Civil Knowledge

Soil is typically considered a three-phase system because it comprises solid particles, liquid, and gas. For most civil engineering applications, the liquid in the soil voids is assumed to be water, while the gas is usually air.  When soil is fully saturated, it only contains two phases: the solid particles and water. In this state, all the void spaces between the particles are filled with water. This concept is crucial for understanding how soil behaves, as the properties of saturated soil—such as strength and stability—differ significantly from those of unsaturated soil.  

The new technique developed by researchers at the University of Tokyo represents a significant breakthrough in both recycling and carbon capture within the construction industry. Here’s a breakdown of how the process works and its potential implications: 1. Recycling Old Concrete: The process begins with grinding demolished concrete into a fine powder. This recycled material forms the basis for creating new blocks. 2. Carbon Dioxide Integration: The powdered concrete is then reacted with CO₂ captured from the air. This step not only helps in utilizing the CO₂ but also strengthens the material through chemical reactions that convert the CO₂ into calcium carbonate. 3. Molding and Pressurization: The CO₂-reacted concrete powder is pressed into molds in layers. This pressurization helps to consolidate the material into dense blocks. 4. Heating: The molded blocks are then heated to finalize their structure, resulting in new concrete blocks that are strong enough for construction purposes. ...

1. Boring: To ensure accurate boring of the pile, four reference points should be established, forming two perpendicular lines, with each point located 1.5 meters from the pile center. Initially, bore a 2-meter depth using a cutting tool of the desired pile diameter. Subsequently, continue boring as per sub-soil investigation report, employing a liner, Bentonite, or a combination as needed. A temporary guide casing, app. 2 meters in length with an outside diameter matching the nominal pile diameter, should be lowered into the borehole. Ensure that the diameter of the cutting tool is slightly smaller, up to a maximum of >75 mm the outside diameter of the casing, to allow free movement within the casing during operation. Check and adjust the position and alignment casing of guide with respect to the fixed reference points around location of pile to avoid deviation from the exact pile location. Boring should proceed upto the the hard strata where foundation is placed as specified in th...

The Common Schedule of Rates (CSR) is a detailed and illustrative document periodically released by the Department of Public Works. Its purpose is to offer a consistent economic framework for all Engineering Departments, Boards, Corporations, Agencies, and Private Sector Organizations collaborating with the Government, facilitating uniform cost estimation for construction activities. CSR provider rates of various construction activities in different fields. CSR is framed keeping in view of various factors like basic rate, current taxation scenarios, current labour charges, contractor's profits etc. These rate gets revised after variation in the above factors.    

 It is a property of soil in which soil regains it strength after remoulding. It is time dependent property of soil. This phenomenon is most commonly found in Clayey soil.

Pile foundation is a category of deep foundation. Deep foundation is used when soil strata beneath the foundation is not capable of bearing the structural load. Pile foundation rests on the hard strata well beneath the soil. When to use: When the surface or near-surface strata are highly compressible and weak, making them unable to support the structural loads, pile foundations are needed. These piles transfer structural loads through weaker layers to more stable, deeper strata.  Pile foundations are also utilized to resist horizontal forces in addition to vertical loads.  They are essential for structures like transmission towers and offshore platforms that experience uplift forces.  Additionally, in areas with expansive soils, such as black cotton soil, which undergo significant volume changes with fluctuations in water content, piles are employed to transfer loads below the active zone.