Essentials of Civil Engineering Materials

Book excerpt: Essentials of Civil Engineering Materials provides students with a foundational guide to the types of materials used in civil engineering, as well as how these materials behave under the conditions for which they were designed and a basic understanding of the science of the materials. This critical knowledge prepares students to carefully consider and confidently select the best materials for the design, construction, and maintenance of future projects. The text begins by introducing the basic requirements of engineering materials, material properties and standards, experimental design, economic factors, and the issue of sustainability. Additional chapters explore the mechanical principles of materials, composite models and viscoelasticity, and material chemistry. Students read about various types of materials, including metals, steel, aggregates and cementitious materials, and wood. The book concludes with a chapter dedicated to the topic of sustainability. Each chapter includes closing remarks to summarize the key concepts of the chapter and problems to help students retain important learnings. Essentials of Civil Engineering Materials is an ideal resource for introductory courses in civil engineering.