I.

INTRODUCTION

Materials engineering is the specialized branch of Civil Engineering that

deals with the properties of science of materials specifically construction materials,
sometimes called an independent testing laboratory. The materials engineering
laboratory deals primarily with testing, evaluating and monitoring materials and
processes used in construction. And so, it is necessary for civil engineers to become
conversant with the properties of such materials.

The service conditions of buildings demand a wide range of materials and

various properties such as water resistance, strength, durability, temperature
resistance, appearance, permeability, etc. are to be properly studied before making
final selection of any building materials for a particular use.

I. PROCEDURE

1. A guide to the laboratory with the major features indicated on a sketch

(picture).
2. A brief description of each major testing machine. This should appropriate factor
necessary to convert from the calibration units to SI units.
3. An assessment on the role of the course on your education.
4. Draw the floor plan of the testing laboratory.

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 II. TEST RESULTS

GUIDANCE TO THE LABORATORY / LABORATORY SAFETY

1. Arrange the instruments in orderly manner with in the vicinity of the equipment to be
tested so that the reading and recording of data are facilitated.
2. Do not alter live circuit connections with your bare hands or by using non-insulated tools.
Put off the main switch or breaker before making changes in the connections or
instruments. Use rubber gloves if necessary.
3. Keep wires, instruments and yourself away from rotating parts of a running machine.
4. Before using the instruments report their defect first.
5. Do not play or make jokes with each other when performing an experiment/ horseplay or
jokes take your mind away from what you are doing and mistakes can be costly leading
to the damage of the instruments or personal injury to a group member.

MAJOR TESTING MACHINES

UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE

A universal testing machine (UTM), also known as a universal tester, materials testing
machine or materials test frame, is used to test the tensile strength and compressive
strength of materials.

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 SET OF SIEVES
A sieve, or sifter, is a device for separating wanted elements from unwanted material or for
characterizing the particle size distribution of a sample, typically using a woven screen such as a
mesh or net or metal.

LABORATORY OVEN
These are ovens for high-forced volume thermal convection applications. These ovens generally
provide uniform temperatures throughout. Process applications for laboratory ovens can be
for annealing, die-bond curing, drying, Polyimide baking, sterilizing, and
other industrial laboratory functions.

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 CONCRETE SLUMP TEST SET WITH SCOOP
The concrete slump test measures the consistency of fresh concrete before it sets. It is performed
to check the workability of freshly made concrete, and therefore the ease with which concrete
flows. It can also be used as an indicator of an improperly mixed batch.

ASPHALT STABILITY TEST SET

It examines the effect of varying temperatures and varying exposure times on the stability of
asphalt concrete using destructive and non-destructive methods.

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 CONSTRUCTION BUCKET OR PAIL
It offers fair cutting edge visibility and excellent bucket breakout force for better digging and
easier bucket filling.

COMPACTION MOLD
It is used to remold cohesive soil samples for permeability and triaxial testing.

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 STEEL PAN
It is a plate that is used to mixed different types of aggregates such as cement, gravel, sand, etc.

AUGER
It is a drilling device, or drill bit, that usually includes a screw blade called a "flighting" to act as
a screw conveyor to remove the drilled out material. The rotation of the blade causes the material
to move out of the hole being drilled.

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 FIRST AID KIT
It is a collection of supplies and equipment that is used to give medical treatment.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER
It is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency
situations.
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 DIRECT SHEAR APPARATUS
It is an apparatus that determines the direct shear strength of soils on specimens. It comprises
loading unit, shear box assembly, shear box housing and specimen cutter.

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 ASSESSMENT ON THE ROLE OF THE COURSE ON OUR EDUCATION

Civil engineering students need to deal with construction materials because it used in
many construction projects and in our generation today, different kind of materials are making
headway into the construction industry. Good understanding of these materials on how to be
used properly will result to a better performance and will satisfy the needs of civil engineering
applications.
To a civil engineer, the performance of materials in structures and their ability to resist
various stresses are of prime importance. This laboratory experimental equipment is intended to
help students in civil engineering to understand the physical and structural properties of common
construction materials which are an important process to be conducted before starting up of any
major civil engineering project. And also to facilitate hands-on learning on different type of
work and to provide students with the best possible learning environment.

FLOOR PLAN OF THE TESTING LABORATORY

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 III. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

FINDINGS

1. The room for testing laboratory is well-structured to keep the testing equipments inside safe.
2. Testing equipments are not well-arranged. Some of it has its own location like in a divider or
in a close box while others are not placed in a proper location.
3. Some testing equipments are already stained and old and I think it will create a little bad
impact on performing the upcoming activities.
– COLES, Redford M.

As I observed at the testing laboratory, basically it has those different equipments which
have different functions as well. Equipments that are of course related to our field and really
usable for our hands on exercises. Obviously, the laboratory has first aid kit inside and a fire
extinguisher which is necessary to have in a laboratory area for precautionary purposes. And as I
go beyond on my observation, I noticed that there are some of the equipments that I found old,
rusty and I have the feeling that some of the testing machines may not be functioning well.
– ECLEO, Khea Ylaizah A.

1. Safety is emerging as a priority and a core value of many academic institutions and of
individual laboratories.
2. In an engineering student like us, we usually do an experiment in a facility that provides
controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research may be performed as what
we called laboratory. As I went in my class laboratory in construction and material testing, I
found that my condition in health will be safe. I together with my teammates found that our
class laboratory has different equipments basically related to our field and course. Obviously
the laboratory has first aid kit inside and a fire extinguisher which is necessary to have in a
laboratory area for precautionary purposes. For expansion of my observation of what inside
in the laboratory, we found equipments look too old and rusty and might not functionable any
time we will going to use.
– JARDENIL, Alexander L.

In my observation while we were on testing laboratory, there were various kinds of

equipment, equipments that are usable in our field especially when having an activity. There are
various types testing machines, a set of sieves, auger, compaction mold, steel pan, etc. But upon
observing, I noticed that some of it are too old, rusty and by looking with the appearance of some
of the testing machine I doubt if it still working since we weren’t able to use it in the first place.

– JUMANDOS, Queenie E.

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 IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, testing equipments are very important in the section of construction. The materials
that may be used in building a structure should undergo in testing laboratory to test if it is strong
enough.
– COLES, Redford M.

Students are sometimes having a hard time in using the equipments inside the laboratory
area due to lack of details of a certain tool or machine and the other equipments are too old and
rusty to be used. They find it hard identifying of which or what particular tool or machine to be
used in a particular test because it has no labels on it. Thus, it takes more time to distinguish
those proper equipments to be used in a particular exercise.
– ECLEO, Khea Ylaizah A.

High quality training program and with the well-functioned equipments is an important
element of a strong, positive safety culture.
– JARDENIL, Alexander L.

Because of not well-organized materials, lack of information or labels and some are rusty
students may find it hard to identify the materials when they are having experiments. In addition,
label should be placed on the corresponding material so that it will be more recognizable in any
way.
– JUMANDOS, Queenie E.

RECOMMENDATIONS

I recommend that, hopefully the school can provide a Testing Laboratory In-charge to
assist the students in every activity they will do. Monthly inspection must be conducted in order
to maintain the stability of laboratory equipments. The testing equipments must have an
organized location and has a label for us, students to easily find what we are looking. And lastly,
first meeting of the subject must be allocated in orientation to be led by the Testing Laboratory
In-Charge to educate the students in handling those equipments safely.

– COLES, Redford M.

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 I recommend that hopefully every end of the month, the equipments and machines inside
the laboratory area must be properly checked and monitored so that it will lessen the numbers of
those malfunctioning ones. The equipments inside must be well-organized for easy retrieval and
it must also have an attached label in every equipment for it to be identified easily.
– ECLEO, Khea Ylaizah A.

In order to perform the experiment well, the laboratory should always clean and well-
sanitized. The laboratory should provide also an additional ventilation or air condition or a
centralized one because of the place temperature may cause a destruction in the human’s health
and the equipments. The equipments should be place in order and must be organized to
determine it easily.
– JARDENIL, Alexander L.

Thus, I recommend that laboratory equipments should have a monthly maintenance and
checking to identify if the materials are still usable. Also, I am hoping for a well-organized
arrangement as such. Most especially, each material should be labeled properly for a better
understanding and ease for identifying such thing.
– JUMANDOS, Queenie E.

V. APPENDICES

EQUIPMENTS/APPARATUSES QUANTITY STATUS CLASSIFICATIONS

Universal Testing Machine 1 Functional Material testing
Set of Sieves 1 Functional Soil sampling tool
Laboratory Oven 1 Nonfunctional Soil testing tool
Concrete Slump Test Set with Scoop 1 Functional Material testing
Asphalt Stability Test Set 1 Functional Material Testing
Construction Bucket or Pail 2 Functional For mixture container
Compaction Mold 4 Functional Soil sampling tool
Steel Pan 5 Functional For mixture container
Auger 4 Functional Drilling tool
First Aid Kit 1 Functional For safety purposes
Fire Extinguisher 1 Functional For safety purposes
Direct Shear Apparatus 1 Functional Material testing
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