Module 2

Introduction to Construction Materials & Techniques

Properties and classification of common building materials-Stones, Bricks, Sand, Limes,
Cement, Mortar, Concrete, Steel
Engineering Structures are composed of Materials; which are known as Engineering Materials
or Building Materials.
Stone
Classification of Rocks
Building stones are obtained from rocks
1. Geological
a) Igneous: Rocks formed by the cooling of magma. Magma is the molten or pasty
rocky material that tries to come out to the earth’s surface through cracks or
weak portions.
Plutonic Hypabyssal Volcanic
Formed due to cooling Formed due to cooling Formed due to pouring
of magma at a of magma at a relatively of magma at earth’s
considerable depth from shallow depth from surface.
earth’s surface. earth’s surface.
Process is slow. Process is quick. Process is very rapid.
Possess coarsely Possess finely grained Possess extremely fine
grained crystalline crystalline structure. grained structure and
structure. some quantity of non-
crystalline material
glass.
Granite Dolerite Basalt

b) Sedimentary: Formed by the deposition of products of weathering on the pre-

existing rocks.
Residual Sedimentary Chemical Organic
Remain at the Insoluble Carried away in Deposited by
site of products carried solution and organisms.
weathering. away in deposited by
suspension and some physio-
deposited chemical
elsewhere. processes such as
evaporation,
precipitation, etc.
Bauxite Gravel, Limestone, Lignite
sandstone Gypsum

c) Metamorphic: Formed by the change in character of the pre-existing rocks.

Igneous as well as sedimentary rocks change their character when subjected to
extreme heat and pressure, known as metamorphism.
 Thermal Cataclastic Dynamo-thermal Plutonic
metamorphism metamorphism metamorphism metamorphism
Metamorphism Metamorphism When heat is Metamorphism
brought by heat. brought by direct combined with brought by
pressure at the stress, or uniform pressure
earth’s surface temperature rises and heat at great
where with increasing depths.
temperatures are depth.
low.
Hornfel, Marble, Cataclasite, Schist, Gneiss, Schist, Gneiss,
Quartzite, Skarn Mylonite, Amphibolite, Amphibolite,
Quartzite Quartzite

2. Physical: Based on general structure of rocks.

a) Stratified: Possess planes of cleavage and can easily split up along these planes,
e.g., sedimentary.
b) Unstratified: Possess crystalline granular or compact granular structure, e.g.,
igneous and sedimentary.
c) Foliated: Possess a tendency to be split up in a definite direction only, e.g.,
metamorphic.

3. Chemical:
Silicious Argillaceous Calcareous
Silica predominates. Clay predominates. Calcium Carbonate
predominates.
Hard and Durable. Dense and compact or Durability depends upon
may be soft. constituents present in
surrounding atmosphere.
Granite, Quartzite. Slates, Laterites. Limestone, marble.

Properties of Stone
1. Acid Test: Good building stone like sandstone will maintain its sharp edges and will
keep its surface free from powder at the end when 50-100 gm stone is placed in 1%
strength of HCl acid for seven days.
2. Attrition Test: Used to find out rate of wear of stones.
3. Crushing Test: For finding out the compressive strength of the stone.
4. Crystallization Test: To check the presence of CaSo4 in pores of stones because it might
cause decay of the stone due to weathering.
5. Freezing and Thawing Test: For observing the behavior of stone under extreme
conditions of temperature.
6. Hardness Test: To check the stone’s resistance to deformation or scratching.
7. Impact Test: To check the toughness of stone; how much strength does it have and how
much damage it can resist.
8. Microscopic Test: To study various properties of stone, viz., average grain size;
existence of pores, fissures, veins and shakes; mineral constituents; nature of cementing
material; presence of any harmful substance and the texture of the stone.
9. Smith’s Test: To find out the presence of soluble matter like any earthy matter in a
sample of stone.
10. Water Absorption Test: To check the porosity of the stone.

Qualities of a good building stone

1. Crushing strength: A good building stone should have crushing strength greater than
1000kg/cm2.
2. Appearance: Stones to be used for face work, should have decent appearance and be
capable of preserving their color uniformly for a long time.
3. Durability: Stones should be durable; they should be able to withstand wear and tear,
retain its appearance, and support its load for a long time.
4. Facility of dressing: Stones should be able to be dressed easily and economically.
5. Fracture: The fracture of the stone should be sharp, even and clear.
6. Hardness: Coefficient of hardness should be greater than 17 for a stone to be used in
road work, should be between 14 to 17 for a stone to be of medium hardness and should
be less than 14 for a stone to be of poor hardness.
7. Percentage wear: In attrition test, if wear is more than 3 %, stone is not satisfactory. If
it is equal to 3%, stone is just tolerable. For a good building stone, wear should be equal
to or less than 2 %.
8. Resistance of fire: Minerals composing stone should be such that shape of stone is
preserved when a fire occurs. Failure of stones in case of fire is due to various reasons
such as rapid rise in temperature, sudden cooling, different coefficients of linear
expansions of minerals, etc. Limestone can resist fire upto about 800°C and then splits
into Cao and CO2. Sandstone with silicates can resist fire in a better way. Argillaceous
stones have poor strength but prove out to be better choice for resisting fire.
9. Seasoning: Stones should be dried or seasoned before used in structural work.
10. Specific Gravity: A good building stone should have specific gravity greater than 2.7.
11. Texture: A good building stone should have crystalline structure. Stones with such
texture are strong and durable.
12. Toughness Index:
Toughness Index Stone type
<13 Not tough
13-19 Moderately tough
>19 Highly Tough
13. Water absorption: For a good stone, percentage absorption by weight after 24 hours
should not exceed 0.60.
14. Weathering: A good building stone should be capable of withstanding adverse effects
of various atmospheric and external agencies such as rain, frost, wind, etc.