U

E R

Glenn Department of Civil Engineering

Clemson University, fall 2015

CE 351-Civil Engineering Materials

1. Time and Place:

Amir Poursaee

Lectures:
Mon., Wed. and Fri. 12:20 pm 1:10 pm, Room 217, Lowry Hall
Labs:
Section 1: Mon. 2:30 to 5:00 pm (Room 219, Lowry Hall)
Section 2: Tue. 12:30 to 3:00 pm (Room 215, Lowry Hall)
Section 3: Tue. 3:30 to 6:00 pm (Room 309, Lowry Hall)
Section 4: Wed. 2:30 to 5:00 pm (Room 219, Lowry Hall)
Section 5: Thu. 12:30 to 3:00 pm (Room 215, Lowry Hall)
Section 6: Thu. 3:30 to 6:00 pm (Room 215, Lowry Hall)

2. Instructor:
Amir Poursaee
Email:
amire@clemson.edu
Office:
316 Lowry Hall
Phone:
864-656-3323
Office Hours: Wednesdays,11am-12pm, or by appointment
3. Lab & Grading Assistants:
Tau Ruan
Email:
Office:
Office hours:

(Lab Assistant and Grading Assistant)

truan@clemson.edu
TBA
TBA

Hassan Rashidian
Email:
Office:
Office hours:

(Lab Assistant)
hrashid@clemson.edu
TBA
TBA

Sai Enugala
Email:
Office:
Office hours:

(Lab Assistant)
senugal@clemson.edu
TBA
TBA

Behrooz Danish
Email:
Office:
Office hours:

(Lab Assistant)
bdanish@clemson.edu
TBA
TBA

Thomas Repik
Email:
Office:
Office hours:

(Lab Assistant)
trepik@clemson.edu
TBA
TBA

Page 1 of 5

E R

Glenn Department of Civil Engineering

Clemson University, fall 2015

CE 351-Civil Engineering Materials

Amir Poursaee

4. Textbook:

* Mamlouk, M.S., and Zaniewski, J.P.

Materials for Civil and Construction Engineers
2nd or 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, New Jersey
* Supplementary material (provided by the instructor)

5. Attendance:

Please review Undergraduate Announcements for a complete policy on

attendance.
In addition to the policy listed in Undergraduate
Announcements, the following policies will apply for this course:
1. Attendance is mandatory in all lectures and labs.
2. If a student has to miss a class due to any known reason, the instructor
should be made aware of the absence before the class.
3. You will be responsible to learn all the material that is covered in the
lectures and lab sessions.
4. In case the instructor does not arrive in classroom at regularly
scheduled class time, the students are expected to wait 15 minutes
before leaving the classroom.

6. Academic Integrity

As members of the Clemson University community, we have inherited

Thomas Green Clemsons vision of this institution as a high seminary of
learning. Fundamental to this vision is a mutual commitment to
truthfulness, honor, and responsibility, without which we cannot earn the
trust and respect of others. Furthermore, we recognize that academic
dishonesty detracts from the value of a Clemson degree. Therefore, we
shall not tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing in any form.
When, in the opinion of a faculty member, there is evidence that a student
has committed an act of academic dishonesty, the faculty member shall
make a formal written charge of academic dishonesty, including a
description of the misconduct, to the Associate Dean for Curriculum in the
Office of Undergraduate Studies. At the same time, the faculty member
may, but is not required to, inform each involved student privately of the
nature of the alleged charge. (Undergraduate Announcements, 2010)

7. Homework:

There will not be any graded homework in this course, however, suggested
practice problems will be posted on Blackboard accompanied by problem
solutions. The grading assistant for this course will post office hours
dedicated to answering questions related to these practice problems.

8. Quizzes:

There will be eleven (11) quizzes in this course on specific days as listed
in the Lecture Outline. These quizzes will be based on the material
covered in the class, and will be conducted during regularly scheduled
class hours. Each quiz will typically last for 40 minutes. 60% of the
student grades will be based on these quizzes and as such these quizzes
should be considered very important for achieving a high grade in the
class. There will be no make-up quiz given in this course. However, the
lowest grade out of the seven regularly scheduled quizzes will be discarded
in calculation of your final grade. Any excused absence can be counted

Page 2 of 5

E R

Glenn Department of Civil Engineering

Clemson University, fall 2015

CE 351-Civil Engineering Materials

Amir Poursaee

only once against the lowest quiz grade. Any additional absences that
result in loss of a quiz grade will not be excused, and thus will affect your
final grade. Only the best 10 out of 11 quizzes will be considered for your
final grade computation.

There will be no mid-term examinations in this course

9. Comprehensive exam

There will be a comprehensive final exam in this course, which will cover
the entire material covered during the semester. This exam will be given
during the finals week. Comprehensive final exam will be waived based on
your performance in the quizzes, project, labs and attendance. If the
overall grade in quizzes, labs, project and attendance is more than 90%,
the final exam will be waived.

10. Grade distribution

Quizzes (8)
Lab Reports
Project
Final Exam
Attendance

60%
15%
10%
10%
5%

11. Grading scale

90.00 100
80.00 89.99
70.00 79.99
60.00 69.99
Below 60.00

A
B
C
D
F

******* This course will NOT be curved**********

12. Blackboard

Blackboard will also be used to post course related information including

the syllabus and presentations used in class. Grades will also be posted
on Blackboard using the gradebook feature. Please check your gradebook
periodically to track your performance in the course.

13. Other information

The Clemson University Title IX (Sexual Harassment) statement:

Clemson University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all
persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex,
sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability,
veterans status, genetic information or protected activity (e.g., opposition
to prohibited discrimination or participation in any complaint process, etc.)
in employment, educational programs and activities, admissions and
financial aid. This includes a prohibition against sexual harassment and
sexual violence as mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972. The policy is located at http://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campusservices/access/non-discrimination-policy.html. Jerry Knighton serves as
Clemsons Title IX coordinator and he may be reached at
knightl@clemson.edu or 656-3181.

Page 3 of 5

E R

Glenn Department of Civil Engineering

Clemson University, fall 2015

CE 351-Civil Engineering Materials

Amir Poursaee

A disability access statement:

It is university policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis,
reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities. Students
with disabilities requesting accommodations should make an appointment
with Disability Services (656-6848), to discuss specific needs within the first
month of classes. Students should present a Faculty Accommodation
Letter from Student Disability Services when they meet with instructors.
Accommodations are not retroactive and new Faculty Accommodation
Letters must be presented each semester.
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
The objective of this course is that by the end of the semester the student will be able to successfully
utilize fundamental material science and mechanics concepts to understand, explain, and describe the
performance of a wide range of civil engineering materials. This course enables students to apply
scientific and engineering concepts in:
i.
ii.
iii.

Understanding the physical and chemical composition of common civil engineering materials
such as aggregate, cement, concrete, asphalt and steel;
Evaluating their physical, mechanical and durability properties, and
Manufacture and design of these materials for use in construction of civil infrastructure.

The student will be able to assess and describe the behavior of civil engineering material based on
material science arguments that will include microstructural evidence, failure theories, and material
composition. In addition the student will be able to successfully implement, analyze, and report on
laboratory tests performed on typical civil engineering materials. These objectives will be achieved
through weekly laboratory and homework exercises. In the lab component of this course, students will
gain a hands-on experience in conducting various standard tests that are routinely used in testing of
construction materials in the industry dealing with aggregates, portland cement concrete and asphalt
concrete. This course will not only give students a better appreciation for the properties of various
construction materials, but also will help them choose right material for the right job. As a part of this
course, there will also be three field trips to local construction material companies.
This course contributes to the following Civil Engineering ABET Program Educational Objectives by:
i.

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics through differential equations and science

including calculus-based physics, chemistry, and at least one additional area of science
appropriate to civil engineering;

ii.

An ability to apply knowledge of engineering including four technical areas appropriate to civil
engineering;

iii.

An ability to conduct civil engineering experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret the
resulting data;

iv.

An ability to design a system, component, or process in more than one civil engineering
context to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental,
social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;

v.

An ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems;

vi.

An ability to communicate effectively.

Page 4 of 5

E R

Glenn Department of Civil Engineering

Clemson University, fall 2015

CE 351-Civil Engineering Materials

Amir Poursaee

CE 351: Fall 2015 LECTURE OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE

Day
Monday
Wednesday
Friday

Date
Lecture Number Book Chapters
Topic Covered
17-Aug-15
1
19-Aug-15
1
---Introduction
21-Aug-15
2
1
Stress-Strain

Monday
Wednesday
Friday

24-Aug-15
26-Aug-15
28-Aug-15

---3
4

---1
1

Quiz #1
Elasticity and Plasticity
Fatigue

Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Monday
Wednesday
Friday

31-Aug-15
2-Sep-15
4-Sep-15
7-Sep-15
9-Sep-15
11-Sep-15
14-Sep-15
16-Sep-15
18-Sep-15

---5
6
7
8
---9
10
11

---5
5
6
------6
6
6

Quiz #2
Aggregates-Properties #1
Aggregates-Properties #2
Cement Production and Type of Cements
Movie: Cement Production and Properties
Quiz #3
Hydration Reactions
Properties of Hydrated Cement
SCM-Chemical Admixtures

Monday
Wednesday
Friday

21-Sep-15
23-Sep-15
25-Sep-15

---12
13

---7
7

Quiz #4
Concrete Mixture Proportion #1
Concrete Mixture Proportion #2

Monday
Wednesday
Friday

28-Sep-15
30-Sep-15
2-Oct-15

14
---15

7
---9

Testing of Hardened Concrete

Quiz #5
Asphalt #1

Monday
Wednesday
Friday

5-Oct-15
7-Oct-15
9-Oct-15

16
17
----

9
-------

Asphalt #2
Movie-Pavement
Quiz
#6 Mix Design
Asphalt

Monday
Wednesday
Friday

12-Oct-15
14-Oct-15
16-Oct-15

---18
19

---11
3

No Class-Fall Break
Composites
Corrosion #1

Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Monday
Wednesday
Friday

19-Oct-15
21-Oct-15
23-Oct-15
26-Oct-15
28-Oct-15
30-Oct-15
2-Nov-15
4-Nov-15
6-Nov-15

20
---21
22
---23
24
25
----

3
---2
2
---2
2
2
----

Corrosion #2
Quiz #7
Materials Atomic Structures/Bonding
Materials Properties Associated With Bonds
Quiz #8
Crystal Structures #1
Crystal Structures #2
Diffusion
Quiz #9

Monday
Wednesday
Friday

9-Nov-15
11-Nov-15
13-Nov-15

------26

------2

No Class (ACI-Convention)
No Class (ACI-Convention)
Phase Diagram #1

Monday
Wednesday
Friday

16-Nov-15
18-Nov-15
20-Nov-15

27
---28

2
-------

Phase Diagram #2
Quiz #10
Movie-Steel

Monday
Wednesday
Friday

23-Nov-15
25-Nov-15
27-Nov-15

29
30
----

3
3
----

Fe-C Phase Diagram

Heat-Treatment #1
No Class-Thanksgiving

Monday
Wednesday
Friday

30-Nov-15
2-Dec-15
4-Dec-15

31
---32

3
-------

Heat-Treatment #2
Quiz #11
Review

Page 5 of 5