Basic of Civil Engineering

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 binding material used may also be referred as matrix and the aggregate used may also be referred as adulterant. Hence, mortar is a mixture of matrix & adulterant. The matrix binds the particles of the adulterant and as such, the durability, quality and strength of mortar will mainly depend on the quantity and quality of the matrix. The combined effect of the two components of mortar is that the mass is able to bind the bricks or stones firmly. Following are the properties of a good mortar: 1.       To carry out pointing and plasterwork on exposed surfaces of masonry. 2.       To form an even and soft bedding layer for building units.\ 3.       It should be capable of resisting penetration of rain water. 4.       To form joints of pipes. 5.       To improve the general appearance of a structure

Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely ground rock and mineral particles. It is a popular manufacturing material used across a broad spectrum of construction, glass, and transportation industries.   USES:-   • Abrasion: Before sandpaper, wet sand was used as an abrasive element between rotating devices with elastic surface and hard materials such as very hard stone (making of stone vases), or metal (removal of old stain before re-staining copper cooking pots). • Agriculture: Sandy soils are ideal for crops such as watermelons, peaches, and peanuts, and their excellent drainage characteristics make them suitable for intensive dairy farming.  • Air filtration: Finer sand particles mixed with cloth was commonly used in certain gas mask filter designs but have largely been replaced by microfibers.  • Aquaria: Sand makes a low-cost aquarium base material which some belief is better than gravel for home use. It is also a necessity for saltwater reef tanks, which e

Classification of Aggregates Aggregates  form an essential part of many constructions projects, from large-scale commercial to smaller domestic works. Whether you need aggregates to form a sub-base for foundations or paving, decorative aggregates for driveways and footpaths – or simply need something to fill in unsightly holes – you should know which kind of aggregates will work best. In this article, we’ll run through the different classifications of aggregates, based on their varying properties. Contents: ·          Classification of aggregates based on: Geographical Origin ·          Classification of aggregates based on: Grain Size ·          Classification of aggregates based on: Density   A) Classification of aggregates based on Geographical Origin Another way to classify aggregates is by their origin. You can do this with two groups: ·          Natural –  Aggregates took from natural sources, such as riverbeds, quarries and mines. Sand, gravel, stone