Construction materials

Railway Track Components

abbu riyaz 1 May, 2023

There are some important Railway Track Components in the construction of railway track. The railway track is a permanent way for all trains. A railway track is a combination of rails, sleepers, ballast, and subgrades. The systematic rails fit on a number of sleepers. This sleeper rests on ballast supports by subgrades. These rails fix or welds together by a component name as fishplates.

The trach consists of two parallel rails fix at a specific distance. This distance depends upon the gauge of tracks. These rails are parallel to each other.

Railway Track Components

A Railway Track has many Components in it. they are as follows,

Rails
Sleepers
Ballast
Formations or subgrades

A good quality and strong aggregate materials, steel I section to use in the construction of railway tracks.

1. Rails

Rails are the first main element in the Railway Track Components. It is of an I section make with steel. Two rails fix opposite to each other. These rails are vertical I section elements places vertically throughout the track. It lies parallel to the entire track. It carries the wheel load of trains providing them a smooth way. And transfer the load safely to sleepers.

2. Sleepers

Sleepers are concrete beds in the railway tracks. It is the second main important thing in Railway Track Components. Sleepers are of concrete, timbers, steel, cast iron, RCC, and prestress concrete. These sleepers fix vertical to each other. It fixes throughout the track. The main work of sleepers is to hold rails in a strong position. It receives the loads from rails and spread to ballast and subgrades.

3. Ballast

Ballasts are stone, aggregates, and gravels. these places below and around the sleepers. The main work of ballast is to hold sleepers and rails. And provides them a strong grip. Stone ballasts widely use in railway tracks in modern railways.

4. Formations or subgrades

These are natural soils on the bottom of a track. These are the foundations of tracks. It holds rails, sleepers, ballast and the entire track together. It supports the railway track from the bottom layer.

civil techniques

Concrete Proportioning and Properties

abbu riyaz 1 May, 2023

Concrete Proportioning and Properties are the two main fundamental things a civil engineer has to know about the construction. Concrete possess certain Proportioning and Properties. These Concrete Proportioning and Properties are as follows

Concrete Proportioning and Properties

Proportioning

The concrete in the construction field using for construction has many classifications. There are different grades of concrete in construction. These grades design according to the strength of concrete. It bases on the calculation of time period the concrete attains full strength. The grades of concrete are

M5, M7.5, M10, M15, M20, M25, M30, M35, M40.

The letter M denotes the mix. And the number indicates the compressive strength of concrete gain at 28 days in N/mm². M5 and M7.5 concrete grade of concrete use only for a simple foundation for masonry purposes. The grade of concrete below M15 not to use for Reinforce Cement Concrete. M20, M25, and M30 are the most common grade of concrete using in the modern construction field.

Some of the nominal mixes and mixing proportions are as follows

M5 Grade of concrete – 1:5:10
M7.5 Grade of concrete – 1:4:8
M10 Grade of concrete – 1:3:6
M15 Grade of concrete – 1:2:4
M20 Grade of concrete – 1:1½:3
M25 Grade of concrete – 1:1:2
M30 Grade of concrete – 1:1:3

Properties of Concrete

Some of the main and unique properties of concrete are its workability and water-cement ratios.

1. Workability

The ability of fresh mix concrete to fill the mold with proper vibration and poring method is workability. Workability depends on the water content, aggregate, binding materials, chemicals in concrete. Increasing water content and chemicals increase the strength and workability of concrete. Excessive water and chemicals lead to bleeding of the concrete/segregation. This leads to forming honeycomb in concrete structures. A good slump value to maintain in concreting for high strength.

2. Water-cement ratio

It is the weight of the mixing water divided by the weight of the cement. High-quality concrete produces by lowering the water-cement ratio without losing the workability of fresh concrete. And allowing it to properly place and cure.

A properly design mixture possesses desire workability for the fresh concrete and the long-life and strength of the concrete.

General properties of concrete

Some of the general properties of concrete are,

It possesses a high compressive strength and strength depends on the mix.

It hardens with age.

Free from corrosion and withstand chemical attacks

Bind strongly with steel as it is weak in tension

civil techniques

Bitumen Road Construction Steps

abbu riyaz 1 May, 2023

Bitumen Road Construction Steps involve many processes. It has important properties and advantages.The Bitumen Road Construction use in the construction of roads worldwide. Bitumen uses in construction for its unique properties. For the construction of a flexible road, smooth ride and comfort, bitumens use in the construction of the road.

Bitumen Road Construction Steps

The Bituminous road construction steps are as follows

Surface Preparation
Application of Coats
placing
Rolling
Quality control
Finishing

1. Surface Preparation

Preparation is the first step in the Bitumen Road Construction Steps. It is the cleaning of surfaces from hard rocks, stones holes, dust, and other materials. The uneven surface to fill with 12 mm to 40 mm aggregates. If the uneven surfaces are large coarse aggregates uses for filling. These fillings to make before the laying of the surface course.

2. Application of Coats

The second major step involves in Bitumen Road Construction steps is the application of coatings. A bituminous base course and a binder course to apply on ready surface. This coats name as tuck coat. This coating sprays or spreads manually or by machinery. These coatings spread to certain square meters according to the size of roads and pavements. It applies in 6 kg to 7.5 kg per 10 square meters.

3. Placing

The placing of bitumen and aggregates are the next step after application of coatings. The bitumen heats and transports from plant to the site with the help of trucks.

These mix with the aggregates and places with the help of modern machinery. Mixing and placing to take great care to provide a good pavement. A control climatic conditions to maintain according to mix. This increase the lifetime of roads.

4. Rolling

Rolling operations carries to provide a good compaction. This fills the air pores and loose soil in the surface course. These rollings make by mechanical rollers. The capacity of rollers to be 10 to 12 tonnes.

A pneumatic roller of 15 to 30 tones having a tire pressure of 7kg per sq.cm use for roads. The wheels of the roller to keep wet with water at rolling. The number of rolling depends on the thickness of the layer.

5. Quality control

Quality control is the main thing in Bitumen Road Construction step. This includes checking of bitumen and the aggregates. some of the small quantity collects at site and test is made to provide a good quality of roads. And this quality test to take a particular, distance of road construction. A good quality road provides a long life. And prevents accidents on roads due to damages.

6. Finishing

Finishing includes a proper finish of construction. It includes alignment, clearing undulations, etc. This finishing make with machines and by manually. With machines, it carries with pavers. It is most use nowadays in the construction of the roads.

civil techniques

Concrete Manufacturing Process

abbu riyaz 1 May, 2023

Concrete Manufacturing Process consists of many stages. The Concrete mix for delivery from a plant instead of mixing on the job site. The concrete mixes, transports and delivers to a construction site to place in formworks for construction. And to form various structures, like a column, beam, slab, etc.

Concrete Manufacturing Process

The main Concrete Manufacturing Process is as follows

Batching
Mixing
Transporting
Placing
Compacting
Curing

1. Batching

It is the main thing in the Concrete Manufacturing Process. The measurement of materials like aggregates, cement, water necessary for preparing different grades of concrete is Batching. It is by two processes. One is volume and other is weight batching. The volume batching is by mixing materials with its volume. And weight batching is by the self-weight ratio of materials. It has ratios according to standard codes. Some of the different grades of concrete are M10, M20, M25, M30.

2. Mixing

Mixing is to produce uniform, high-quality concrete. The mixing equipment is capable of effective concrete material. Separate paste mix shows the mixing of cement and water into a paste before combines with aggregates. This increase the compressive strength of concrete. This paste mix in high-speed, shear-type mixer at a water-cement ratio of 0.30 to 0.45 by mass. The premix paste blends with aggregates. The remaining batch water and final mix complete in a rotating concrete mixing equipment.

3. Transporting

Transporting concrete require great care. After mixing, the concrete transports to site. The mixing carries near the construction site. A bucket, ropeway, belt conveyor use to transport concrete. Readymix conveyor trucks use mostly in the modern construction times. The concrete transporting by conveyor truck has time limits. The concrete transporting by trucks reach the construction plant early.

4. Placing

Concrete to place in a good manner. It places without segregation to reach maximum efficiency. The concrete not to pour over a height of 1.5m. As the height of pouring concrete increases, it leads to separation of aggregates and cement paste. It causes segregation of concrete and causes honeycomb. Many concrete placing equipment use in modern construction times. some of the equipment are concrete pumps and boom lifts. Concrete pumps are normal pumps with joints to connect and remove according to needs.

Boom lifts are concrete pumps with movable arms. With the help of movable arm, a concrete place easily at heights and corners which is difficult with the normal pump.

5. Curing

Curing is to provide best strength and hardness to concrete. It is the next step after placing of concrete. Curing helps concrete to gain strength early. The concrete requires a moist and wet environment to gain full strength. Proper curing of concrete leads to increase the strength of concrete. And prevent cracking at surface dries. Avoid freezing and overheating of concrete to gain its full strength.

civil techniques

Concrete in construction Field

abbu riyaz 1 May, 2023

Concrete in construction Field is a mixture of paste and aggregates. It composes of fly ash, fine and coarse aggregate, water and chemicals. The fine aggregates are sand and coarse aggregates are gravel. By hydration, the paste hardens and gains strength to form the concrete.

Concrete in construction Field

Concrete is soft in newly mix, strong at hardens. Hence concrete uses to build bridges, superhighways, houses, and dams.

There are some important factors involve in the manufacturing process of concrete. They are

Proportioning
water-cement ratio
Ingredients
Hydration
Placement
Curing and
Special techniques

1. Proportioning

Proportioning and mixing are the main things in making a strong concrete. so choose the materials carefully. The mixture that does not have enough paste to fill the gaps between the aggregates is difficult to place. And produce rough surfaces. A mixture of a high cement paste is easy to place. And produce a smooth surface.

2. water-cement ratio

The quality of the paste determines the character of the concrete. The strength of the paste depends on the ratio of water to cement. It is the weight of the mixing water divided by the weight of the cement. High-quality concrete produces by lowering the water-cement ratio without losing the workability of fresh concrete. And allowing it to properly place and cure.

A properly design mixture possesses desire workability for the fresh concrete and the long-life and strength of the concrete.

3. Ingredients

Natural water drinkable and has no bad taste or smell used as mixing water for concrete. Impurities in mixing water affect setting time and strength. It causes efflorescence, staining, corrosion of reinforcement, and reduce lifetime. Drinking water suitable for mixing concrete and aggregates are to choose properly.

The aggregates to be clean and free from matter that affects the quality of the concrete.

4. Hydration

Aggregates, water, and the cement combine, the mixture hardens. By hydration, the paste hardens and get the strength to form concrete. During this reaction, a node forms on the surface of each cement particle. The node grows and expands until it links up with nodes from other cement particles.

5. Placement

The concrete thoroughly mixes and workable is places in forms before the mixture becomes too stiff. At placement, the concrete compact within the forms to reduce honeycombs.

For slabs, concrete makes ideal to stand until the surface moisture film disappears. A wood or metal hand float uses to smooth off the concrete. Floating produces an even, but slightly rough, texture that has good slip resistance. And use as a final finish for exterior slabs. If smooth, hard, dense surface requires, floating follows by steel trowels.

6. Curing

The curing begins after the exposed surfaces of the concrete have hardened sufficiently to resist damage. Curing ensures the continued hydration of the cement. So that the concrete continues to gain strength. Concrete surfaces cure by sprinkling with water fog. Other curing methods prevent evaporation of the water by sealing the surface with special sprays called curing compounds.

7. Special techniques

It uses for curing concrete during cold or hot weather to protect the concrete. The longer the concrete is wet, the stronger it becomes. The rate of hardening depends upon the composition, fineness of the cement, mix proportions, moisture, and temperature. Concrete continues to get stronger as it gets older. Most of the hydration and strength gain take place within the first month of concrete’s life cycle.

Concrete construction chemicals

15 Types of Cement in construction

abbu riyaz 1 May, 2023

There are many types of cement produces to fulfill the needs in construction Industry. By changing compositions and adding substances different types of cement forms.

The Types of Cement

Ordinary Portland Cement
Acid Resistance Cement
Rapid Hardening Cement
Sulpher Resisting Cement
White Cement
Colour Cement
High Strength Cement
High Alumina Cement
Quick Setting Cement
Hydrophobic Cement
Expansive Cement
Masonry Cement
Blast Furnace Cement
Low Heating Cement
Air-entraining Cement
Pozzolana Cement

1. Ordinary Portland cement

It is the most common type of cement use. It produces in different grades. The most common is Grade-53, 43 and 33. It uses for construction of residential, commercial and other constructions. It forms by burning clay and limestone at high temperature. And grinding it with Gypsum.

2. Acid Resistance Cement

It uses for acid-resistance in the chemical industry. It uses for the storage of acids and chemicals in large Tanks. And it prevents white blooming and efflorescence in storage tanks.

3. Rapid Hardening Cement

It uses in the urgent repair works, concreting in cold weather. And it attains high strength quickly. It mainly uses in the field of Marine structures, airfield, highway pavements and in bridge decks.

4. Sulpher Resisting Cement

It uses in the structure affects by sulfate attacks. It uses mainly in the construction of water supply, sewage treatment plant, dams, and Lining of canals.

5. White Cement

It is white in color. And does not contains any coloring chemicals. It uses for architectural decorative purposes and in aerodromes. It is costly.

6. color Cement

This cement contains coloring pigments. The amount of coloring material varies from 5 to 10%. chromium gives green color. Cobalt gives a blue color. And iron oxides give a brown color. It uses in swimming pools, garden parks, tennis courts, and for finishing of floors and external surfaces.

7. Hige Strength Cement

High Strength Cement uses in the construction of special types of work to increase the strength of the structure. It uses for multi-story complex, railway sleepers, prestressed concrete and precast constructions.

8. High Alumina Cement

It contains 32% of alumina in it. Its setting time is more than 3.5 hours. And gives more time for mixing and placing of operations. It generates a large amount of heat mixing with water. So it not affects by frost. It uses in chemical plants and furnace insulations.

9. Quick Setting Cement

It sets quickly. And consist of less amount of gypsum. The initial setting time is 5 minutes. And final setting time is 30 minutes. It mainly uses int the construction of a bridge across river and sea.

10. Hydrophobic Cement

Hydrophobic Cement mainly uses to store cement for a long time in wet climatic conditions. And at aqua constructions.

11. Expansive Cement

On curing cement shrinks normally. But in this type of cement, it expands on curing. It mainly uses for water retaining structures like sumps, dams water tanks and for repairing concrete structures.

12. Masonry Cement

It has high workability, plasticity, and water retaining properties. It uses in preparing of cement mortar and plaster.

13. Blast Furnace Cement

It produces by adding slag obtains from the blast furnace. And consists of alumina, silica, and lime. It gains strength slowly. So it not uses in RCC structures.

14. Low Heating Cement

It uses to reduce the heat produces at setting time of concrete. It has low compressive strength. And uses mainly for mass concrete works.

15. Air-entraining Cement

It is a type of Portland cement. It contains an additive that causes small air bubbles in wet concrete. The bubbles relive internal pressure on concrete by providing tiny chambers. For the expansion of water when it freezes. It gives high resistance to severe frost action.