1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
BACHELOR OF QUANTITY SURVEYING (HONOURS)
Assignment 1a : Research on Building Material - CONCRETE
Submission Date: 29th
April 2014
Objectives
1. To introduce various types of building materials those are used in current
construction practice and their characteristics.
2. To create an understanding in students of the particular material and it
application in building and choices designers make in choosing building materials
based on their properties.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:
1. Recognise and recall types and properties of selected material.
2. Describe the general use of different type of the same family of material in
construction
3. Explain the physical properties of building material (concrete)
4. Explain the chemical properties of building material (concrete)
5. Explain the effect of building material on construction and structural qualities
(concrete)
TASK
This assignment is to be carried out in group of 4-5 students per group.
- Within the group each to select one (1) of the focus topic of a particular
building material (CONCRETE) as listed below and prepare a report to cover
the following aspect :
1. Admixtures and their Functions
Curing Process
2. Concrete Degradation and Defects

2. Environmental impact of concrete
3. TYPES OF CONCRETE AND APPLICATION
a. Aerated Autoclaved concrete
b. Asphalt concrete
c. Seacrete
d. Decorative concrete
e. Ferrocement
f. Fiber reinforced concrete
g. Lunarcrete
h. Precast concrete
i. Salt concrete
j. Prestressed concrete
k. Ready-mix concrete
l. Roller compacted concrete
m. Terrazzo
n. Urbanite concrete
Notes: in the event if you could not find sufficient information for any of the type of
certain concrete, you may find a substitute of another type of concrete provided it is
different from any of the name listed above.
The topics in the report should include the listed below (but not limited to) :
- Introduction
- Definition
- General information
- Appropriate Usage/Application
- Physical and chemical properties
- Advantages and disadvantage
- Suitability/Sustainability
- Aesthetical value
- Performance / Behaviour
- Maintenance
- List of references
- Clear images of material
- Relevant Diagram/tabulation
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3. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT
FINAL SUBMISSION DATE : 29th
April 2014
PART A :
• A4 size bound report attached with soft copy of the assignment. The content
of your submission report should be a documentation of all your finding and
analysis as explained in the task column above in a presentable manner.
Suggested format of Report :
• Cover page : name and students number
• Table of Content
• Introduction of given topic : Definition: General information, properties for the
materials by categories.: with images of materials can be scan image of
material samples collected.: Advantageous and disadvantageous :
comparison : etc
• Contents of topics and subtopic
• Referencing (MUST)
• Font Arial 12
• Spacing 1 ½
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
• Quality of work shall be assessed on the following criteria :
• Understanding of effects of building materials on building and environment
• Clarity in communicating your ideas, proposals and analysis
• Depth of research and finding information, sample of materials, technical
specifications, catalogues and data collected.
• Content of your submission
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