Note: Students will be consulted on any substantial changes to the course syllabus.  Changes will be discussed and announced in advance.

Basis of Grading: Lab Reports = 60%, Final Project = 30%, Class Participation= 10%.

Honor Code: Students are advised that the NJIT Honor Code will be upheld in this course, and any violations will be brought to the immediate attention of the Dean of Students.

 Lab Introduction:

Welcome to the CEE Construction Materials Laboratory.  This is a place where you will  "put to the test" the theory you are learning in the classroom.  The Construction Materials Laboratory Course (CE 431) is designed to complement the lecture portions of four construction/structures oriented courses: Construction Methods and Procedures (CE 210), Construction Engineering (CE 414), Concrete Design (CE 333) and Steel Design (CE 432).  The specific objectives of this course are to provide the student with an opportunity to:

1. Investigate the properties and behavior of materials and their assemblies;
2. Become familiar with ASTM specifications and testing procedures and with
    construction field monitoring and testing practices;
3. Develop skills for analyzing experimental data and working in teams;
4. Learn to design, conduct and analyze data of a custom student designed
    laboratory experiment.
5.Research and cite reference standards.

Most of the experiments are performed by student groups of four to five person.  The experiments are interactive and involve: (1) setup; (2) operation; (3) measurement; (4) adjustment; (5) data gathering; and (6) data reduction.  The group approach teaches the value of teamwork in problem solving during the laboratory period and after class as data are exchanged and reduced.  Some experiments are performed as class demonstrations in which each group is assigned a single data set to analyze.  Later, towards the end of the period, the groups report their results to form a collective body of data.

You will have the opportunity to design and conduct your own custom laboratory experiment.  It will be both an interesting and challenging experience, since you must translate a stated problem into a physical experiment, research and cite standards, testing procedures and expected results, making decisions on set-up, experimental parameters, and analysis methods and report and present your finding..  This experiment will require you to apply the various experimental techniques that you have learned throughout the semester.

Written assignments must be submitted for each laboratory experiment.  Most lab reports will be written and submitted individually by the student.  In completing individual reports, students in the same group will share data, although all analyses and written text must be the student's own work.  A few group-written reports will be assigned during the semester.  For some experiments, an abbreviated lab format report will be submitted.

Your safety and the safety of those around you are of prime importance.  Efforts have been made to reduce the hazard in the lab as much as possible.  Students should follow the general safety rules included on the following page.  If you should see anything that you consider to be a safety hazard report this condition to your lab instructor.  If you have any questions about the safety of the lab you are going to conduct, consult the lab instructor.  Take your experiments seriously.  Forces into the thousands of pounds will be used throughout the course and if these forces are released in an uncontrolled manner injuries are possible.

Good luck with your experiments this semester, and work safe!

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CE 431 – Construction Materials Laboratory

Description:   

The course explores the principles of standardized and self designed laboratory testing of the mechanical properties and response of civil engineering materials and assemblies.  The laboratory is hands on, and its aim is to build confidence in using laboratory and field testing as a tool for the solution of physical engineering problems.

Prerequisites: Mech 237, CE 210

Textbook(s)/Materials Required:      None  (Class handouts)                       

Course Objectives:   

1.       Investigate the properties and behavior of materials and assemblies.

2.       Become familiar with ASTM specifications and testing procedures and with construction field monitoring and testing practices.

3.       Develop skills for analyzing experimental data and working in teams.

4.       Design and conduct a custom laboratory experiment, analyze and interpret the data, and make a presentation on the results of the testing.

5.       Research and cite reference standards.

Topics:

            Orientation and Lab Safety

            Concrete mix design – ACI 211

            Concrete mixing and testing – ASTM  C192, C143, C231, C173, C138

           Welding and weld inspection and testing

            Glued connections – ASTM D897, D1002

            Hardened concrete testing – ASTM C39, C469, C496, C78

            Strain gages

            Asphalt pavements gas, noise, light, vibrations, moisture-measurement and standards

            Electronic Data Acquition

            Student Designed Lab

            Student presentation of self designed testing

Schedule:        (0-3-1)

Professional Component:       Engineering Topics, Standards               

Program Objectives Addressed:       1, 2      

Prepared By:  Prof. Konon                                          Date:   7/10/12