Civil Engineering Basic Knowledge

Abbreviation, Full Forms, and Terminology.

NameDescription
ASTMAmerican society for testing materials
C/CCenter to center distance
DLDevelopment length
Sub-structureStructure which is below the ground level
Super-structureStructure which is above ground level
ElevationView which we can see when we stand right in front of the structure on any of the sides.
PlasteringCement, sand, and water mix applied on brick wall for smooth surface for painting.
Plinth levelLevel on which the actual structure stands on
RiserThe vertical height of single step
TreadHorizontal portion where we put our foot on which going on steps
FootingThe bottom most part of structure. These are categorized as Isolated footing, combined footing, Raft etc.
ColumnsThe vertical members of structure
Clear coverClear distance maintained from concrete face up to face of the reinforcement steel.
Effective depthDistance from top of the concrete face upto the CG of reinforcement.
Singly reinforced sectionSection of concrete member with reinforcement at only on tension face.
Doubly reinforced sectionSection of concrete member with reinforcement on both tension and compression side.
StirrupsSteel bent in closed shape of either Rectangular of circular shape.
Cantilever beamBeam with fixed support on one side and the other end is free.
Propped cantileverBeam with fixed support on one side and other end is with pinned support.
PedestalLength of the member is less than 3 times in width
One way slabRatio of length to width is more than 2 its one way slab
Two way slabRatio of length to width is less than or equal to 2 , its two way slab.
Slender columnLength to width ratio of column is more than 12 , then its slender column
Plain cement concreteCement concrete mix provided on the ground level over which foundations, beams are constructed.
Pile foundationThe foundation system with Piles i.e cylinder shaped reinforced concrete member.
Retaining wallWall constructed to retain earth
ScaffoldingTemporary structure, where work needs to be carried out at higher elevations.
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Construction Materials

  1. Cement: Cement is essentially attained by crushing the gravels comprising lime in addition to clay. Cement is the binder that aids in the attachment of cement, sand alongside with water. Nearly of the actual significant categories of cement.
  2. Aggregate: Two different type of aggregate are as follows.
    1. Fine Aggregate
      • Fine aggregate is the material which permits finished 4.75 mm sieve then reserved on 0.075 mm sieve
      • Example: Sand
    2. Coarse Aggregate
      • Coarse aggregate is the material which retains on 4.75 mm sieve.
      • Example: Gravel
  3. Concrete: Concrete is attained by mingling cement, aggregate in addition water in accordance with a preferred mix. At this point water to cement proportion shows a significant part.
    • Strength of concrete is inversely proportionate to the water-cement ratio.
    • Concrete is characterized by terminology as M-25. Where M is Mix and 25 is the compression strength at the 28 days allowing for concrete cubes of 15 cm cube.
    • Concrete has Two setting types.
    • Initial Setting time is of 30 min.
    • Final Setting time is of 10 hrs.
    • The test for setting time is through by means of Vicats apparatus.
    • Concrete setting time can be increased or decreased dependent on environmental circumstances by means of admixtures.
    • Admixture for increasing the setting time is named retarder then for decreasing the setting time is named accelerator.
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Any Structure Typically Consists of Following

  • Foundation.
  • Columns.
  • Beams.
  • Slabs.
  • Main Walls and partition walls.
  • Staircase.
  • Flooring.
  • Finishes – Plastering and Painting.
  • Boundary Wall.
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Basic Loads on Structure

  1. Self-weight of structure i.e slabs, beams, columns, walls, etc.,
  2. Live Loads due to furniture, equipment, machinery, etc.
  3. Wind Loads.
  4. Seismic Loads / Earthquake Loads
  5. Snow Loads
  6. Hurricane Loads at some locations
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List of Major Indian Codes

Code for Reinforced concreteIS:  456
Specifications for steel constructionIS: 800
Wind Loads on buildingIS: 875
For Seismic SpecificationsIS:  1893
For water retaining structuresIS: 3370
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Usefull Tips for Civil Engineers

Lapping of barsDiameter of bar is less than 36mm.
Circular columnUse Minimum 6 longitudinal bars
Thickness of slabMinimum is 0.125m
PH value of waterMore than 6 should be used for building purposes.
Compressive strength of Bricks3.5 N /mm2
Dead Load of structureSelf-weight of Structure
Moisture contentSand that haves more than 5% must not be used for Concrete mix.
DPCThickness should not be less than 2.5cm
RMC (Ready Mix concrete)
  • It is made at factory and transported to the site.
  • It is used where there is a lack of space for mixing the concrete
  • It is used where a huge amount of concrete is required for construction.
Height of floor3 m or 10 ft
Cantilever BeamOne end is fixed support and the other end is free.
Simply supported beamIt has Minimum of two supports
PCCIt is Used on members when the tensile forces are not acting on it.
Weight of first-class clay brick and crushing strength3.85 Kg and 10.5MN/m2
Impermeability of concreteIt is the concrete that resists the entry of water or moisture into it.
Curing Period of RCC28 days
Minimum sill level height44 inches
TiesTransverse reinforcement providing in columns
StirrupsTransverse reinforcement providing in Beams
The thermal expansion co-efficient of concrete and steel12x10−6/°C
Number of Bricks necessary for 1m3 of Brick masonary550 bricks
Specific gravity of Cement3.16g/cm3
Standard Size of Brick19 cm x 9 cm x 9 cm
Slope or Pitch of the stair25 degrees to 40 degrees
Rise in stairs150mm to 200mm
Tread in staircase250mm to 300mm
Hook lengthMore than 9 * diameter of bar
Unit weight of PCC24KN/m3
Volume of 50 kg cement bag1.3cft
TMT barsThermo Mechanically treated bars
Length of each bar from factory12m
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Concrete Basic Knowledge

  1. The concrete must not be thrown as of a height of more than 1m.
  2. Cube test is passed out for every 30 m3practise of concrete.
  3. A head mason must labour 25-30 m3throughtout a day.
  4. In manufacturing, the rate analysis for the work of labours is considered in Man Hours.
  5. Theodolite least count is 20 Secs while Compass Least count is 30 mins.
  6. Cement more than 3 months old cannot be used for construction.
  7. Calculation of extra water in the concrete mix to rise setting time primes to arrangement the Cracks or honeycomb in hardened concrete.
  8. Vibration in freshly made concrete is completed to eliminate the air foams in a concrete mix.
  9. The concrete can be raised to an extreme height of 50 musing Concrete Pumps.
  10. Stirrups in Beams and Ties in Column are on condition that to grip the shear force and to save longitudinal bars in location.
  11. The Major aim for by means of steel as reinforcement is owing to thermal expansion.
  12. M20 grade of concrete is normally used in the construction of a slab.
  13. Floor area engaged by 50 kg of Cement bag is 0.3 m2 and elevation of 0.18 m.
  14. According to IS 456: 2000, Maximum diameter of bar used in the slab would not surpass 1/8th of the entire thickness of the slab.
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Test of Building Materials

  1. Soil Test.
    • Core Cutter Test.
    • Compaction Test of Soil.
    • Sand Replacement Test.
    • Tri-axial Test.
    • Consolidation Test.
  2. Concrete Test.
    1. Slump Test.
    2. Compression Test.
    3. Split Tensile Test.
    4. Soundness.
  3. Bitumen Test.
    1. Ductility Test
    2. Softening Point Test
    3. Gravity Test.
    4. Penetration Test.
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Concrete Slump Value for Various Concrete Constructions

Columns and Retaining walls
Beams and Slabs
Cement Concrete Pavements
Decks of bridge
Vibrated Concrete
Huge Mass constructions
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Grades of Concrete:

Grades of Concrete
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Clear Cover to Main Reinforcement:

Footing50 mm
Top Raft Foundation50 mm
Bottom/ Sides Raft Foundation75 mm
Strap Beam50 mm
Grade Slab20 mm
Column40 mm
Shear Wall25 mm
Beams25 mm
Slabs15 mm
Flat Slabs20 mm
Staircase15 mm
Retaining Wall20 - 25 mm
Water Retaining Structures20 - 30 mm
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Unit Weight of Different Materials

Concrete25 kN/m3
Brick19 kN/m3
Steel7850 Kg/m3
Water1000 Lt/m3
Cement1440 Kg/m3
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Development Length

Compression38 diameter
Tension47 and 60 diameter
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Unit Conversation

1 Cent435.60 ft2
1 Meter3.2808 ft
1 M210.76 ft2
1 Feet0.3048 m
1 KN100 Kg
1 kN1000 N
1 Ton 1000Kg10,000 N = 10 kN
1 kG9.81 N
1 Gallon3.78 Litres
1 Hectare2.471 acre
1 Acre4046.82 m2
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Super Structure

Plinth Level

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Effective Depth

One Way Slab

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Slender Column

Plain Cement Concrete

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Fine Aggregate

Coarse Aggregate

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Wind Loads on Building

For Water Retaining Structures

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Circular Column

Thickness of Slab

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Ph Value of Water

Dead Load of Structure

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Height of Floor

Simply Supported Beam

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Impermeability of Concrete

Curing Period of RCC

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Minimum Sill Level Height

Specific Gravity of Cement

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Specific Gravity of Brick

Specific Gravity of Sand

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Slope or Pitch of the Stair

Rise in Stairs

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Tread in Staircase

Unit Weight of Steel

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Volume of 50 Kg Cement Bag

Concrete Basic Knowledge

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Bitumen Test

Beams and Slabs

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Decks of Bridge

Civil Engineering Basic Knowledge

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Basic Knowledge of Civil Engineering

Civil Basic Knowledge

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  1. Government: Understanding how government works, the different branches of government, the electoral process, and the role of citizens in the political process.
  2. Law: Understanding the basic principles of law, including criminal and civil law, the court system, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
  3. Economics: Understanding how the economy works, including basic principles of supply and demand, the role of markets, and the role of government in regulating the economy.
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Basic of Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering Basics

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Basic Information About Civil Engineering

General Knowledge About Civil Engineering

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Structural Civil Engineering Basic Knowledge

Fundamentals of Civil Engineering

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Civil Construction Basics

Basic of Civil

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Abbreviation of Civil Engineering

Slump Value for Raft Foundation

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