Cement content in any concrete has a direct relation to the strength of the concrete, its durability and impermeability. For tests for cement content and other forms of concrete testing, standards have been laid down which need to be adhered to by civil engineers. The Importance of Cement Content for Structural Strength of Concrete Cement content…
Once the two parameters of project life and discount rate are set in place, these allow all costs and benefits to be directly compared at the same point in time. The decision-maker must now choose the actual mechanism for comparing and analysing the costs and benefits in order to arrive at a final answer for…
Minimising defects in plastering work Defects in plastering work can be minimised by following the below mentioned techniques. The brick and plastering work should be carried out by skilled masons in the best workmanship manner. Bond of brick work should be properly maintained. Efflorescence is removed by rubbing brushes on the damaged surface. A solution of…
Varnish is the solution of resins or resinous substances like amber, copal, shellac, gum resin etc. in solvents like oil, turpentile, alcohol etc. Depending upon the solvents used varnishes are classified as, oil varnishes, turpentilevarnishes, spirit varnishes and water varnishes. The desirable characteristics of an ideal varnish are 1. It should give glossy surface. 2. Should be…
Energy conversion, the transformation of energy from forms provided by nature to forms that can be used by humans. Over the centuries a wide array of devices and systems has been developed for this purpose. Some of these energy converters are quite simple. The early windmills, for example, transformed the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy for pumping water and grinding grain. Other…
Huge structures like bridges, locomotives, ships, etc. inevitably require joints in order to plan out an inner firm, enduring “skeleton.” Riveted joints play an important part in forming these joints, and are used extensively for the purpose. Here we discuss the major types of rivet joints. It would be virtually impossible building huge structures like…
Coursed Rubble Masonry is the form of masonry which is commonly adopted in the construction of residential buildings public buildings, piers and abutments for ordinary bridges. Considering the dressing and finishing of the stones, it is further sub-divided into first class, second class and third class masonry. In first class masonry, generally all the courses are of the same…
A highway project is often complex and long term, with the costs and benefits associated with it occurring over a long time frame which we term the life of the project, a parameter dealt with in earlier chapters. It sets a limit on the period over which the costs and benefits are estimated, as all…
Drum, in architecture, any of the cylindrical stone blocks composing a column that is not a monolith. The term also denotes a circular or polygonal wall supporting a dome, cupola, or lantern (qq.v.). Cupola Cupola, in architecture, small dome, often resembling an overturned cup, placed on a circular, polygonal, or square base or on small pillars or a glassed-in lantern. It is used to crown a turret, roof, or…
Carillo (1942 and Asaoka (1978) developed Eq. 4.2 to express the average degree of consolidation for the case of combined horizontal and vertical consolidation. Note, however, that (1) the small distance between the drains (the drain spacing), (2) that the horizontal coefficient of consolidation, ch, is larger than the vertical coefficient, cv, and (4) the…