The entire manufacturing process in a modern plant is now controlled through a microprocessor based programmable logic control system to maintain a consistently uniform quality of cement and a high rate of production. The entire operation of the plant is controlled centrally in a single control room and the plant employs minimum of manpower as compared to previous plants constructed [...]
The following types of cement are used in Construction. 1. Acid-Resistant Cement: Acid-resistant cement is composed of the following: (i) Acid-resistant aggregates such as quartz, quartzites, etc. (ii) Additive such as sodium fluosilicate Na2 SiF6; and (iii) Aqueous solution of sodium silicate or soluble glass. The addition of additive sodium fluosilicate accelerates the hardening process of soluble glass and it [...]
The exhaustive tests are carried out in laboratory to decide precisely the quality of cement. The extreme care should be taken to collect the sample of cement from site. In order to make a representative sample, it is desirable to collect in nearly equal portions as follows: (1) When Cement is Loose: It should be taken from at least 12 [...]
In this article we will discuss about:- 1. Natural Sources of Sand 2. Classification of Sand 3. Bulking Of Sand 4. Properties of Good Sand 5. Function of Sand in Mortar 6. Tests Conducted for Sand 7. Substitutes for Sand. Natural Sources of Sand: The sand particles consist of small grains of silica (SiO2). It is formed by the decomposition [...]
The term mortar is used to indicate a paste prepared by adding required quantity of water to a mixture of binding material like cement or lime and fine aggregate like sand. The above two components of mortar, namely, the binding material and fine aggregate are sometimes referred to as the matrix and adulterant respectively. The matrix binds the particles of [...]
List of Engineering Materials and their Properties! Engineering Material # 1. Abrasives: An abrasive is a substance which is used to remove excess material by cutting. It polishes soft material and gives it an attractive appearance. The abrasives are the hardest materials. They are used for the engineering purpose in the following forms: (i) As abrasive papers or cloths, (ii) As [...]
Few Examples of Engineering Materials! Example # 1. Fuels: These are the substances which are capable of creating heat energy. Such energy can then be put to some engineering or industrial use. The industrial fuels usually contain the elements of carbon and hydrogen. When oxygen of the air chemically combines with these elements, the heat is generated. This generation of [...]
Following four materials are required for making R.C.C.: 1. Cement 2. Aggregates 3. Steel 4. Water. 1. Cement: Before the introduction of ordinary Portland cement, the lime was used as a cementing material. Most of the cement concrete work in building construction is done with ordinary Portland cement at present. But other special varieties of cement such as rapid hardening [...]
The cement concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, pebbles or crushed rock and water, which, when placed in the skeleton of forms and allowed to cure, becomes hard like a stone. The cement concrete has attained the status of a major building material in all branches of modern construction because of the following reasons: (i) It can be readily [...]
Following are the five different types or Classification of cement concrete: 1. Water-Proofing Cement Concrete 2. Coloured Concrete 3. Light-Weight Concrete 4. No-Fines Concrete 5. Pre-Cast Concrete 6. Ready-Mix Concrete 7. Transit-Mix Concrete. Type # 1. Water-Proofing Cement Concrete: For certain types of works like water storage tanks, reservoirs, basement walls, roofs, swimming pools, sewage units, etc., the impermeability of [...]