Masonry, the art and craft of building and fabricating in stone, clay, brick, or concrete block. Construction of poured concrete, reinforced or unreinforced, is often also considered masonry. masonry The art of masonry originated when early man sought to supplement his valuable but rare natural caves with artificial caves made from piles of stone. Circular stone huts, partially dug…
Bearing wall, orload-bearing wall, Wall that carries the load of floors and roof above in addition to its own weight. The traditional masonry bearing wall is thickened in proportion to the forces it has to resist: its own weight, the dead load of floors and roof, the live load of people, as well as the lateral forces of arches, vaults, and wind. Such…
Materials testing, measurement of the characteristics and behaviour of such substances as metals, ceramics, or plastics under various conditions. The data thus obtained can be used in specifying the suitability of materials for various applications—e.g., building or aircraft construction, machinery, or packaging. A full- or small-scale model of a proposed machine or structure may be tested. Alternatively, investigators…
Gross domestic product (GDP), total market value of the goods and services produced by a country’s economy during a specified period of time. It includes all final goods and services—that is, those that are produced by the economic agents located in that country regardless of their ownership and that are not resold in any form….
The economic context of building construction Buildings, like all economic products, command a range of unit prices based on their cost of production and their value to the consumer. In aggregate, the total annual value of building construction in the various national economies is substantial. In 1987 in the United States, for example, it was about 10 percent…
Building science A significant achievement of the first industrial age was the emergence of building science, particularly the elastic theory of structures. With it, mathematical models could be used to predict structural performance with considerable accuracy, provided there was adequate quality control of the materials used. Although some elements of the elastic theory, such as the Swiss mathematician Leonhard…
Materials engineering is an important discipline of engineering that has assisted other technologies to improve the variety of products being produced globally. This science has improved the characteristics of existing materials and has also contributed to produce materials with improved properties. History of Materials Engineering The science of materials engineering has been used since the…
Learn about the construction and working of a jib crane. What makes a jib crane an integral part of the construction process? Learn about the various types of Jib cranes in the article inside. What is a Jib Crane? Cranes are an important part of any type of civil engineering work. Different types of cranes…
Structural engineering has been applied since mankind commenced building of structures. Structures are designed, with the aim to accomplish the desired functions of creation, ensuring the visualization of all the loads that could be applied on the structures, and adequate safety of structures. What Is Structural Engineering Structural engineering is a specialty of civil engineering…
Structural analysis is an important subject of civil engineering that evaluates the different loads on structures, and their effects. It is an accurate method to ascertain the capability of the structures to withstand the expected loads, and assist in designing the structures accordingly. What Is Structural Analysis Structural analysis is a comprehensive assessment to ensure…