Construction Technology - Level 1 Flashcards
What types of soil are you aware of? And what are their properties?
Clay - fine particles, retains water, shrinks and expands so poor for construciton.
Silt - poor drainage, shrinks and expands so not good for foundations.
Sand - good for drainage and therefore foundations.
Loam - mix of sand, silt and clay. Retains mositure well, whilst also being good for drainage, high PH. Good for foundations.
What soil tests are you aware of? And what do they meausre?
Plate Bearing Test - measures differential settlement & bearing capacity of the soil.
Shear Vane Test - measures shear strength of cohesive soils using a rod with vanes to measure the torque.
- Shear Strength: stress a material can take before it reaches failure,
measured in KiloNewtons. - Torque: rotationay force.
Standard Penetration Test - sampling tube driven into the ground at the bottom of a borehole by force of a 63.5Kg hammer, measures the density of the ground which impacts soils water holding capacity.
PH Test - acidity of the soil.
What impact does the soil PH have on foundations?
Acidic Soils: Corrosion of concrete and steel.
Alkaline Soils: led to the formation of expansive clays which swell and shrink causing movement in foundations.
What are the 8 GRIP Stages?
1 - Output Definition
2 - Project Feasability
3 - Option Selection
4 - Single Option Development
5 - Detailed Design
6 - Construction, Testing and Commissioning
7 - Scheme Handback
8 - Project Close Out
What are the 8 RIBA Stages?
0 - Strategic Definition
1 - Preperation and Briefing
2 - Concept Design
3 - Spaitial Co-ordination
4 - Technical Design
5 - Manufacturing and Construction
6 - Handover
7 - Use
What is the purpose of RIBA/GRIP?
It is a project management framework, spliting project stages into clear steps and activities.
List some key rail components?
Sand
Geotechnical Membrane
Ballast
Sleepers
Rails
Mast with cantilevers
Overhead Wires
What are rail sleepers made from?
Most common sleeper materials are:
- Timber
- Concrete
- Steel
What are the advantages and disadvantages of timber sleepers?
Advantages:
- Material readily available
- Sustainable
- Realtively low cost
Disadvantages:
- High maintenance cost
- Short life expectancy, upto 20 years depending on conditons
- Subject to decay if not properly treated
What are the advantages and disadvantages of concrete sleepers?
Advantages:
- Long life expectancy, 40-60 years.
- Strong stability.
- Not subject to decay.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive
- No scrap value.
- Extremely heavy and difficullt to lay
What is the purpose of ballast
- Helps with drainage
- Keeps vegetation down
- Supports the track and sleepers
What is the function of the geotechnical membrane?
- Weed prevention
- Prevents the rise of moisture
What are UPS’s and why are they required?
- Uniterupted Power Supply
- Large generator powered off batteries
- Maintains electrical supply to safety critical signaling
Can you name some new industry technologies?
- Bi-mode Electrical Trains - electric and battery powered.
- New forms of clamp for supporting railway overhead lines.
- New form of cable troughing that is light weight and more
sustainable. - New in cab signalling for trains.
How do you keep up to date with the industries emerging technology?
- RICS Modus Articles - reduction of 65% in allotments & Inspiring future professionals , UK requires 244,000 qualified apprentices to plug the gap.
- Internal AtkinsRealis “lunch n learns” - Self-propelled modular transporter.
- Rail Engineer’s website and publications - bi-mode trains.
