Reflection /
Welcome to M & S

Assalamualaikum w.b.t/لسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُl

dan Salam Sejahtera.. Embarassed

First of all , I would like to thanks our beloved lecturer , Mr. Muzani bin Mustapa as they taught and guided us to explore and understand the knowledge related to materials and specifications.Laughing

My first impression and in my thinking, I was afraid + annoying with this subject. I directly never heard much less know what they are learning in this subject. I know the first time on the subject of registration .. hehe ..Sealed I was a bit worried because I am still young yet to learn thisas well to adapt to a new place.

In my course, i learn many subject.. The core subject are CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY 1 and INTRODUCTION TO BUILT ENVIRONMENT..Cool

Then, i must register only 4 courses from the 5 listed elective courses.. One of them, i personally choose MATERIALS & SPECIFICATIONS as my elective course.. First thing, i'm sO excited to know what the cOntent and tOpic that i learn in this subject..Wink

1st and 2nd week, i'm still blurry and try to be friendly to adapt with new friends and also lecturers. As we know style of  teach depends on the lecturer. So i must follow it..Innocent

From month to month.. From week to week.. From day to day.. From hour to hour.. From minute to minute.. From second to second.. FInally as time went so fast, mid-sem 1 exam become closer.. And luckily also THANK to GOD.. Suddenly I began to realize and find that this subject is interesting and from here I started topay attention and understanding of each topic learned in class.Kiss

Week 1 Class of Materials (14.09.11):

1) Introduction to Materials & Specification

  • We know each other before the class begins and obtain the course outline as our guide to know the topic that we learned before class starts.
  • Mr. Muzani introduce some related to his background and surprisingly his wife also a lecturer at this faculty.
  • Materials management is a process “…it is how a building is designed and how materialsare estimated. It is how materials are acquired and even how the packaging is specified. It is how the delivery schedule is designed. It is how contractors plan materials use and how they manage previously used materials and cuts”
  • Materials represent a major expense in construction, so minimizing procurement or purchase costs presents important opportunities for reducing costs.


2) Bricks

  • I learn that bricks have three types , which is common bricks, facing bricks and engineering brick.
  • Each types of brick have different properties and behavioural of brick.
  • It also have different usage and manufacturing process of brick together with its quality control aspects.
  • From this class, i learn that bricks can be made by clay and pavers. It also can be made by concrete. Next, i learn that most of house is use common brick to build it. Anothers, facing brick which give attractive appearance in their colour and texture, just used it without rendering, plastering or other surface treatments. And last type of brick is engineering brick that burnt at exceedingly high temperature.

 

Week 2 Class of Materials (21.09.11):

1) Cement

  • I learn that  cement is any material that binds or unites
  • In construction, the word cement or cementitious material always refer to an ingredient in concrete, mortar or grout.
  • Cement + Water = Paste
  • Sand + Gravel + Crushed Stone / Granular material =Aggregates

Paste + Aggregates = Concrete

  • Next, learn about history cement in the past.
  • Portland cement consists essentially of compounds of lime (calcium oxide, CaO) mixed with silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2) and alumina (aluminum oxide, Al2O3).
  • We also learn the types, manufacturing process and physical properties of portland cement.

2) Aggregates

  • I learn the sources and evaluation of aggregate.
  • All Natural aggregate result from breakdown of large rock masses.
  • Rock is classified into 3 basic types : IGNEOUS, SEDIMENTARY and METAMORPHIC.
  • Understand the purpose and types of aggregate.
  • Aggregates can be divided into several types based on the types of rock from which they are derived, the method of manufacture, the size or the density.

    i) Based on source or method of manufacture

    a) Sand

    b) Gravel or River Gravel

    c) Crushed Stone

    ii) Based on size

         a) Fine Aggregate

         b) Coarse Aggregate

    iii) Based on density

         a) Lightweight 

         b) Normal Weight

         c) Heavy Weight

  • Add my knowledge with the shapes of aggregates : ANGULAR, ROUND, FLAT and ELONGATED
  • Lastly, learn the properties of aggregates : TOUGHNESS AND ABRASION RESISTANCE, PARTICLE SHAPE AND SURFACE TEXTURE, DURABILITY AND SOUNDNESS, SPECIFIC GRAVITY, CLEANLINESS AND DELETERIOUS MATERIALS.

Week 3 Class of Materials (28.09.11): NO LECTURE

Week 5 Class of Materials (05.10.11): 

1) Testing of concrete & Steel and reinforcement
 

Week 6 Class of Materials (19.10.11): 

1) Timber & Rock (Stone, Mason)
 

Week 7 Class of Materials (26.10.11): NO LECTURE - DEEPAVALI DAY 

 

Week 8 Class of Materials (02.11.11): NO LECTURE - MID TEST 

 

Week 9 Class of Materials (09.11.11): NO LECTURE - MID SEMESTER BREAK

Week 10 Class of Materials (16.11.11): CUBE TEST (28th DAY) SESSION

Week 11 Class of Materials (23.11.11):

a) Plastic

  • A common name for polymer – material made of a long string of carbon with other elements

  • Each string is called a monomer

  • The monomer is made into polymer by reaction process 
  • Types of Plastic :

     i) PET (polyethylene terephthalate)

    ii) HDPE (high density polyethylene)

  iii) PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

   iv) LDPE (low density polyethylene)

   v) PP (polypropylene)

   vi) PS (polystyrene)

 vii) Other: This code indicates that the item is made with a resin other  

       than the six listed above, or a combination of different resins.

  • Uses of Plastic

     i) Roofing

    ii) Walls

   iii) Windows

   iv) Piping

   v) Decks, Fences and Railings

 

Week 13 Class of Materials (07.12.11):

a) Soil

What is Soils?

  • The unconsolidated mineral and organic material on the immediate

    surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for plant growth

    Solids = Mineral + Organic matter

     * Pore space = Air + Water

  •  “Soil is a mixture of weathered rock, decayed organic matter, mineral

     fragments, water and air”

  •  Where did Soil came from??

     - Parent Material (original form)

     - Climate (precipitation and temperature effects)

     - Macro and micro organisms

     - Topography (elevation, slope, position)

     - Time 

  • Why is soil texture is important?

    The texture of soil affects many processes that occur within the soil e.g.  

    infiltration rates and water holding capacity (WHC)

  • 2 broad group - plus any mixture between

    - granular clay rich

    - coarse fine

    - cobbles, gravel, sand, silt clays

    - rocks & quartz clay minerals

    - non cohesive 


Week 14 Class of Materials (14.12.11)

a) Specifications

  • the information that is necessary for the construction of any structure.

        Quantities & Relationship ----> Drawings

        Qualities & Standard Workmanship ----> Specifications

  • 4 types of Specifications

        i)   Performance Specifications = Specifying an end result.

        ii)  Descriptive Specifications = Materials to be used an the    

            workmanship requires.

        iii) Reference Specifications = Standard establised for materials.

        iv) Proprietary Specifications = State the actual make; model; catalogue

            number i etc of a project or installation instructions of a         

            manufacturers.

  • Method use in specifying materials 

        i)  Traditional/Equal Specification

             - Open Specification

             - Based Bid/Close Specification

             - Bidder's Choice/Restricted Specification

  • Specification writing procedures.