Paddy Engineering Consultant

In large work or in major construction works, cement is generally stored at site. The cement must be stored in such a manner so that, it can be easily accessible for proper inspection. The building in which cement is stored should be water tight in order to prevent dampness. The guidelines given below should be observed while storing the cement. 1. Cement should not be stored for a long period. During rainy season, the storage time period of cement should be as minimal as possible. 2. Dampness in godowns must be avoided. 3. Cement should not be piled against the wall. A minimum space of 60 cm all –round should be left between the exterior walls and the stacks. The distance between two consecutive stacks should be minimum to reduce circulation of air. 4. Cement should not be piled directly on the floor; instead it should be piled off the floor on wooden planks/crates so as to be clear off the floor by at least 10 to 20 cm. 5. There should not be more than 15 bags in one pile. This...

ADVANTAGES OF PRECAST CONCRETE Following are the advantages of precast concrete: 1. The concrete of superior quality is produced as it is possible to have better technical control on the production of concrete in factory. 2. It is not necessary to provide joints in the precast construction. 3. The labour required in the manufacturing process of the precast units can easily be trained. 4. The moulds employed for preparing the precast units are of steel with exact dimension in all directions. These moulds are more durable and they can be used several times. 5. The precast articles may be given the desired shape and finish with accuracy. 6.The precast structures can be dismantled, when required and they can then be suitably used elsewhere. 7. The transport and storage of various components of concrete for cast in-situ work are eliminated when precast members are adopted. 8. The work can be completed in a short time, when precast units are adopted. 9. When precast structures are to be ins...

The following properties of soil are taken into consideration while dealing with soil as a construction material. Cohesion  Angle of internal friction  Capillarity  Permeability  Elasticity  Compressibility  1. COHESION It is the internal molecular attraction which resists the rupture or shear of a material. Cohesion is derived in the fine grained soils from the water films which bind together the individual particles in the soil mass. Cohesion is the property of the fine grained soil with particle size below 0.002 mm. cohesion of a soil decreases as the moisture content increases. Cohesion is greater in well compacted clays and it is independent of the external load applied. 2. ANGLE OF INTERNAL FRICTION The resistance in sliding of grain particles of a soil mass depends upon the angle of internal friction. It is usually considered that the value of the angle of internal friction is almost independent of the normal pressure but varies with the de...

The choice of whether a structure should be built of concrete, steel, masonry, or timber depends on the availability of materials and on a number of value decisions. 1. ECONOMY Frequently, the foremost consideration is the overall cost of the structure. This is, of course, a function of the costs of the materials and the labour and the time necessary to erect them. Concrete floor systems tend to be thinner than structural steel systems because the girders and beams or joists all fit within the same depth, or the floors are flat plates. This produces an overall reduction in the height of a building compared to a steel building, which leads to a; a. Lower wind loads because there is less area exposed to wind b. And savings in cladding and mechanical and electrical risers Frequently, however, the overall cost is affected as much or more by the overall construction time since the contractor and the owner must allocate money to carry out the construction and will not receive a retu...

DURABILITY OF BUILDING FOUNDATION A foundation is that part of the structure which is in direct contact with ground. Therefore foundations are subjected to attack by chemicals present in soil, water and by mechanical abrasion and erosion. The extent of deterioration depends on the concentration of chemicals, the level of and fluctuations in the ground water table or the variation in tidal and river level or on climatic conditions. The only way to increase the durability of foundation is to protect the foundation material from the above mentioned attacks. There are 4 types of material commonly used as foundation material, such as Timber foundation Metal foundation Concrete foundation Brick work foundation Let us discuss methods of protecting different foundation material from deterioration. 1. PROTECTION OF TIMBER FOUNDATION Timber piles are liable to fungal attack and termites, if kept in moist conditions. The protection of timber is best achieved by pressure treatment w...

CHECKING OF CONCRETE SLAB 1. Check all the concealed electric conduit work, junctions and electrical points, the positions of fan points, and MS boxes as per your electrical layout plan. 2. Check the reinforcement and get an approval from your RCC consultant. 3. Check the standby arrangements made for water in case of power failure. 4. Consult your RCC consultant before you decide the position of concrete joints in case of a big slab. 5. Ensure that wooden pieces, paper, nails, etc. are removed from the beam before casting. 6. Ensure that the shuttering, supporting, and the scaffolding are firm and proper. 7. Ensure that all joints in the formwork are properly sealed. This helps avoid slurry leakage.It is better to use putty made of grease and cement (50:50) instead of using mud, jute, paper, etc. This putty effectively seals joints and remains intact during the vibration of concrete. You can also use strips of aluminium foil to cover the gap.Place wooden planks and steel chairs...

Type of work App. Concrete Mix Max. size of aggregates (mm) Water for one cement bag batch (ltr) Total for dry aggregates For aggregates condition from dry to moist Best consistency Small precast work, fence posts, poles, garden furniture and other work of very thin sections 1:2:2 16 20 15 to 16 Soft Storage tanks, cisterns, sewers, well knerbs, watertight work, and columns or other structural parts subjected to high stresses 1:2:3 20 25 19 to 22 Medium Reinforced concrete work, floor slab, beams, columns, arches, stairs etc 1:2.5:3.5 20 32 23 to 27 Medium or soft Ordinary floors, footpaths, drive ways, steps, roads, pavements 1:2.5:3.5 20 23 20 to 23 Stiff Building and basemenot walls, silos, sills, lintels, machine foundations subject to vibration, Bridges, dams, piers, etc exposed to action of water and frost foundation concrete for masonry walls 1:2:4 40 30 23 to 26 Stiff or Medium Culverts, retaining walls, compound walls, ordinary machine bases, etc. 1:3:5 40 34 26 to 30...