TOP 10 REQUIREMENTS TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CIVIL ENGINEER

CIVIL ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS:

THESE ARE THE TOP 10 CIVIL ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL CIVIL ENGINEER:

1. TESTS OF BUILDING MATERIALS:

A good civil engineer should have proper knowledge of different tests of building materials. Some important tests are listed below.

Concrete Test: Slump test, compression test, split tensile test, soundness etc.

Soil Test: Core cutter test, compaction test,sand replacement test, triaxial test, consolidation test etc.

Bitumen Test: Ductility test, softening point test, gravity test, penetration test etc.

2. INVESTIGATION OF SOIL:

Various soil tests are conducted to determine the settlement and stability of soils before starting a construction. So as a civil engineer, you should have enough knowledge of these tests which are performed at the site.

3. USES OF SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS:

Usages of surveying instruments like the total station, theodolite etc is also a mandatory knowledge for every civil engineer. These instruments are used for marking and measurements.

4. STANDARD CODES USED IN CONSTRUCTION:

Every country has their standard safety specifications (eg: Is Code) for construction related works. All new construction should be done by following all the rules and procedures mentioned in the standard codes. Otherwise, chances of failure of a structure will be always high.

5. BAR BENDING SCHEDULE:

Bar bending schedule is an essential chart for civil engineers. It provides the reinforcement calculation of RC beam such as cutting length, type of bending, the length of bending etc.

6. DRAWING AND DESIGN:

Drawing and design are the primary keys of an ongoing project. It provides all the required specifications of that project. Every site engineers should have the analyzing power of such drawings and designs.

7. ESTIMATION AND BILLS:

Estimation and bills should be prepared by a civil engineer in a construction project.

8. QUALITY CONTROL: 

Quality control ensures the profit of a project by reducing the extra costs. So you must have a basic knowledge of quality control.

9. ON FIELD MANAGEMENT:

Knowledge of form-work, concreting, safety measures etc is also a key aspect.

10. COORDINATION WITH LABOR:

As a civil engineer, you must know how to deal with labors in a site.

Civil Construction and Engineering Employment Opportunities

Civil Construction and Engineering Employment Opportunities 

The international markets are flooded with job opportunities for civil engineers. The work these engineers are required to do sometimes is not confined to indoors, often they have to spend time at construction sites for monitoring the operations and solve project related problems too. They typically have to work full time and at times they have to work for extra hours too just for ensuring the project requirements are met. 

The salary of a freshly graduated civil engineer having bachelor’s degree can range between $55,570 and $73,908. Experience and advance degree can let these engineers work on higher management positions and they can even start their own construction business. 
Future of Civil Construction

It is expected that civil engineers will experience 20% growth in employment opportunities from 2014 to 2022. More and more engineers will be needed for managing and rebuilding projects likes roads, dams and other buildings. There is going to high competition in the market so a civil engineer if wishes to grab the market opportunities should have the best education. 

How to Become a Civil Engineer?

How to Become a Civil Engineer?

Like the fields of medical, finance, human resources, physics, mathematics, civil engineering is also categorized a separate field of study. If anyone chooses to become a civil engineer, he or she has to decide that from high school. At this level, students are taught to build structure and prototypes with blocks. Then as they each higher level, they come into the practical field.

Civil engineering is a science discipline. Physics, Algebra, Chemistry and Trigonometry will be a part of the daily work of a civil engineer. Civil construction and engineering is all about problem solving. The engineer is given a problem and he with his knowledge is expected to present a solution. This problem can be related to construction projects that civil engineers have to handle on every day basis. There are Associate Degree, Master’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree available in Civil Engineering.

A civil engineer must be familiar with construction materials, and construction machinery. With this knowledge, he can meet safety, durability, reliability and cost requirements. He needs to have knowledge of a mechanical and structural engineer too.

Introduction to Civil Construction

CIVIL CONSTRUCTION

Introduction to Civil Construction

Civil construction falls in the category of civil engineering which is all about designing, constructing and maintaining the physical and naturally built environment. Civil construction is the art of building bridges, dams, roads, airports, canals, and buildings.

Civil engineering is the oldest disciplines of engineering. Since the very beginning of the human existence, it has been the aspect of life. One of the main aspects of civil construction is structural engineering. It helps in designing the structure in a way that it is able to support itself successfully along with resisting loads. The stability of the design will serve as the foundation of civil construction. 

In today’s society, there are huge projects meant for civil construction and engineering. The infrastructure used in our daily lives all has been created because of civil construction and engineering. The roads, railways, stadiums, harbors, schools and other buildings constructed all are a contribution of civil engineering.

Civil Construction Stages 

Classifying large projects into civil construction stages has always been anticipated whether it is for independent or conjunction construction. To escalate the progress of the civil construction, every stage of the process is taken as individual contracts. All of the contracts are continued in special patterns and schedules. To maintain the quality of work in the construction process, the duration of every stage should be analyzed and evaluated before the process starts. Every stage of construction should have its own time period of implementations. The stages of construction for a couple of projects are mentioned below:

Highway Project

Take a look at the factors to consider while planning a highway construction project. 

·         Locating the plant for the project site 

·         Dissipating the site of the project

·         Underground work involving Earth work for the embankment of the highway    

·         Drainage establishment 

·         Pavements structure constructions 

·         Placing road signs, lights and signals
Water Supply Project 

The water supply project requires construction with great care and perfection. It requires certain things that need to be taken in the spot light and they are:

·         Site dissipating

·         Building of the dam structure 

·         Constructing the controls and spillways 

·         Pumping house connections

·         Adding in construction tunnels and transmission lines 

·         Establishment of the plant of water treatment 

What Does Every Construction Plan Setup Require?

What Does Every Construction Plan Setup Require?

To start the process of construction, the entire stages are classified further into numerous operations. Every stage of the construction process has always been facilitated with high technology equipment to sure quality and perfection. Professionals from all sorts of departments come together and work as a team to get started with these projects. Every sub operation having another operation is marked as the part of the project that is to be carried out through the division of labors with respect to skills and quality equipment. All the operations required for the process of construction of the R.C.C. retaining wall are mentioned in the list below: 

·         Diggings by machine

·         Digging through labor force 

·         Assembling to form out the work 

·         Inserting the support

·         Use of concrete and pouring it 

·         Filling the earth back again 

PRECAUTIONS TO CONSTRUCT NEW FOUNDATION NEAR OLD STRUCTURES

When you are constructing a new foundations near to the old building at that time because of vibrations and other forces which generate during construction can effect the stability of the existing structures.

The depth of the foundation which is going too construct and the Foundation distances between the two buildings (old and New) is very important and necessary to reduce the failures. In order to eliminate the chances of  any damage to the old structure, following precautions should be taken:

IMPORTANT POINTS:

1. The clear horizontal distance between adjacent faces of old and new foundations should be at least to the larger of the widths of foundations.

2. If the foundation of new structure is to be laid touching the old structure, its foundation should not be carried to the depth greater than the depth of old foundation.

If however, new foundation has to be carried for large depth, the old structure should be adequately protected by giving lateral support to it and also by giving suitable support of the foundation.

3. For deciding the depth of new foundation up to which it can be excavated without affecting the old structure, draw an inclined line from outer bottom-most edge of old foundation.

The depth of new foundation should not cut this line. Inclination of this line with horizontal for soft soils is kept 30° and for average soils 45°.

TYPES OF SCAFFOLDING WHICH ARE COMMONLY USE AT SITES

We have many types of Scaffolding but four important scaffolding  are describe below.

1. Steel or tubular Scaffolding.
2. Masons Scaffolding
3. Brick layers Scaffolding
4. Needle Scaffolding.

1.STEEL / TUBULAR SCAFFOLDING:

The steel or timber scaffolding is essentially similar.The wooden member are replaced by 38-64 mm diameter steel tubes.Special types of steel couplets or fittings are used for connecting different members.

In this type of scaffolding the vertical tubes called upright are spaced 2.5 to 3 m apart.Each standard is welded to a base plate. The steel scaffolding plate has a holes in their base so that it can be spiked to a timber or concrete base. In this way rigid foundation is formed for the scaffolding.

Ledgers are spaced at 1.8 m vertically apart and the short tubes are normally 1.2 to 1.8 m in length.

Image Source

>TUBULAR SCAFFOLDING:

Tubular scaffolding mounted on wheels and can be used for carrying out the work of painting the walls, under side roof etc.

The tubular scaffolding has several advantages over the timber scaffolding such as rapid erection and dismantling, greater strength and durability.

Image Source

2. MASON’S SCAFFOLDING:

Usually mason’s scaffolding is use in stone masonry work. In mason’s scaffolding two frames of standards, at a distance of 1.5 m from the first one. The mason’s scaffolding is entirely independent of the stone wall.

The mason’s scaffolding is use to carry heavy loads because the loads of the stone block is very heavy. Hence the mason’s scaffolding are made stronger by placing the standards at a fairly close distance apart.

3. BRICK LAYER SCAFFOLDING:

This type of scaffolding consist of standard firmly.The Standards are connected to each other byledgers at every rise of 120 to 150 cm. The brick layer scaffolding’s are provided on the building side and are secured in position with the help of rope-lashing.

In high Scaffolding the cross braces are used to stiffen the temporary structure. The Braces  which is used in temporary structure consist of poles tied by rope-lashing on the standard.

4. NEEDLE SCAFFOLDING:

The needle scaffolding is to provided for a building on the side of a busy street where construction of ordinary scaffolding will obstruct at that place needle scaffolding is use.

TYPES OF BRICKS USE AT SITE WORKS

TYPES OF BRICKS USE IN CONSTRUCTION WORK AT SITE:

There are different types of bricks used for various kinds of purposes. Bricks are the most basicand favored material in common construction throughout the world. The bricks can be categorized into headings and subheadings on their different basis.

CLASSIFICATION OF BRICKS:

Image Source

Bricks are to be categorize into many types which depends on their Making processes, Quality, the raw material is going to use and also their using purpose But mainly we can categorized the brick into two main types and then sub types.

1. Unburnt bricks
2. Burnt bricks

UNBURNT BRICKS:

These bricks are dried through sun light and also called Sun-dried Bricks. The sub-dried bricks has a very low strength as compared to Burnt bricks. Now in these days this type of bricks are not used in construction mainly due to their low strength but they can be used in construction as a temporary structures.

BURNT BRICKS:

These bricks are commonly use in these day’s. They are prepared and burnt in a kiln and having a high strength as compared to unburnt bricks.

Burnt Bricks are further classified into three types.

1. First Class Brick
2. Second Class Brick
3. Third Class Brick

FIRST CLASS BRICKS:

These bricks are 19 x 9 x 9 cm in size and made up of good earth, free from saline deposits. These bricks are free from flaws, cracks, chips, stones, etc. First class brick should produce ringing sound when two bricks are struck together.

Brick	Properties
1. Type	1. First Class Brick
2. Size	2. 19 x 9 x 9 cm
3. Crushing Strength	3. 105 kg/cm2
4. Edges	4. Sharp and square.
5. Color	5. Uniform red or brown.
6.Shape	6. Standard and uniform (rectangular)
7.Water Absorbing	7. 15%  to 20 % of its self-weight when submerged in water for 24 hours.
8.Surface	8. Smooth and straight
9. Use of this Brick	9. Superior work,1 class construction

SECOND CLASS BRICK:

These are also fully burnt and give a clear ringing sound when struck together. In second class bricks slightly irregularities in shape, size or color are acceptable.

Brick Feature	Properties
1. Type	1. Second Class Brick
2. Size	2. 19 x 9 x 9 cm
3. Crushing Strength	3. 70 kg/cm2
4. Edges	4. Uneven faces, may consist of hairline cracks.
5. Color	5. Uniform color.
6. Water Absorbing	6. 22% of its self-weight when submerged in water for 24 hours.
7. Crushing Strength	7. 70 kg/cm2
8. Shape	8. Slightly irregular as compare to 1 class
9. Use in	9.  Internal walls

THIRD CLASS BRICK:

These types of bricks are irregular in shape and dark in color which is due to over burning.

Brick Feature	Properties
1. Type	1. Third Class Brick
2.  Size	2. Non-uniform
3. Shape	3. Non-uniform
4. Crushing Strength	4. 30 kg/cm2
5. Color	5. Non-uniform and dark.
6. Edges	6. Distorted edges
7. Water Absorbing	7. 25% of its self-weight when submerged in water for 24 hours.
8. Surface	8. Irregular
9. Use	9.  Used in temporary structures.

IMPORTANT POINT FOR CIVIL-SITE ENGINEER TO REMEMBER AT SITE

13 IMPORTANT POINTS FOR CIVIL-SITE ENGINEER ALWAYS REMEMBER ON SITE:

Following 13 important points for civil site-engineer which he always keep in Mind on site. These points are very important because if you ignore some of this point some major Error could be occur at site.

Image Source

IMPORTANT POINTS:

1. Lapping is not allowed for the bars having diameter more than 36 mm.

2. For dowels rod minimum of 12 mm diameter should be used.

3. Free fall of concrete is allowed maximum to 1.50 meter.

4. Minimum bar in square column is 4 number and 6 number in circular column.

5. Main bars in slab not less than 8 mm if you are using(HYSD) or 10 mm if you are using(Plain bars) and the distribution bars was not less than 8 mm in a diameter and not be more than 1/8 of the given slab thickness.

6. Longitudinal reinforcement not less than 0.8% and more than 6 %.

7. In steel reinforcement binder wire required is 8 kg per MT (Metric ton).

8. Minimum thickness of slab is 125 mm.

9. Dimension tolerance for cubes ±2 mm.

10. Compressive strength of brick is 3.5 N/mm^2.

11. Water absorption of brick is between 15% to 20%.

12. PH (Power of Hydrogen) value of the water should not be less than 6.

13. In soil filling as per IS codes 100 square meter should take 3 sample for core cutting test.

TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS

Foundation or Footing is the most important and basic part of a structure. Which functions as to transfers the loads of a structure to the underlying soil. so today we are going to explain the different Types of Foundation or Footing we have.

FACTOR ON WHICH FOOTING DEPENDS:

1. Bearing Capacity of the soil.
2. Load applied from structure to the foundation.
3. Type of Superstructure is going to construct.
4. The Condition of the soil.
5. The depth of the soil at which safe bearing strata exists.

TYPES OF FOOTING:

8 Types of the foundation-footing is use in construction are described below.

1. Isolated Footings.
2. Spread Footings.
3. Slope Footings.
4. Strap Footings.
5. Stepped Footing.
6. Combined Footings.
7. Mat or Raft Foundation.
8. Pile Foundation

1.ISOLATED FOOTINGS:

Isolated footing is commonly use in reinforced cement concrete columns because it very is simple and most economical as compare to the other footings. This footing is use to support a single RCC Column. The isolated footings are independent footings for every column and provided for each column separately in buildings.

Restriction in Isolated Footings:

1. Columns are not closely spaced.
2. Loads on the footing are must be less.
3. Safe bearing capacity of the under soil is high at that places.

Image Source

2.SPREAD FOOTINGS:

In spread footing a spread bars are provided under the column and Wall base. So that the load of the structure is distributed on the wide area of the soil in such a way that the safe bearing capacity of the soil is not exceeded.

Image Source

3.SLOPED FOOTING:

Normally footing having sloping top or side faces. Isolated sloped footing is use to distribute load evenly from column to the soil.

To transfer the load of column to its base evenly, that’s why we provide sloped pattern of the footing.  To distribute load uniformly to the base of column, The rectangular part will also be provided in isolated slop footings.

Image Source

4.STRAP FOOTING:

The strap footing is the type of combined footing. The strap footings are consisting of two or more reinforcement concrete column connected to each other with concrete beam which doesn’t transfer any type of load to the soil. The main function of the strap footing was to help in the distribution of the weight either heavily loaded column as well as eccentrically loaded column.

Image Source

5.STEPPED FOOTINGS:

The main purpose of stepped footing was to keep the RCC columns away from the direct contact with the soil to save them from corrosive effect and distribute the load uniformly to the soil.

In the steeped footings all the site slop must be level. The steps must be at least 2 ft in length and height of the steps must be not more than three-quarters of the length of the steps the stepped footing vertical sections must be minimum 6 inch thick.

Image Source

6.COMBINED FOOTING:

It is used when two or more columns are so close to each other. The combine footing may be trapezoidal or rectangular in plan depending on the site location and design. This type of footings are provided because of these situations if.

1. Soil bearing capacity is inconsistent and low within an area
2. The column end is situated near the property line and the footing can not be extended.

Image Source

7.MAT OR RAFT FOUNDATION:

Mat foundation is used when heavy structures are going to be constructed on a soft ground or marshy sites. The mat foundation covers all the entire area under the structure. The mat foundation is also known as raft foundation.

Image Source

8.PILE FOUNDATION:

A pile foundation is a vertical structural element of a deep foundation, driven or drilled deep into the ground at the building site.