After successful completion of the course, students are able to put the teaching content into practice:
- Understand basics of matter and what control their mechanical/physical properties.
- Understand energy involved in manufacturing/transporting main construction materials, be sensitive to material sourcing and sustainability, understand main foreseeable challenges about sourcing construction materials.
- Be educated on the history of construction materials, and how economics often drives the choice.
- Be able to list and differentiate main construction material types. Understand their properties, their main use and manufacturing methods/sourcing, their limitation, durability.
- Understand how the mechanical properties of the materials impact their load-bearing capabilities.
- Understand available technics to assess materials in existing aging structures.
Introduction to the course and labs (free choice with admission limit)
Fundamentals - Introduction to the structure of matter: atomic structure and chemical bonding
Basics - Introduction to the structures of materials: crystalline body, metals, ceramics, polymers
Basics - Mechanical properties: stress, strain, elastic properties, plastic deformation, fracture
Basics - Physical properties of materials: Diffusion, thermal, optical and acoustic properties
Basics - Binding materials: technological evolution, production processes and associated sourcing of raw materials, engineering and environmental issues. Challenges for future development
Basics - History of construction materials
Hardened concrete: concrete types, properties, aging & durability, lightweight concrete, ultra-high strength concrete
Fresh concrete: aggregate, fibers, admixtures and additives, mixing of the fresh concrete
Concrete in structures
Plastics and insulating materials
Metallic materials 1 & 2
Durability in concrete
Ceramic, glass
Wood
Please see TUWEL for all information.
German & English:
Lectures on Basics are held in English.
Lab exercises "City tour" (History of construction materials) are held in English.
Scripts are available at "Graphische Zentrum"
(1) written examinations, (2) lab attendance and participation, (3) lab protocol, (4) Volontary 5 minute lab presentation per group to gain extra points
