What are various causes of cracks in a basic reinforced concrete structure?

Cracks in RCC ? Let us find out more about them in this excellent reply given by Ms. Rakshita from Indore . She is studying in the same engineering college from which the author graduated in 1976 .

Answer by Rakshita Nagayach:

The various causes are:
• Structural cracks

1) Due to incorrect design
2) Faulty construction
3) Overloading

• Non Structural cracks

1) Moisture changes: Shrinkage effect,depending on the water content, cement concrete and aggregates.
2) Thermal movement: Concrete made in hot weather needs more water for same work-ability and hence results in more shrinkage.
3) Elastic deformation
4) Creep: Building items such as concrete and brick work when subjected to a sustained load not only undergo elastic strain but also develop gradual and slow time dependent deformation known as creep or plastic strain.
5) Chemical reaction: Certain chemical reaction in building materials result is appreciable change in volume of resulting products and internal stresses are set up which may result in outward thrust and formation of cracks.
6) Foundation movement and settlement of soil: Buildings on expansion clays are extremely crack prone.
7) Vegetation: Large trees growing in the vicinity of buildings cause damage in all type of soil conditions. If the soil is a shrinkable clay, the cracking is severe.

What are various causes of cracks in a basic reinforced concrete structure?

How does MEP BIM help the construction process?

This is something new ..let us understand this completely….

Answer by Prahlad Parmar:

Before the implementation of BIM in MEP system, construction companies were using old CAD software’s which generate 2D design of mechanical, electrical and plumbing system of the building. The 2D CAD designs provide very limited and basic information for the construction process.

With the help of MEP BIM now construction company can create a 3D model of building which provide all the critical information about MEP system and also enter inputs in the 3D model from construction engineer, survey engineer, civil engineer, designers, building owner, architects, etc. So the final 3D model has the inputs from entire construction team and will be useful in taking every important decision in construction process without facing any hurdles.

For more information read the following post.
http://www.truecadd.com/news/how…

How does MEP BIM help the construction process?

What’s the difference between foundation and footing?

Answer by Quora Moderation:

Foundations are broadly classified as :

1. Shallow Foundations
2. Deep Foundations

According to Karl von Terzaghi, a foundation is shallow if its depth is equal to or less than its width. Foundations constructed by open excavation are also called shallow foundations.

The term footing is used in conjunction with shallow foundations commonly. A footing is a foundation unit constructed in brick work, masonry or concrete under the base of a wall or a column for the purpose of distributing the load over a large area. A footing or a shallow foundation is placed immediately below the lowest part of the Superstructure supported by it.
Some examples of footings are:

• Spread footings for columns
  
• Spread footings for walls
  
• Combined footings for columns and walls
  
• Strap footing
  

The Deep foundations are simply called foundations. The depth of the foundation is more than the width. Some examples are:

• Pile foundation
  
• Stages in forming vibro-expanded piles
  

• Well foundation
  
• Coffer dams
  

The two terms are also defined as : ‘A foundation is the part of the structure which is in direct contact with the ground to which the loads are transmitted, while the lowermost portion of the foundation which is in direct contact with the sub-soil is called the footing.’

Hope this helps.
Thanks for the A2A Abhinand Ab!

What’s the difference between foundation and footing?

What is the meaning of 10/7 written on concrete mixing equipment?

We often wonder about this 10/7 on a concrete mixer ….right ? this is the answer

Answer by A Quora admin:

A concrete mixer homogeneously mixes cement, coarse and fine aggregates and water to form concrete.

By 10/7 concrete mixing machine, we mean that 10 cubic feet of cement, aggregates and water will produce 7 cubic feet of concrete on proper mixing.

In India, the capacities of mixers are mentioned in cubic meters. 10/7 mixer has unmixed capacity of 300 cubic meters and mixed capacity of 200 cubic meters.
You can also check the video to see the working of a 10/7 concrete mixer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8zk2xkI6ZQ
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the A2A Ashutosh Pandey!

What is the meaning of 10/7 written on concrete mixing equipment?

What are the basic knowledge for a Civil engineer?

This is a must read for all civil engineers…not only the students…so happy reading

Answer by A Quora admin:

Originally posted as an answer to the question: Rakshita Nagayach’s answer to What are practical things one should know being a civil engineering student?

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The practical things a civil engineering student should know also depends on the future plans of the student after completing his/her graduation.

If going for a job

Most undergrads are recruited by construction companies in the country. So, as a field or design engineer (aspiring one), the following must be on the tip all the time:

• All field and lab tests for cement, aggregate, sand and concrete.
• Lab tests of soil, both surface and foundation soil.
• Proficient use of all the surveying equipment, including auto-levelling         and triangulation devices.
• Good knowledge of codal provisions of RCC structures and Steel.
• Design parameters of both vertical and horizontal curves during road construction.
• Length to height ratio, thickness of the wall and area of other rooms while designing a building.

As an architect and/or Cost-estimating engineer, the rates of construction materials, furnishing materials, knowledge of tenders and contracts, cost of labour and wage-management, cost estimation of a building project from foundation to furnishing.

If going for further studies

• Command on all the design parameters and basic topics of the subject you’re going to take for specialization e.g. If one is going for transportation engineering, definitions of PIEV theory, setback distance, SSD, joints in pavement, signalling in Railways and Highways, Wind rose diagrams, etc. must be expertized at the time of under-graduation itself.
• At least two methods for the calculation of moment and displacement in beams and columns. This is for every civil engineer actually.
• Seconding Teja Jupudi’s answer to What are practical things one should know being a civil engineering student?.

In a nutshell, the practical things a civil engineering student must know are:

• Lab and field tests of building materials.
• Basic knowledge of soils and their properties.
• Methods of force, displacement and moment calculation.
• Tests like pH value, acidity, basicity, amount of Total dissolved solids (T.D.S.), etc. in water.
• Standard formulae of RCC and Steel structure design.
• Properties of fluids (water, to be precise) in laminar flow.
• Use of theodolites, levelling machines and other surveying equipments.

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Apart from Dilendra Maharjan‘s answer, I’d also like to say that the basic knowledge of Concrete and its components is a must. As most of the syllabus of Civil engineering comprise of practical work, knowing sufficient about the RCC components, their properties and market rates is appreciable, as its said Civil Engineering isn’t something you can read out in a book and learn. The only way to learn it is to have experiences.

Thanks for the A2A Harishankar Roy!

What are the basic knowledge for a Civil engineer?

Why do we water bricks or concrete blocks before taking them for use in construction?

Normal question which comes to our mind is why do we wet the bricks before use ? Right ? So this article answers this basic query which everyone has .

Answer by A Quora admin:

There are three reasons for submerging bricks/blocks:

1. Test for absorption: A brick is submerged in water for 24 hours. If its weight after 24 hours exceeds its dry weight by 20%, the brick is not used for construction.

2. Test for presence of soluble salts: After 24-hour submergence, if grey/white deposits occur on the brick, soluble salts are present. If white deposits cover more than 50% of the surface, the bricks are not used for construction purpose.

3. Quench the thirst: Its said that bricks are very thirsty. So the selected bricks are submerged for sufficient time so that they absorb sufficient water and fill most of their pores with it. Or else they will absorb the water of the mortar, thus reducing its strength to a great strength.

Edit: Bricks are soaked also to remove dirt from their surface. Thanks for the point Sanchit Bajaj.

Why do we water bricks or concrete blocks before taking them for use in construction?

Cold Spring Harbor Long Island New York 11724

Gappsi Giuseppe Abbrancati

Cold Spring Harbor Long Island New York 11724

Old world look and feel of a roman bath house in your own backyard. Creating a custom water feature the landscape and design team came up with this idea of using a raised flower bed with a six foot sheer decent with two sets of mosaic tile step waterfalls between six columns. Gappsi provides Gunite, Vinyl, Fiberglass Swimming pools and Hot Tubs for Residential and commercial application in Cold Spring Harbor NY 11724, http://gappsi.com/long-island-swimming-pool-companies-designs-builders-construction-ny.html To brighten and add life to such a large forty foot long structure large urns and pots decorate the top of each columns with vibrant tropical plants and palms. Located Cold Spring Harbor Long Island New York 11724 this homeowner wanted an accent wall along the length of the pool to help hide the property line and create privacy from neighbors. Gappsi also provide Design and installation of…

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More Engineers Needed in the UK!

chrisrokos

It’s a HUGE number but the figures are now suggesting that at least 50,000 new skilled and qualified engineers need to be recruited each year! If this number of people aren’t found then a hole begins to emerge in the economy!

One firm in particular – EngineeringUK – have said that they believe over 180,000 vacancies are available at engineering firms every year! However, research from this same firm suggests that only 127,000 of these positions are likely to be filled. Within the body of the research, the claim was made that for each new engineering role that is filled, a further two jobs are created elsewhere within the wider industry. The research has been endorsed by the Business secretary, Vince Cable.

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What is a green building? What is the meaning of green building rating and designing system?

Answer by A Quora admin:

A green building refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction.
It is one which uses less water, optimizes energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building. Buildings across the world have a tremendous environmental impact during their life. Globally, buildings are responsible for at least 40% of energy use. Construction of new buildings generate large amount of solid waste and in turn, disturb natural habitat & vegetation.
Green buildings offer immense potential to reduce consumption & regenerate resources from waste and renewable sources
A green building rating system is an evaluation tool that measures environmental performance of a building through its life cycle. It usually comprises of a set of criteria covering various parameters related to design, construction and operation of a green building. Rating programmes would help to address all aspects related to environment and are an effective tool to measure the performance of the building / project.

Two rating systems are followed in India:
·  LEED India (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) by Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)
• GRIHA – (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) by TERI  – National Rating System

LEED
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-INDIA) Green Building Rating System is a nationally and internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
LEED-INDIA promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in the following five key areas:

·        Sustainable site development
·        Water savings
·        Energy efficiency
·        Materials selection and
·        Indoor environmental quality

GRIHA

GRIHA, an acronym for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, is the National Rating System of India. It has been conceived by TERI and developed jointly with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. It is a green building ‘design evaluation system’, and is suitable for all kinds of buildings in different climatic zones of the country.
The rating applies to new building stock – Commercial, Institutional and Residential types of varied functions. It is endorsed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India as of November 7, 2007.

What is a green building? What is the meaning of green building rating and designing system?

4-Foot-Wide Home in Poland is Now Thinnest in the World | Urbanist

Dear Reader ,

While surfing the net , just came across this interesting article.

Its only a 4 ‘ wide house , the slimmest in the world. It is at Poland .

Read through the article. Wonderful.

4-Foot-Wide Home in Poland is Now Thinnest in the World | Urbanist.