Building Materials - I

1. 1. How are soil formed?
The formation of soil is as a result of the geologic cycle continually
taking place on the face of the earth.
Weathering
Deposition Geologic Transportation
Cycle
Weathering is caused by physical (or) chemical agencies followed by
Transportation, deposition and again followed by weathering.
2. What are the different types of soil?
The soil obtained by weathering may be
(1) residual (or) (2) Transported
residual – rocks are weathered and accumulated in the same place.
Transported – Soil obtained by weathering is transported by various
agencies.
Agencies Soil type
1. Wind 1. Aeoline soil
2. Water 2. Alluvial soil
3. Glacier 3. Glacial drift
4. Man 4.
5. Gravity 5. Colluvial soil
3. What are the types of soil according to particle size?
According to particle size the soil can be classified as
1. Gravel - 60 – 2mm
2. Sand - 2 – 0.06 mm
3. Silt - 0.06 – 0.02 mm
4. Clay and - < 0.02mm
5. Organic soil -
4. What are the usability of different – soils in buildings?

2. The soil used in the building industry can be classified based on the
particle size as gravel, sand, silt, clay and organic soil. According to its
binding property it can be eighter used alone or with some admixes.
Gravel Poor binding not good for mud construction.
Sand alone No good plus clay – good
Silt alone No good plus stabilizer-good
Organic soil No good
Clay alone No good – plus sand good.
5. Describe any simple soil test?
The soil used for construction can be tested at site with simple soil tests.
They are
(1) Hand washing test and
(2) Cigar test
Hand washing test
Rub – the hand in the soil until it becomes completely dirty then we can access
the soil be seeing how easy or difficult it is to wash them clean.
#. Quick clean with no effort - Loose sand not good for mud
construction
# Little time with powdery feel 2. Silt can be used with stabilizer
3. Slippery and time consuming 3. Clay can be used with sand.
If the soil is already mixed as sandy clay (or) clayey sand then it is good for
construction.
6. What are the sources of sand?
Sand is obtained from pits, river beds and sea shores. Accordingly sand
is classified as
(1) Pit sand
(2) River sand
(3) Sea sand
Pit sand - Obtained from pits dug into soil. Free of salt & good for
mortar & concrete works.
River sand - Suitable for plastering works.

3. Sea sand - Not suitable for masonry works due to pressure of salt.
7. What are the qualities of good sand?
(1) The grains should be sharp, angular and coarse
(2) It should be free from salt
(3) It should be free from clayey and organic matters
(4) The grains should be or durable minerals.
(5) The gradation of grains should be such that it will give minimum
voids.
8. What is Bulking of sand?
The volume of dry sand increases to about 25% when its moisture
content is raised upto 5%. This phenomenon is called bulking of sand.
Dry Sand 5% addition 25% increase
of water in volume
This occurs because the sand grains are surrounded by thin film of
water for preparation of mortar when wet sand is measured by volume
bulking of sand should be considered.
9. What are the ISI classification of soil?
1. Coarse grained soil More than half the material by mass is
larger than 75 micron IS sieve size.
2. Fine grained soil More than half the material by mass is
smaller than 75 micron IS sieve size.
3. Highly organic soil These soil contain large percentage of
fibrous organic matter, and impurities.
10. What is meant by soil stabilization?
The soil when applied compression may either be stable or tend to
collapse which is called its cohesion property.
Example for cohesive soil - clay
Cohesive less soil - sand
The soil which is week without cohesion is added with an admixture to
make them stable which are called stabilizers the process is called soil
stabilization.

4. Example:
Cement, lime, bitumen, resins.
11. What are the rural stabilizers?
12. Name the different types of mud construction?
13. Describe compressed earth blocks?
The mud blocks are made by machine compression operated manually.
When added with little stabilizers the blocks become very strong equal
to the strength of burnt country bricks.
14. Strength and weakness of mud construction.
1. Independence and availability 1. Damage caused due to wind
water & earth quaee
2. Ease of work 2. Need fragment maintenance
3. Eco friendly 3. Deterioration caused by pests
& insects.
4. Economical 4. Growth of vegetation in
intersection.
5. Thermal insulation
6. Acoustic properly

5. 1. Natural bed of stones?
The building stones are obtained from rocks which have a distinct plane
of division along with stones can easily be split. The plan is known as
natural bed of stones.
The direction of natural bed should b perpendicular to the direction of
pressure.
Natural bed
2. Explain stone quarrying?
The process of taking out stones from natural rock bed is known as the
quarrying the stone quarrying is done is following 3 methods.
(1) Quarrying with hand tools
(2) Quarrying with challenging machine
(3) Quarrying by blasting
3. Describe dressing of stones?
The stones after being quarried are to be cut into suitable sizes and with
suitable surfaces. The process is known as the dressing of stones. The
dressing of stones can be dived as
1. Quarrying dressing
2. Site dressing
dressing is done for the following purposes.
(1) to get desired appearance
(2) to make the transport easy/economical
(3) to suit the requirement of stone masonry
(4) to make use of local workmanship

6. 4. List the advantages of quarry dressing?
(1) At quarry site it is possible to get cheap labour for the dressing of
stones.
(2) It is possible to sort out stones for different works.
(3) The irregular portions of stones are removed, which decrease the
weight of stones and make the transport easier.
(4) The natural bed surface of stone can be made prominent.
5. The freshly quarried stones contains quarry sap hence they are
comparatively soft and can be dressed easily.
6. Explain seasoning of stones?
The freshly quarried stones contain moisture which is called quarry sap,
the quarry sap accelerates decaying action of stones. hence the quarried
stones should be exposed to sun and air for sufficient time for removing
the quarry sap which is called seasoning of stones.
7. How to select, a site for quarrying?
The quarry site is selected, considering following aspect.
(1) The quality & quantity stone available from quarry.
(2) Economy in quarrying.
(3) Distance from road, railways & sea coast.
(4) Availability of labour, power, tools for quarrying.
(5) Absence of permanent structures nearby
(6) Availability of clean water, drainage for quarry pit and site for
dumping refuse.
8. What are the rock forming minerals?
The rocks contain many minerals. The various natural minerals present
in the rocks determines its character. But only few minerals form the
bulk of rocks which are called rock forming minerals.
Some of the commonly found minerals.
In Sedimentary rocks In Igneous rocks
1. Calcite 1. Angite
2. Magnetite 2. Chlorite
3. Glauconitic 3. Felspes
4. Glauconitic 4. Hornblendes
5. Limonite 5. Mica
6. Gypsum 6. Guartz
7. Anhydrate 7. Serpentine

7. 9. List the various uses of stones?
Following are the various uses to which stones are employed.
1. Structure: The stones are used for foundation, walls, columns,
lintels, arches, roofs, floors, and dpc etc.
2. Face work: The stones can be used as a facing material in brick
wall called composite masonry.
3. Paving: Stones are used for flooring paving of roads,
toothpaths etc.
4. Basic material: Stones as a basic material used for
• Cement concrete
• Murom of Roads
• Artificial stones &
• Hollow blocks etc
10. What is meant by Texture of rocks?
The arrangement of minerals forming a rock is known as its texture (or)
structure of rock.
The different types:
(i) Compact crystalline
(ii) Granular crystalline
(iii) Foliated
(iv) Glassy
(v) Porous granular
(vi) Vesicular
11. What is meant by fracture of rocks?
The type of surface obtained when a rock is broken, indicates its
fracture. The fractured surfaces are mostly irregular and helps to
determine the texture of rocks.

8. The different types
(1) Even
(2) Earthy
(3) Uneven
(4) Fibrous
(5) Conchoidal &
(6) Hackly
12. What are the geological classification of rocks?
Geological classification
Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic
rocks rocks rocks
1. Igneous Plutonic
Hypabyssal
Volcanic rocks
2. Sedimentary Residual deposits
Sedimentary deposits
Chemical deposits
Organic deposits
3. Metamorphic Thermal
Cataclastic
Dynamo-thermal
Plutonic
13. What are the physical and chemical classification of rocks?
* Physical classification of rocks
Stratified Un stratified Foliated
* Chemical classification of rocks
Siliceous Argillaceous Calcareous

9. 14. What are the qualities of good building stones?
Following are the requirement of a good building stones.
(1) Crushing strength
(2) Appearance
(3) Durability
(4) Facility of dressing
(5) Texture /fracture/toughness
(6) Water absorption
(7) Resistance to fire
(8) Seasoning
(9) Specific gravity
(10) Resistance to fire
15. Describe artificial/stones?
Artificial stones are reconstructed (or) cast stones. The natural stones
are crushed into sizes less than 6mm and mixed with cement and water
and necessary pigments are added and allowed to set polishing is done
if required.
Various forms:
(1) Cement concrete
(2) Mosaic tiles
(3) Terrazzo
16. Deterioration / Retardation/ Preservation of stones?
17. Explain the ___________ test of stone?
18. List any two common building stones and its uses?
19. Describe the advantages of artificial stones?
20. What is meant by quarry sap?
21. List the precautions in blasting?

10. 14. What are the qualities of good building stones?
Following are the requirement of a good building stones.
(1) Crushing strength
(2) Appearance
(3) Durability
(4) Facility of dressing
(5) Texture /fracture/toughness
(6) Water absorption
(7) Resistance to fire
(8) Seasoning
(9) Specific gravity
(10) Resistance to fire
15. Describe artificial/stones?
Artificial stones are reconstructed (or) cast stones. The natural stones
are crushed into sizes less than 6mm and mixed with cement and water
and necessary pigments are added and allowed to set polishing is done
if required.
Various forms:
(1) Cement concrete
(2) Mosaic tiles
(3) Terrazzo
16. Deterioration / Retardation/ Preservation of stones?
17. Explain the ___________ test of stone?
18. List any two common building stones and its uses?
19. Describe the advantages of artificial stones?
20. What is meant by quarry sap?
21. List the precautions in blasting?