Handbook

This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to civil engineering materials. It covers basic topics on modern construction materials, their properties and their applications in civil engineering projects. Emphases will be given to factors that affecting material selections in terms of strength, serviceability, durability and sustainability in practice.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will have acquired:

·       Understanding the basic properties of materials and ability to relate such properties to civil engineering.

·       Understanding the properties of naturally occurring materials with which civil engineers must deal.

·       Understanding properties of artificial materials and their relationship and impact on civil engineering.

·       Understanding relationships between materials properties and design needs.

·       Recognising the importance of knowledge of material properties in influencing decision making in infrastructural design that carry environmental, economical and sociological consequences.

Course content:

History and development of materials; interactions between processes, design, and properties; basic material properties; manipulating material properties; natural materials in civil engineering; soils, rocks, timbers, bamboo, natural fibres, and metals; materials in the built environment: clay, timber, steel and concrete as building materials; Materials for roads and airports construction, materials to suit design and design to suit materials; durability of civil engineering materials; relevant properties of clay bricks, timber, steel and concrete; new materials for civil engineering; civil engineering materials and the environment.