Construction Science and Materials

Surinder Singh Virdi

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781119245056
• eBook ISBN: 9781119245100
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Civil Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Construction Science & Materials is designed to cover topics studied at levels 2 – 5 on Construction HND courses and is also suitable for first year undergraduates on construction courses as well as Building surveying, Architectural Technology and Quantity Surveying. It is an essential text for those who have done no science since their GCSEs.
Divided into 17 chapters, each with written explanations supplemented by solved examples and relevant diagrams to substantiate the text. Chapters end with numerical questions covering a range of problems and their answers are given at the end of the book and on the book's website.

1
Introduction to Physics

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Define speed, velocity and acceleration.
2. Explain mass, gravitation and weight.
3. Explain Newton’s laws of motion and solve numerical problems based on these laws.
4. Explain work, energy and power, and solve numerical problems.

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1.1 Speed and Velocity

In the study of moving objects, one of the important things to know is the rate of motion. The rate of motion of a moving object is what we call speed. It may be defined as the distance covered in a given time:

If the distance covered is in metres (m) and the time taken in seconds (s), then speed is measured in metres per second (m/s). If the distance is in kilometres (km) and the time in hours (h), the unit of speed is kilometres per hour (km/h).

When the direction of movement is combined with the speed, we have the velocity of motion. Quantities that have both magnitude and direction are known as vector quantities. Velocity is a vector quantity; its magnitude and direction can be represented by an arrow. Speed, on the other hand, has magnitude but no direction; therefore it is called a scalar quantity.

1.2 Acceleration

An object is said to accelerate if its velocity increases. The rate of increase of velocity is called the acceleration.

If velocity is measured in metres and time in seconds, then acceleration is measured in metres per second per second (m/s/s) or metres per second squared (m/s²). If the velocity of a moving object decreases, it is said to decelerate, i.e. the acceleration is negative. The following relationships may be used to solve problems involving velocity and acceleration:

• 
• 
• 

where, u = initial velocity

• v = final velocity
• a = acceleration
• t = time
• s = distance

1.3 Mass

The amount of matter contained in an object is known as its mass. The basic SI unit of mass is the kilogram (kg).

Th...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface to the Second Edition
• About the Companion Website
• 1 Introduction to Physics
• 2 Introduction to Chemistry
• 3 Effects of Chemicals and the Atmosphere on Materials
• 4 Electricity
• 5 Introduction to Construction Technology
• 6 Introduction to Building Services
• 7 Thermal Energy 1
• 8 Thermal Energy 2 (Including Humidity)
• 9 Forces and Structures 1
• 10 Forces and Structures 2
• 11 Forces and Structures 3
• 12 Fluid Mechanics
• 13 Sound
• 14 Light
• 15 Human Comfort
• 16 Construction Materials
• 17 Assignments
• Appendix 1: Formulae for Example 8.2
• Appendix 2: Solutions for Example 13.10
• Appendix 3: Answers to Exercises
• Index
• End User License Agreement