Some Basic Knowledge of Civil Engineering

Aggregates, used for concrete production should be less pores, in other words it should not absorb water more than recommendations by Code's, usage of such aggregates would reduce strength by absorbing water from concrete.

Why Steel is used in construction, why not other metals ?

-Main reason is "THERMAL COMPATIBILITY", then comes the reasons like cost, availability, strength etc. etc.

Steel

What is Thickness/Clear Cover ?

Cover thickness/Clear Cover, is the distance between concrete surface and the reinforcement nearest to this surface. It is provided by using spacers made of concrete or PVC.

Sand blast prior to concrete, it is very important to note that the steel waiting for concrete placement should be free from rust, if in case it is rusted sand blasting technique can be used.

Height of drop of concrete, is also an important aspect to be considered because if the drop height is more than 1 meter segregation would happen and result in reduction of concrete strength.

Temperature during concrete pour, has to be taken into consideration when volume is more, the temperature limits can be referred from local Code of practice.
Precautions that can be taken are, spraying water over shutter & steel, cooling of aggregates prior to batch, adding ice to mix etc.

Types of floor systems

We can classify floor systems in different ways:

1.By material
Floor slab – concrete
Beams – concrete or steel
2.By structural action of the slab
One way spanning slab
Two way spanning slab
flat slab
3.By method of construction
Steel beams with cast-in-situ slab
Steel beams with precast slab
Cast-in-situ concrete beams with cast-in-situ slab
Pprecast beams with precast slab.

These are some (very little core information about Civil Engineering. As a civil Engineering student/ Civil Engineer you must know these. Keep visiting this site. We will post more basic information on regular basis.