Construction Technology & Environmental Services Flashcards
LVL 3
What is meant by the term substructure?
Everything below ground level.
What is meant by the term superstructure?
Everything above ground level.
What is the purpose of a trial pit?
To obtain soil samples for identification, classification and ascertaining the subsoil’s characteristics. Can be used to locate underground services and the upper and lower limits of the water table.
Is there a cheaper alternative to trial pits?
Yes, hand auger holes can be dug instead.
What is a water table?
The water table refers to the level below the ground surface where the soil or rock is saturated with water. It is the top boundary of the zone of saturation. The zone of saturation is the area where all the pore spaces in the soil or rock are filled with water.
What is the purpose of a foundation?
To safely sustain and transfer to the ground on which it rests the loads of the building above.
What is concrete made from?
A mixture of cement, aggregates and water in various mix ratios.
What types of foundation are there?
1) Strip - Traditional or Deep
2) Pad
3) Raft
4) Piled
When might you use a strip foundation?
When the building has a relatively low load, like a house and the ground below has good bearing capacity. However, this would be decided by a Structural Engineer.
When might you use a pad foundation?
Pad foundations are used predominantly for framed structures like steel or concrete buildings which have heavy point loads, however, this would be decided by a Structural Engineer.
When might you use a raft foundation?
Where the building footprint is small and the ground has poor loadbearing capacity. However, this would be decided by a Structural Engineer.
When might you use piled foundations?
Where the building has a heavy structural load and the ground has reduced load bearing capacity. However, this would be decided by a Structural Engineer.
What are some brick bonding methods/types?
- English
- Flemish
- Stretcher
- Rat Trap
What is a damp proof course?
An impermeable barrier that prevents water from rising up through a building’s walls from the ground.
What materials can a damp proof course be created with?
Impermeable materials such as bitumen, slate, engineering brick
When may a gas resistant membrane be required?
In areas with Radon gas. Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can be harmful if present in sufficient quantities. It is colourless and odourless.
What does a cavity wall comprise of?
An external leaf and an internal leaf separated by a cavity which usually contains insulation.
What are wall ties?
A metal strip or bar that joins the inner and outer walls of a cavity wall together.
What is crosswall construction?
Two parallel load-bearing walls with perpendicular non load-bearing walls. Typically used for low cost buildings of a cellular nature.
What are the three main types of effluent?
1) Subsoil water
2) Surface water
3) Foul/Soil water
What is subsoil water?
This refers to water present beneath the Earth’s surface, held within soil pores and rock formations. It includes groundwater, which is a vital source for wells
What is surface water?
This is water found on the Earth’s surface, such as in rivers, lakes, ponds, and oceans. It is primarily sourced from precipitation and surface runoff.
What is foul or soil water?
Foul or soil water refers to wastewater from toilets, sinks, showers, baths, and other sanitary appliances that contains organic waste and requires treatment. It is typically carried away from buildings through a separate drainage system to be processed at a sewage treatment facility.
