When constructing a foundation for a building, it is generally best to have a professional come in and do most of the work. There are some skilled do-it-yourselves out there, though, who can properly build a foundation for a small outbuilding. A civil engineer must to know the details of foundation construction as it’s the […]
Differential Settlement of Soil – Factors To Consider in Foundation Design
The substructure or foundation is the part of a structure that is usually placed below the surface of the ground and that transmits the load to the underlying soil or rock. 2 Important Factors in Foundation Design Regarding Settlement The two essential requirements in the design of foundations are that the total settlement of the […]
Difference Between Cement and Concrete – Cement vs Concrete
It is quite usual for many to use the term cement and concrete interchangeably. In fact the two are not the same. Concrete is a mixture of a few items, of which cement is an important constituent. The other usual constituents of concrete are aggregates and any type of cement plus water. Cement acts as […]
How To Build a Shed Foundation: 5 Simple Steps
When building a shed foundation, there are two basic categories: on-grade and frost-proof. Most sheds are built using on-grade foundations as they are the simpler of the two. Frost-proof or permanent foundations are much more difficult to build and they are strong and long-lasting. On-grade foundations do not require deep digging. To build a shed […]
Global Warming | 9 Advantages of Global Warming
Global warming has gained recognition in the past several years. With all the publicity that it receives, all that is ever heard are the disadvantages of global warming. But what is global warming exactly? It is the gradual warming of the earth’s atmosphere that is attributed to the greenhouse effect being caused by high levels […]
How To Become a Project Manager
Project managers are accountable for the success of a project. They will use their knowledge, skills and tools to ensure that the project requirements are met and that the project is meeting the set goals in a timely manner. The project manager is responsible for planning; executing and closing the projects which means they define […]
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) – Advantages and Disadvantages of LLP
A partnership is an agreement between at least two people or entities to jointly own and run a business. The partners will share managerial duties as well as the profits and losses. That said, a limited liability partnership or LLP is a special partnership that gives protection to each partner against any negligence on the […]
Advantages and Disadvantages of Qualitative Research
Qualitative Research Qualitative research is about exploring issues, understanding the phenomenon associated with the issue and being able to answer questions. There are many advantages and disadvantages of qualitative research. It is a method used in different academic disciplines generally associated with the social sciences and market research. Qualitative research will investigate the what, where, […]
How Much Does Insulated Concrete Forms Cost
Insulated concrete forms or ICFs are a result of cast in place concrete walls that are between two layers of some kind of insulation material. These forms are strong and very energy efficient. They are generally used in low rise buildings in both residential and commercial. The walls look similar to those of traditional buildings, […]
How To Repair Concrete Foundation Cracks – 5 Simple Steps
Foundations will shift and settle over time and cracks will form. Many times minor cracks do not cause any really problems to the structural integrity of the structure. It is essential, however, to stop the cracks from spreading and becoming problematic in the future. It can be relatively simple to fix foundation problem that does […]
What is The Average Cost of Concrete Slabs Per Square Foot
The cost of concrete slabs will vary depending upon the size and depth of the slab as well as other factors. The average cost of a concrete slab will be between $5 and $7 dollars per square foot or $135 and $189 per cubic yard. Calculate the Amount Needed Once the slab size is determined, […]
5 Types of Cost To Waterproof a Basement
Basements can be musty and damp and need to be waterproofed to keep toxins such as mold and mildew from developing. The cost to waterproof basement will vary depending upon the type of waterproofing that is completed. Costs Associated To Waterproofing a Basement To prevent basement water damage we need to take interior and exterior precautions […]
Foundation Crack – Cost of Cracked Foundation Repair
Cracked foundations can be disastrous for a structure. The most common cause of a cracked foundation is settlement. As the foundation shifts and settles into the ground over time, cracks can occur. Depending upon the severity of the settlement the cost of cracked foundation repair will vary. Cracked Foundation Repair Average Cost The average cost […]
Petroleum | Advantages and Disadvantages of Petroleum
Within a few decades, oil has become one of the cornerstones of modern economic life. The advantages and disadvantages of petroleum is described briefly below. Advantages of petroleum In nature, oil accumulates in porous rocks crossed by some veins called rock-collecting or rock huts. These are sandstones, sands, limestone, dolomite, and other. Usually, in huts oil […]
Wind Energy | Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Energy
Wind energy is a converted form of solar energy. Solar radiation heats different specific areas of land area, the most noticeable day to night. There are differences between how the absorption of solar radiation stretches of water to the land. These differences will translate into differential heating of the atmosphere. The temperature difference will cause […]
Concrete Shrinkage | Types, Factors Affecting and Where Concrete Shrinkage Occurs
Concrete shrinkage can become problematic when doing any type of construction, but especially when dealing with floors. Concrete shrinkage is the contracting of the concrete due to the water evaporating from the mixture. This evaporation will cause the concrete to weaken. This can lead to cracks, internal warping and external deflection. Types of Concrete Shrinkage […]
Earthquake Proof Building Design Summary
The aim of earthquake resistant building design is to prevent total collapse of building structures. It saves human lives. It relies on ductility (ability to deform inelastically) and redundancy (many load path). The aim of earthquake proof building design is also to control structural and nonstructural damage in structures. It minimizes economic loss in not […]
13 Major Duties That Civil Engineers Do in Professional Work
When deciding if becoming a civil engineer is the best career path it is best to fully understand what do civil engineers do, exactly. A civil engineer is the person who is a part of the design, implementation and maintenance of public works. In other words, this encompasses structures and facilities such as transportation routes, […]
Hydropower – Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydropower
Hydropower is the energy generated by the water power, using gravity and buoyancy waterfall. It is the most used form of renewable energy. Once built, a hydropower plant, it produces energy without emitting greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels. In 2006, total production of hydropower, TW 2998 was approximately 20% of global consumption. This represented […]
Fiberglass Reinforced Concrete | Uses, Advantages and Disadvantages of Fiberglass Reinforced Concrete
Fiberglass reinforced concrete also known as GFRC, is a concrete mixture that has high strength fiber glass in the mix. This provides a ultra strong and somewhat flexible concrete that also protects the concrete from environmental damage over the years. It is lightweight and durable and can be cast into many different shapes. The mix […]
Caisson Foundation | Types, Uses, Advantages and Disadvantages of Caisson Foundation
Caisson Foundation Caisson foundation is also known as pier foundation. Caisson is a cylinder or hollow box that is sunk into the ground to a specified depth by auguring a deep hole into the strata. The cylinder or box is then back filled with concrete, thus creating the foundation. This type of foundation is most […]
How To Blacktop a Driveway | 5 Simple Steps
Blacktopping a driveway can be a large project and while most people hire a contractor to take on the job, this type of project can be a do-it-yourself project. To blacktop a driveway will be a messy project so make sure that there are plenty of clean-up supplies readily available. Steps To Blacktop a Driveway There are […]
Geothermal Energy | Advantages and Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy
Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy represents the energy that comes from the inside Earth in the form of heat. It is the result of transfer of features of water makes its way to the surface and how heat interacts with the Earth’s interior areas. What results in the end, are steam and hot water. These are […]
Biomass | Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass
Biomass Biomass is the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues from agriculture, including vegetable and animal substances, forestry and related industries, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and urban waste. It provides not only food but also energy, building materials, paper, fabrics, medicines and chemicals. There are many pros and cons of biomass […]
Nuclear Energy | Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Energy A simple definition is, Nuclear Energy is the energy released during fission or fusion of atomic nucleuses. But, looking beyond the definition, nuclear energy is the result of men’s desire to look for new possibilities. Simple facts said that during the World War II, scientists from Germany and America vied to make a […]
Solar Energy | Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy
Solar Energy In short, technical and quick definition, Solar energy is radiant energy produced in the sun as a result of nuclear fusion reactions, sent to Earth from space, the energy quanta (photons), which interacts with the atmosphere and Earth’s surface, so the energy produced directly by the transfer of light energy radiated the Sun. […]
Natural Gas | Advantages and Disadvantages of Natural Gas
Natural Gas Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is formed by plants and animals being buried under several layers and are exposed to large amounts of pressure and heat for several thousand years. Natural gas is found under layers of rock and must be extracted using specialized tools. This is a nonrenewable resource. It […]
Septic Tank Construction Methods
Septic Tank Construction Methods and Materials The most important aspect of septic tank construction is that the tank should be installed on a level grade and at a depth that provides adequate gravity flow from the home and matches the invert elevation of the house sewer. There are some other important notes need to be […]
Septic Tank Size, Shape and Dimensions With Table
What Should Be The Septic Tank Size and Dimension I will discuss about septic tank size, shape and dimensions in this article. The shape of the tank influences the velocity of waste water flowing through the tank as well as the depth of sludge accumulation. If the septic tank dimension is too deep then the […]
How Do Septic Tanks Work
What is a Septic Tank Most of us have seen septic tanks in our daily life. But we mostly don’t know how do septic tanks work exactly. A Septic tank is a buried, watertight receptacle designed and constructed to receive waste water from a home, to separate the solids from the liquid, to provide limited […]
Ventilated Improved Pit Latrine | Elements, Advantages, Disadvantages
Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) Latrine Ventilated improved pit latrines, commonly known as VIP latrines, are an improvement to overcome the disadvantages of the simple pit latrines. The main problems associated with traditional simple pit latrines, i.e. fly and mosquito nuisance and unpleasant odors are effectively minimized by the action of a vent pipe, fly screen […]
Foundation Construction Requirements and Foundation Failure Causes
Foundation Construction Requirements For a good building foundation construction, there are some requirements to be followed in general. These helps foundation to provide stability and increase bearing capacity. Foundations should be such that it can easily carry dead load and imposed load of the structure and transfer the loads to the soil. Foundation base should […]
How Building Construction Process Works
In this article, i will discuss on how building construction process actually works in the real world. So many construction projects are seen around us under different construction companies and contractors. The construction work that we see around us are only a part of the total procedure. The step by step work involved in building […]
Simple Pit Latrines – Advantages and Disadvantages
What is a Pit Latrine Pit latrines are the most common and simplest form of excreta disposal in many developing countries. These are almost universally acceptable in rural areas and are also widely used in low income urban communities, although often not appropriate. They are, however, the cheapest system possible and the system most appropriate […]
On-site Sanitation System – Pit Latrines, Septic Tanks
On-site sanitation systems are widely used in rural areas of both developed and developing countries, and in the absence of more costly sewerage system, is also extensively used in urban areas of developing countries. When the wastes are collected, treated and disposed of at the point of generation, it is called an on-site system like […]
What is Compass Surveying – Advantages and Disadvantages of Compass Surveying
Compass surveying has some advantages and disadvantages that one need to know before choosing the surveying type. Some of them are discussed below. Advantages of Compass Survey In compass surveying, the compass needs much less time in setting as it is very light and portable. The mechanism of the instrument is very easy. It is very […]
Ocean Dumping | Why and When Oceans Are Considered For Dumping
Ocean Dumping Ocean dumping is the dumping of hazardous industrial wastes into ocean areas. Dumping in oceans may sometimes be practiced safely because of the following attributes of oceans. Why Oceans Are Used For Dumping They tend to dissolve and disperse the wastes three-dimensional, as contrasted to the surface use only of land resources. Oceans […]
Cellular Concrete | Foamed Concrete and Gas Concrete
What is Cellular Concrete Cellular concrete is a lightweight product consisting of portland cement, cement-pozzolan, cement sand, lime-pozzolan or lime-sand pastes or pastes containing blends of these ingredients and having a homogeneous void or cell structure, attained with gas forming chemicals or foaming agents. For cellular concretes, containing binder ingredients other than or in addition […]
Air-Entrained Concrete Definition – Advantages of Air-Entrained Concrete
Air-entrained concrete is defined as the air intentionally incorporated by means of a suitable agent. The main types of air-entrained agents are: Animal and vegetable fats and oils and their fatty acids. Natural wood resins, which react with lime in cement to form a soluble resinate. Wetting agents such as alkali salts of sulfate and sulphonated […]
Brick Flooring | How To Build Brick Floors
Brick flooring is commonly used in store rooms, kitchens, platforms or places where goods are stored. It is also used for fashionable or unique look. Brick floors can be economical if quality bricks are available for low price. Construction Process of Brick Floor Floor base construction process is different depending on the construction site. At first, […]
Mud Flooring | How To Build a Mud Floor
Mud flooring is generally seen in rural areas. It is the cheapest flooring system available. Mud floors are strong, fireproof, easy to build and also easy to repair. It keeps the home cool in summer and hot in winter. Mud floors are favorable for places where temperature becomes very high in summer. Construction Process of […]
Shallow Foundation | Advantages and Disadvantages of Shallow Foundation
Shallow foundations are the foundations that have a depth less than or equal to its width. Advantages of Shallow Foundation Foundations with shallow depths are beneficial for some aspects. Some advantages of shallow foundation is listed below. Shallow foundation is convenient for foundations having depth is equal or less than the foundation width. It is used […]
How To Build a Partition Wall
There are many types of partition walls used. Partition walls can be divided into brick partition, hollow block partition, glass partition, concrete partition, metal lath partition, asbestos sheet or G.I. sheet partition, plaster slab partition and timber partition walls based on the materials used for building the partition wall. Building a Partition Wall Among all […]
Timber Piles | Advantages and Disadvantages of Timber Piles
When Timber Piles are used Timber piles are advantageous in wet and compressive soils to build light structures. Cost is reduced in timber piling. Piles are generally used as friction piles. Timber pile are mostly square or circular shaped. Advantages of Timber Piles Timber piles are used in many developed countries for its ease of […]
Project Management Life Cycle | Practical Example
Project management life cycle and the work breakdown structure (WBS) have come to the forefront in recent years as key frameworks or structures for subdividing the project’s scope of work into manageable phases or work packages. Where the WBS is a hierarchical subdivision of the scope of work, the project life cycle subdivides the scope […]
Drilled Piers – Advantages and Disadvantages of Drilled Piers
Drilled Piers A drilled pier is a large diameter concrete cylinder built in the ground. For construction of a drilled pier, a large diameter hole is drilled in the ground and subsequently filled with concrete. The difference between a drilled pier and a bored pile is basically of the size. Generally bored piles are of […]
What is Vermicomposting or Worm Composting
Vermicomposting Vermicomposting sometimes called ‘vermiculture’, ‘composting with worms’ or ‘worm composting’, uses worms and micro-organisms to break down organic materials under aerobic conditions, but at a relatively low temperature. to give nutrient-rich end product(compost). Specific species of earthworms like red worms or tiger worms etc are suitable for vermicomposting. The typical worm is made up […]
Bioreactor Landfill | Objectives of Bioreactor Landfill
Bioreactor landfills are controlled sanitary landfills designed to enhance the microbial process that transform and rapidly stabilize the readily and moderately decomposable organic constituents of the solid waste stream. Leachate re-introduction enhances the fermentation process so that waste is stabilizes with a shorter period of time, thus minimizing the cost of leachate management and also […]
Incineration | Advantages and Disadvantages of Incineration
A properly maintained incineration system has both advantages and disadvantages. Some of the main advantages and disadvantages of incineration system are listed below. Advantages of Incineration Incineration causes a significant reduction in the volume of waste. The reduction in the original volume and weight 95% and 75% respectively. It helps providing a renewable source and […]
Project Life Cycle Phases
All projects do pass through a number of recognizable phases or stages from initial to completion. As these phases are interrelated and dependent on each other, so it is reasonable to say the project passes through a project life cycle. Project Life Cycle Phases There is a general agreement that most project pass through a […]
Prestressed Concrete | Types of Prestressing Used in Concrete
Prestressed Concrete Concrete in which there have been introduced internal stress of such magnitude and distribution that stresses resulting from given external loading are counteracted to a desired degree in reinforced cement concrete members are called Prestressed Concrete. The prestressing is commonly introduced by tensioning the steel reinforcement. Related: Advantages and disadvantages of prestressed concrete There are […]
Sulphate Attack on Concrete
Sulphate Attack Solid salts do not attack concrete but when present in solution they can react with hardened concrete. Some clay contain alkali, magnesium and calcium sulphate and the ground water in such a clay produces a sulphate solution. Attack on concrete can thus take place the sulphate reacting with Ca(OH)2 and with calcium aluminate hydrate. […]
Concrete Surface Finishing | How to Finish Concrete Surface
Concrete is essentially an artificial stone. It is subjected to weathering agents like natural stone. Therefore, the concrete surface should be given some finishing. The concrete surface finishing is of various types such as plastered finishing, shuttering finishing, dressed finishing and granolithic finishing. Plastered Finishing: This is a very common type of concrete surface finishing. […]
Concreting in Cold Weather | Cold Weather Concrete
Concreting in cold weather offers some special problems. If it is done at a freezing temperature, the mixing water freezes with a consequent increase in the overall volume of the concrete. Further, since no water is available for the chemical reactions, the setting and hardening of concrete are delayed, thus resulting in a poor concrete. […]
Lightweight Concrete | Classification of Lightweight Concrete
In concrete construction, lightweight concrete has become very popular in recent days. Self weight represents a very large proportion of the total load on the structure and there are clearly considerable advantages in reducing the density of the concrete. The chief of these are the use of smaller sections and the corresponding reduction in the […]
Site Investigation in Construction
Site investigations or subsurface explorations are done for obtaining the information about subsurface conditions at the site of proposed construction. Site investigations in one form or the other is generally required for every big civil engineering project. Information about the surface and sub-surface features is essential for the design of structures and for planning construction […]
Soundness of Cement | How to Keep Cement Sound
Soundness of Cement To keep cement sound we need to be careful in some aspects. It is essential that a cement paste, once it has set, does not undergo a large change in volume. Such changes in volume may take place due to the delay in hardening cement, namely free lime, magnesia and calcium sulphate. If […]
Hot weather Concrete – Behavior of Concrete in Hot Weather
Concreting in hot weather: There are some special problems involved in hot weather concreting, especially arising both form; increased rate of evaporation and fresh mix. These problems concern the mixing, placing and curing of concrete. A high temperature of fresh concrete results in a more rapid hydration and leads therefore, to accelerated setting and to a […]
Critical Path in Project Management
The critical path method provides an up-to-date method of planning. The main advantage of the critical path method are simplicity, flexibility and overall control. It is a most used “tool” for project management. Critical Path The path joining of critical events is called critical path of the network. Total project time is the shortest time […]
Project Management Planning
Project Management Planning: Planning is the most important phase of project management. Planning involves defining objectives of the project, listing of tasks or jobs that must be performed, determining gross requirements for material, equipment and manpower and preparing estimates of costs and duration for the various jobs or activities to bring out the satisfactory completion […]
Advantages of Milestone Chart
Milestone chart is a modification over the original Gantt chart. Small notes on milestone charts are given below. Controlling can be easily done and inter relationships between other similar activities can be easily established. These points are those that can be easily identified over the main bar. Milestones are key events of a main activity represented […]
Chemical Stabilization of Soils
In chemical stabilization, soil is stabilized by adding different chemicals. The main advantage of chemical stabilization is that setting time and curing time can be controlled. Chemical stabilization is however generally more expensive than other types of stabilization. Factors Affecting Chemical Stabilization of Soils Chemical soil stabilization is affected by some chemical materials as this […]
Cement | Low Heat Portland Cement
When to use low heat cement – Hydration of cement is an exothermic process that produces large quantity of heat. In mass concrete structures such as dams, retaining walls, bridge abutment, raft etc the rate of dissipation of heat of hydration from the surface is much lower than that generated. It causes rise in temperature inside […]
Concrete Curing Methods – Water Curing and Sealed Curing
Concrete curing is the process of keeping concrete under a specific environmental condition for promoting hydration by controlling the temperature and moisture movement from and into the concrete. 2 Concrete Curing Methods Mostly Used Concrete curing is done to increase concrete strength & stability. Generally two types of concrete curing methods are use. Each are […]
Sprinkler Irrigation | Advantages and Disadvantages of Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler irrigation system includes the application of water in the form of a spray, somewhat resembling rainfall. It is suitable for almost all crops on moist soils and on lands of wide range of topographic conditions. Advantages and Disadvantages of Sprinkler Irrigation Sprinkler irrigation method has both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages and disadvantages are described […]
Drip Irrigation | Advantages and Disadvantages of Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is one of the methods of irrigation that saves water and fertilizer. In drip irrigation method, water drips slowly to the roots of the plants either onto the soil surface or directly onto the root zone through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and emitters. The process is completed in narrow tubes so that water is given directly to the root of the plant. Drip irrigation is also termed […]
Irrigation | Advantages and Disadvantages of Irrigation
Irrigation Irrigation can be defined as human manipulation of the hydrologic cycle to improve crop production and quality and and to decrease economic efforts of drought. Irrigation is the artificial application of water to plants for their growth and maturity. Irrigation water is supplied to supplement the water available from rainfall and the contribution of […]
Field Vane Test (FVT)
The field vane test (FVT) was originated in the early 1990 and used as early as 1919 in Sweden by Olsson. Later in 1950, Cadling and Odenstad presented research work that helped make field vane test (FVT) a prominent in situ test for clays. FVT is primarily used to obtain the maximum undrained shear strength […]
Well Graded Aggregate, Gap Graded Aggregate, Uniformly Graded & Open Graded Aggregate
Well Graded Aggregate Dense and well graded aggregates are desirable for making concrete, as the space between larger particles is effectively filled by smaller particles to produce a well-packed structure. A well graded soil is a soil that contains particles of a wide range of sizes and has a good representation of all sizes from the No. 4 […]
Negative Skin Friction in Piles – How To Solve
Skin friction is a very important factor in civil engineering construction. In so many mega-structures, skin friction concept is used including the great “Burj-Al-Arab” to solve the impediments imposed during the construction. But negative skin friction is a factor we should always aware of. It can cause serious damage to the structure because of improper knowledge. […]
Heartwood vs Sapwood | Difference Between Heartwood and Sapwood
What is Heartwood? As a tree increases in age and diameter an inner portion of the sapwood becomes inactive and finally ceases to function, as the cells die. The inert or dead portion is called heartwood. Its name derives solely from its position and not from any vital importance to the tree. Mineral deposits, gums and […]
Concrete Bleeding | Causes, Problems and Remedies
Concrete bleeding is defined as the appearance of water on the surface of concrete after it has consolidated but before it is set. This is a type of segregation where water appears at the concrete surface after placing and compacting, but before it is set. Water may also form a film under aggregate and reinforcing […]
Pile Foundation | Concrete Piles, Steel Piles, Timber Piles and Composite Piles
Pile Foundation A pile is a slender structural member made of steel, concrete or timber. In pile foundation, a pile is either driven into the soil and or formed in-situ by excavating a hole and filling it with concrete. There are piles made of different types of materials used in pile foundation. Generally four types […]
Setting and Hardening Characteristics of Portland Cement
Setting and Hardening of Cement The term ‘Setting‘ is used to describe the stiffening of the cement paste. Setting of cement refers to changes of cement paste from a fluid to rigid state. Setting differs from Hardening of cement. The term ‘Hardening’ refers to the gain of strength of a set cement paste, although during setting […]
Mat or Raft Foundation | Advantages and Disadvantages of Raft Foundation
Raft Foundation Mat or raft foundation is a large slab supporting a number of columns and walls under the entire structure or a large part of the structure to lower the contact pressure compared to spread footing. When Mat/Raft Foundation is Recommended It is recommended for the following purposes. Bearing capacity of soil is low, […]
Concrete | Advantages and Disadvantages of Concrete
Concrete Concrete is an artificial stone-like material used for various structural purposes. It is made by mixing a binding material (as cement) and various aggregates (inert materials), such as sand, stone chips, brick chips, brick chips, pebbles, gravel, shale, etc with water and allowing the mixture to harden by hydration. Basic advantages and disadvantages of […]
Rational Method | Objectives and Assumptions of Rational Method
Rational Method The rational method is an intensity based rainfall method, meaning that it can be used to predict peak flows based on the characteristics of the catchment area and a rainfall event. Objectives of Rational Method Many hydraulic design problems require simply an estimation of the peak flow rate generated by a river system […]
Weathering and Erosion Worksheets
Weathering and erosion worksheets are very useful for educational purposes. Some very useful weathering and erosion worksheets are provided below for usage in educational purposes. Most of these worksheets are collected from different respective teachers and they have no objection on sharing these worksheets. Thanks to Mr. Bouchard and others. Weathering and Erosion Worksheets Download […]
The Differences Between Weathering and Erosion | Weathering Vs Erosion
Weathering and Erosion Weathering and erosion are sometimes misjudged by thinking that they are the same thing or somewhat similar. But the fact is weathering and erosion are completely different actions with different mechanism. The similarity between these two action is that they both are parts of a single process called Denudation, lowering of the […]
World Water Balance | Water Resources Around The World
Water is the most abundant substance on earth, the principal constituent of all living organisms and a major force constantly shaping the surface of the earth. It is also a key factor in air-conditioning the earth for human existence and in influencing the progress of civilization. Water on earth exists in three faces in a […]
How To Reduce The Cost of Building a House | Some Basic Concepts
Economical design is one of the most desirable factor in residential building planning and design. Civil engineers and architects work hard for making connection between the desires and the costs allowed by the owner of a project. There are some basic concepts that can be used for making a residential building economical under general circumstances. […]
Some Basic Principles of Building Planning
Why to do Building Planning? Planning in construction is the first thing to do. Proper orientation, healthy, beautiful, economical etc are our targets to achieve by planning building construction or any other construction work. Principles of Building Planning When we first start to plan a new building construction work to begin we definitely need to remember […]
Lime Stabilization | Factors Affecting, Advantages and Disadvantages
Lime stabilization is not effective for sandy soils. However these soils can be stabilized with clay, fly ash etc which serve as hydraulically reactive ingredients. The ratio of fly ash to lime generally varies in between 3 to 5. The fly ash is used is about 10 to 20% of the soil weight. Factors […]
One Way Slab Vs Two Way Slab | Difference Between One Way Slab and Two Way Slab
One Way Slab One way slab is supported on two opposite side only thus structural action is only at one direction. Total load is carried in the direction perpendicular to the supporting beam. If a slab is supported on all the four sides but the ratio of longer span (l) to shorten span (b) is […]
Classification of Lakes To Degree of Enrichment With Nutrients and Organic Natter
Lakes are inland water bodies, small to moderately large in size, with their surface exposed to the atmosphere. Most lakes fill depressions below the zone of saturation in the surrounding soil and rock materials. Also most lakes have a surface area less than 100 square miles. The largest fresh water body Lake Superior in North America […]
PERT vs CPM | Differences Between Pert and CPM
PERT vs CPM CPM and PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) are most commonly used methods for project management. There are some similarities and differences between PERT and CPM. PERT can be applied to any field requiring planned, controlled and integrated work efforts to accomplish defined objectives. On the other hand, CPM (Critical Path Method) is the […]
Linear Surveying | Methods Used for Linear Surveying
Linear surveying involves measurement of distances between points on the surface of the earth. There are various methods of linear surveying and their relative merit depends upon the degree of precision (accuracy) required. Methods of Linear Surveying Linear surveying methods can be broadly divided into three heads: Direct measurement Measurement by optical means Electronic methods Direct Measurement […]
Why Errors in Surveying Take Place | Types of Error That Occurs During Survey
Surveying Errors Errors in surveying may arise from three main sources: 1. Instrumental: Surveying error may arise due to imperfection or faulty adjustment of the instrument with which measurement is being taken. For example, a tape may be too long or an angle measuring instrument may be out of adjustment. Such errors are known as instrumental […]
Terms Used to Define Errors in Surveying | Understanding Surveying Errors
Errors in Surveying occurs as survey work involves various measurement of angles and distances in the field. In dealing with measurements in surveying and the associated surveying errors, the following terms should be carefully studied. Terms Used For Errors in Surveying Observation In surveying, observation is defined as the numerical value of a quantity measured […]
Stages of Survey Operations
The entire work stages of survey operation in civil engineering may be divided into the following three stages: Field work Office work Care and adjustment of instruments Field Work The field work consists of the measurement of all the necessary horizontal and vertical distances, horizontal and vertical angles, elevations, etc. and keeping a systematic record […]
Survey Scales : Types of Survey Scales Used in Surveying Drawings
Since the area that is surveyed is vast, it is never possible to make the drawings to full size, and therefore, drawings of an area are made to a smaller scale. The operation is generally known as drawing to scale. Types of survey scales can be represented by the following two methods: Numerical scales Graphical […]
Classification of Survey
Classification of surveys can be done from different angles of view. According to the use and the purpose of the prepared maps, surveys may be classified under the following three different heads. Classification based upon the nature of the field Classification based on the purpose of the survey Classification based on instruments used Classification of […]
Difference Between Plane Surveying and Geodetic Surveying
We have discussed about plane surveying and geodetic surveying before in another articles. Plane Surveying Geodetic Surveying Plane Surveying and Geodetic Surveying Five major differences between plane surveying and geodetic surveying are given below. Plane surveying Geodetic surveying Effect of the curvature of the earth surface is ignored. The earth surface is assumed to be plane, […]
Geodetic Surveying – Definition and Classification
Geodetic surveying is the survey in which the curvature of the earth is taken into account and higher degree of accuracy in linear and angular observations is achieved. The geodetic surveys extend over large areas and lines connecting any two points on the surface of the earth are treated as arcs. For calculating their projected distances on the […]
Plane Surveying | Methods of Surveying
Plane surveying is the survey in which the earth surface is assumed to be plane and the curvature of the earth is ignored. The plane surveys extend only over small areas and the lines connecting any two points on the surface of the earth are treated as straight lines and the angles between such lines are taken […]
Soil Stabilization | Why Soil Stabilization is Used and Methods Used for Soil Stabilization
Soil stabilization is the process which is used to improve the engineering properties of the soil and thus making it more stable. Soil stabilization is required when the soil available for construction is not suitable for the intended purpose. It includes compaction, preconsolidation, drainage and many other such processes. Uses of Soil Stabilization It is […]
Cement Stabilization of Soil
Cement stabilization of soil is done by mixing pulverized soil and Portland cement with water and compacting the mix to attain a strong material. The material obtained by mixing soil and cement is known as soil-cement. The soil cement becomes a hard and durable structural material as the cement hydrates and develops strength. Cement stabilization is […]
Braced Cut – Types and Uses of Braced Cut
Braced Cut Braced cuts are the excavations that are laterally supported. The vertical side of the excavations are are supported by a sheeting and bracing system. It consists of relatively flexible sheeting placed against the excavation walls. The lateral thrust on the sheeting is resisted by the horizontal members in compression (struts) is known as […]
Machine Foundation | Types of Machine Foundation
Machine Foundation Machine foundation is the foundation that is provided beneath the super structure of vibrating and rotating machine. Machine foundations are subjected to the dynamic forces caused by the machine. These dynamic forces are then transferred to the foundation supporting the machine. Though the moving parts of the machine are generally balanced, there is […]
Water Leakage | Causes of Water Leak in Building
Water leakage or water seepage is one of the major causes of common building defects. If water leakage can be prevented, almost 80% building defects can be eliminated. The locations and causes of water leakage in building is given in the below chart. Water Leakage Location & Causes Water leakage is generally found in some specific locations of […]