 2nd and 3rd lecture subject volume.
5. Lecture: Construction mortars and products based on mineral binders - 2 h. Laboratory work: Crushed stone tests - 4 h.
6. Lecture: Concretes and standards applicable to them - 2 h. Laboratory work: Crushed stone tests and Gypsum tests - 2 h.
7. Lecture: Reinforced concrete and structures from it - 2 h. Laboratory work: Gypsum tests and Cement sample tests -2 h.
8. Lecture: Building ceramics - 2 h. Laboratory work: Testing of cement samples and calculation of heavy concrete - 4 h. Test: 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th lecture subject volume.
9. Lecture: Glass and other molten rock products. Fireproof materials - 2 h. Laboratory work: Calculation and production of heavy concrete - 4 h.
10. Lecture: Thermal insulation and acoustic materials - 2 h. Laboratory work: Production of heavy concrete and testing of gypsum samples - 2 h.
11. Lecture: Bitumen, tar and building materials based on them - 2 h. Laboratory work: Testing of cement samples and production of aerated concrete - 2 h.
12. Lecture: Metals - 2 h. Laboratory work: Preparation of paint samples and wood tests - 2 h. Test: 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th lecture subject volume.
13. Lecture: Polymer building materials - 2h. Laboratory work: Testing of paint samples and determination of average strength and class of heavy concrete - 2 h.
14. Lecture: Varnishes and paints - 2 h. Laboratory work: Wood and cellular concrete tests - 2 h.
15. Lecture: Timber - 2 h. Laboratory work: Bitumen tests - 2 h.
16. Lecture: 3D technologies and building materials - 2 h. Laboratory work: Brick tests - 2 h. Test: 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th lecture subject volume.
Part-time extramural studies:
All the topics intended for full-time studies are covered, yet the number of contact hours is ½ of the specified number of hours.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Protocols of laboratory and practical work have been developed and verbally defended. Developed laboratory and practical work summaries, reports. Successfully written tests. 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 - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
2. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: determination of substance density and bulk density - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
3. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Determination of bulk density and sand tests - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
4. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Sand tests - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 6 h.
5. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Crushed stone tests - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 6 h.
6. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Crushed stone tests and Gypsum tests - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
7. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Gypsum tests and Cement sample tests -3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
8. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Tests of cement samples and calculation of heavy concrete - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 7 h.
9. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Calculation and production of heavy concrete - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 7 h.
10. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Production of heavy concrete and testing of gypsum samples - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
11. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Testing of cement samples and production of cellular concrete - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
12. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Preparation of paint samples and wood tests - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
13. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Testing of paint samples and determination of the average strength and class of heavy concrete - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
14. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Wood and cellular concrete tests - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
15. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Bitumen tests - 3 h. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 h.
16. Preparation for laboratory work - literature studies, development of conspectus for the topic: Brick tests - 3 h. Development of a report on a visit to a building materials store. Lecture material studies (preparation for the test) - 3 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

Lecture topic conspectus 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 Forest and Environmental Sciences 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. Materials. M. Ashby, H. Shercliff, D. Cebon, Buterworth-Heinemann, 2007, 528 p (ISBN-13: 978-0-7506-8391-3; ISBN-10: 0-7506-8391-0)

Further reading

1. Donald R. Askeland, Pradeep P. Fulay, Wendelin J. Wright, The Science and Engineering of Materials, Sixth Edition, Cengage Learning, 2011, 923 p., ISBN-13: 978-0-495-29602-7; ISBN-10: 0-495-29602-3
2. 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” http://www.buvinzenierusavieniba.lv/zurnals
2. Būvniecības nozares medijs https://abc.lv/
Žurnāls “Construction and Building Materials” https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/construction-and-building-materials

Notes

Study course is included in the professional higher education bachelor study programme Civil Engineering for the 1st year students.