Abu Dhabi University

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Course Syllabus

Civil Engineering Program

Fall Semester 2015-2016
Course Name: Materials of Construction Laboratory
Course Code: CIV313L
Course Pre- CIV 206, CHE 201
requisites:
Course Co- CIV 313
requisites:
Credit hours: 1 (Lab)

Instructors Name: Dr. Samer Al-Martini, P. Eng

Telephone:Ext 5609 E- Akram.almarqab@adu.ac.ae
mail:
Class Location: Class Time:
Office Location: D 2F 238 Office Hours: As posted

1. Course Description
Weekly laboratory sessions complement the lectures and provide hands on
experience with physical and mechanical tests on steel, aggregates, cements,
and concrete. The experiments will be conducted in group and lab reports will be
prepared by each group members; this will help develop the ability of students to
work as a team member and gain insight on its benefits toward achieving the
common goal of accurately and timely project completion. Appropriate safety
procedures in handling equipment and performing work in and around equipment
will be stressed during the laboratory sessions.

2. Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

To develop the ability to design and conduct experiments on steel, aggregates,
cement and concrete in accordance on standardized procedures (B)
To record data, perform appropriate calculation, analyze and interpret the data
derived from the experiment (B).
To communicate the results in the form of a well written laboratory report that
helps in improving written technical communication skills (G).
To develop the ability of students to work in a small team (G).

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 Relevant Program Learning Assessment
Course Learning Outcome Outcome Tool(s)*
To develop the ability to b2, b3
design and conduct
experiments on steel,
aggregates, cement and Lab Report
concrete in accordance on
standardized procedures (B)
To record data, perform
appropriate calculation,
analyze and interpret the data
b2, b3 Lab Report and
derived from the experiment
exams
(B).

To communicate the results in

the form of a well written
laboratory report that helps in g1, g3 Lab report and
improving written technical exams
communication skills (G).
To develop the ability of
students to work in a small g1, g3
Lab report
team (G).

3. Weekly Outline

Week Topic
1 Introduction to lab safety and description of lab report format
2 Sieve Analysis of course and fine aggregate
3 Specific Gravity and Absorption of Course aggregate
4 Determination of Consistency of Cement
5 Determination of initial setting and final setting times of Cement.
6 Random Mix Concrete.
7 Consistency and Workability of fresh Concrete. 22nd of April (Slump Test
and Flow test)

8 Midterm Exam
9 Determination of Air Content in fresh Concrete
10 Compressive Strength of Concrete Cubes. (7 and 28 days).
11 Curing of concrete beams and preparing specimens for the flexural
tests
12 Flexural Strength of hardened Concrete Beams & CBR
13 Review
14 Final Exam

4. Pedagogy Learning Process

Civil Engineering courses will be taught using a variety of pedagogical models.
These will include theory-led teaching, case-method education and project-
based/team-based teaching. Teaching based on exposition of theory will be

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 applied to engineering and construction science. Learning the fundamentals in
math and physics, statics and dynamics, mechanics of materials, hydrology and
surveying, transportation, and concrete and structural steel design effectively will
be prerequisites to the development and application of structural engineering
skills.
Case-method teaching will use real-world business experiences in order to
demonstrate the application of general principles and to apply them to specific
problems posed during the course of instruction. This pedagogy will be used in the
teaching of construction contracts and administration, safety and business law.
Project-based and team-based education will be experiential; students will learn
by doing, as much as they would in a natural sciences laboratory class. Project-
based education will also give students an opportunity to learn how to assemble
and coordinate necessary information, assert authority and delegate responsibility.
This is particularly important in the construction industry, in which the essential
tasks are the management of people and information.
It will be common in CED courses for all pedagogical approaches to be employed.
The CED faculty members will bring together theory-based instruction and an
intimate understanding of state-of-the-art professional practices.
Abu Dhabi will provide a universe of projects of all types that will be readily
available to students to serve as a virtual laboratory. Drawings and specifications
will be made available to students for classroom study and before visiting project
sites. Faculty members who are actively involved in those projects will discuss the
many unique and special problems encountered on these projects, as well as
potential solutions. Field visits to project sites will be an essential part of the
educational process.

5. Textbooks and Learning Material

a. Textbook
Mamlouk,S, M & Zaniewski, P. J.. (2010). Materials for Civil and
Construction Engineers (3rd Edition): Pearson Prentice-Hall.
Supplementary course notes, laboratory manual(s).
.

6. Assessment of Student Learning

Assessment Tool Percentage Description

Lab Reports 30% Lab report for each lab
Attendance and participation 20% Attendance will be taken each lab
and participation of each student
will be evaluated during lab
Midterm exam 20% A written midterm exam
Final exam 30% A comprehensive final exam will be
given at the end of the course

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7. Grading Key

Grade Percentage Description Grade Point

A 90-100 Excellent 4
B+ 85-89 Very good 3.5
B 80-84 Good 3
C+ 75-79 Very Satisfactory 2.5
C 70-74 Satisfactory 2
D+ 65-69 Pass + 1.5
D 60-64 Pass 1
F Less than 60 Fail 0.0
I Incomplete 0.0

8. Attendance
For undergraduate students, absence is marked at a maximum of 30% of total class
time. Final dismissals (WA) will be posted at the ADU Student Portal.

Final Dismissal will not be waived under any circumstances. Office of the Registrar
will only accept excuse forms to allow the students for their make-up examinations
but absence will not be waived and final dismissals will not be removed from the
student's record.

Students may wish to continue to attend if they receive a final dismissal in a course
but are not required to submit assignments or take any exams.

Students will be considered tardy if they do not arrive on time for a lesson or they
return late from a break. Tardiness will be counted as a half absence. Instructors have
the right to refuse entry to students who are more than 15 minutes late, but if entry is
permitted, students must enter in such a way as not to disturb the lesson in progress.

Exams/Tests will be repeated when serious reasons similar to the following take place
and documented evidence are submitted to the Office of the Registrar on the day
student returns to class.

Hospitalization,
Contagious Disease,
Death, may God forbid, of an immediate family member (father, mother,
sibling, husband, son, daughter, grandparent),
Car Accident,
Job Requirement (special assignment), with prior written approval from
the Office of the Registrar
Al Haj

Undergraduate students who miss their examinations and/or tests will bring the
excuse for their absence to the Office of the Registrar the day they return to class.

Al Umra
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Al Umra trips are not valid excuses for students to be absent.

Al Haj
If the student wishes to leave for Al Haj, the instructor has to be informed in advance.
If a mid-term exam happens to be scheduled during that period, the student will have
the right for a make up exam. If a final exam happens to be scheduled during that
period, the student will be asked to file an INCOMPLETE with the Office of the
Registrar. In this case, the student has to submit evidence that he/she has been to Al
Haj (i.e. passport showing entry date to and/or exit date from the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia).

9. Academic Integrity
The mission of ADU includes developing students sense of ethics, morality, and
social responsibility. Students at ADU have the fundamental obligation to conduct
themselves with utmost integrity. To ensure an education environment characterized
with Academic integrity (AI), ADU has revised its Academic Integrity Policy (AIP).

The revised Academic Integrity Policy (AIP) copies available on the intranet under
the link of the Office of Academic Integrity (OAI) has identified violations of AI
punishable by serious penalties, including dismissal from ADU. The types of
violations identified in AIP, along with the description and examples of each
violation, are:

1. Cheating
2. Plagiarism
3. Fabrication of data
4. Presenting false credentials
5. Collusion
6. Free Riding

At the beginning of each semester, your instructor will review the essential elements
of AIP in class and will describe the intrinsic values of compliance, and the
consequences of non-compliance (i.e., penalties) with the Policy. In addition, OAI
undertakes a widespread AI Awareness Campaign at the beginning of each semester
to educate students about AI issues and the ways students can avoid violations.

In view of resources provided by ADU in this regard, all students are expected to
strictly comply with the tenet of AIP and conduct themselves with highest degree of
integrity and ethical conduct. Students in need of additional information or assistance
are requested to seek help from OAI.

Failure to comply with the provisions of AIP will have severe consequences,
including dismissal from ADU.

10. Miscellaneous
Mobile phones: A student whose mobile phone rings during class will be asked to
leave the classroom and will receive a half absence. Should this happen during an
exam, the student will not be allowed to retake the exam at another time, while at
the same time receiving a full absence.
Eating/Drinking/Smoking: Students will be requested to refrain from engaging in
these activities while in class.