Civil Engineering Materials and Design Assignment 2022

CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND DESIGN 1
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CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND DESIGN 2
Problem 1
a. Calcium and Silicon
b. Cement manufacturing begins with the extraction of raw materials. The raw materials
that facilitate the same include calcium carbonate, iron ore, alumina, and silica. The
materials are extracted from clayey schists, limestone rock, and chalk. Quarries are dug
and by embracing the blasting method, the extraction of the materials kicks off.
Immediately after extraction, the materials are taken through a crushing process after
which they are ferried to the appropriate plants. The plants facilitate the storage and
homogenization of the materials.
The materials are thereafter ground and burnt. Being a position to produce a fine powder
will call for effectively implementing fine grinding. It is then preheated before moving it
to the kiln. At the kiln, it undergoes a process of heating at about 1500 degrees Celsius. A
period of sudden and dramatic cooling is done after carrying out the heating process. The
result is the production of clinker. Clicker forms the primary material needed to achieve
the production of all cement.
The third and final process is cement grinding and shipping. It starts by addition of a
small amount of gypsum to the clinker. The gypsum ensures successful regulation of how
the setting up of the cement will be done. The mixture is thereafter grounded finely. The
grinding results in the production of pure cement. At this phase of cement manufacturing,
different cement additives are embraced alongside the gypsum. The additives are added
in the mixture in varying amounts. They are advantageous to the cement as they give the
cement specific properties such as increased resistance to sulfates, they also cause a

CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND DESIGN 3
reduction in permeability, influencing an improvement on the workability of the cement,
raising the finishing quality of the cement and finally increasing its resistance to
aggressive environments. The cement is then stored in silos. The ferrying is done by
making use of bulks or bags and taken to the sites.
c. In cases where concrete is exposed to severe sulphate action, High Sulphate Resistant
Hydraulic Cement is used.
d. Workability of cement determines the water-cement ratio to be embraced. As one
embraces a greater amount of batch water to increase on the workability of concrete, the
addition of cement is also embraced as a way of ensuring that that the required water to
cement ratio is achieved.
e. One factor to be considered is compressive aggregate strength. Apart from that, there is
too the size gradation and texture, moisture content, bulk unit weight, and soundness.
Problem 2
a. Workability of concrete signifies concrete that can easily be placed. Desired workability
degrees vary for different types of concrete.
b. Fineness modules state the index levels of aggregate fineness and coarseness. The water
demand for the given concrete mix is affected by fineness modulus. As a result, the
workability, cohesion characteristics and compatibility are affected.
c. Cement materials have varying hardening and setting properties. The degree of which
some will harden and set will be much higher compared to others. High Early Strength
Portland Cement has a high content of alite. The alite is responsible for fastening the
hardening and setting process. The cement requires only 3 days to successfully display
the properties that will be exhibited by Portland cement in 7 days. They are beneficial in