ROZANA BINTI OSMAN @ OTHMAN A11BE0154

The concrete slump test is an emprical test that measures the workability of fresh concrete. More specifically, it measures the consistency of the concrete in that specific batch. It is also used to determine consistency between individual batches. The test is popular due to the simplicity of apparatus used and simple procedure. 

The slump test result is a measure of the behaviour of a self-compacted inverted cone of concrete under the action of gravity. It is a measure of the concrete's workability or the dampness of concrete.

The slumped concrete takes various shapes, and according to the profile of slumped concrete, the slump is termed as true slump, shear slump or collapse slump. If a shear or collapse slump is achieved, a fresh sample should be taken and the test repeated. A collapse slump is an indication of too wet a mix. Only a true slump is of any use in the test. A collapse slump will generally mean that the mix is too wet or that it is a high workability mix, for which slump test is not appropriate. Very dry mixes; having slump 0 - 25 mm are used in road making, low workability mixes; having slump 10 - 40 mm are used for foundations with light reinforcement, medium workability mixes; 50 - 90 for normal reinforced concrete placed with vibration, high workability concrete; > 100 mm.

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

dan Salam Sejahtera.. 

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.

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 .. 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..

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..

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..

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.

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