CONST. MTRL. & TESTING: STONES

The most basic construction material is the stone. Basic in the sense that this is the natural material directly used in construction. Besides being used as aggregates (CA), stones are used in different kinds of construction works such as:

1. Face works  - stones being cut and chipped to be place as walls of structures. Face works are used to define a massive appearance on some places of the structure. Most often in residences, face works are used in fire places, dens and those places intended to feel cozy and warm.

2. Paving stones - stones which are also cut and chipped, however, laid out on the pavement or foot paths. Paving stones are usually noticed in foyers or garages to bring out the massive appearance of the ground.

Rocks are also used in forming railways ballasts, or even blocks in abutments. In foundations or excavations, rocks are used as retaining walls and with its density, these walls need no or little amount of concrete.

Rocks are also crushed into smaller pieces to be part of the concrete. This is known as coarse aggregates or aggregates. Good coarse aggregates are limited in size and used most often in the concrete building structure from foundation, columns, beams to slabs and even roofs.

Click for Lecture Notes in Stones

And yet the smaller pieces of rocks are converted as basic materials in fabricating other construction materials such as cement, hollow blocks, etc.

Artificial stones are those which are reconstructed. The common types of these stones are:

1. Terrazo              - cement and marble chips combined
2. Mosaic tiles        - pre-cast concrete tiles which are surfaced with marble chips
3. Cement concrete- reinforced cement concrete

Terrazo (courtesy of Color My World)

Mosaic Tiles (courtesy of IndiaMart)

CONST. MTRLS AND TESTING: FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES

Structures are built based on the engineers' or the architects perception of the project. From structures made from clay in the ancient times, steel and glass structures are built nowadays. Furthermore, with the global idea of saving the planet even much more innovations on different materials used in construction are being developed. Construction materials are divided into six general categories:

1. Metals and alloys    - this includes ferrous and non-ferrous materials and the combination of metals.
2. Ceramics                - tiles, bricks, roof and floor times and also certain kind of pipes
3. Polymers                - a combination of materials with a large amount of similar units bonded together, such as plastics, resins and synthetic materials.
4. Composites            - materials which are made up of different materials consisting of different properties such as cement.
5. Wood                     - timber
6. Advanced materials - these are the newly innovated kinds of materials which are made mostly from recycled materials or those materials scientifically studied to be alternative sources to make up a new, more eco-friendly construction material.
Click for Notes on Fundamental Properties of Construction Materials

Not only is the aesthetic property to be looked for and studied but more importantly the physical, mechanical, thermal, chemical and even the economic properties. These are the main parameters to check the suitability of a material for a structure.

Moreover, another major concern of the course is the availability of the materials, this holds the threshold if the material is to be considered as a good material or not. The study of availability of the materials includes the traces and economics in producing them.

HOW TO ENTICE YOUR MAN THIS VALENTINES

Men would always be the one working on a sweeter Valentine’s experience for the women. However, they come short of planning and making the experience more memorable. I mean, they do make the 14^th really meaningful and full of love but they would act like a usual guy all the other days before it. So this time, its the ladies' turn to perk up the occasion by working on the 8 days before Valentine’s. These ideas would need careful planning although it would not cost much, preparation time is what you would need. Make the thought and action count more than giving him a present this time.

courtesy of Etsy

7^th February: Send him a small card asking him to be your valentine. When you meet on that day, act casual but before he leaves, hand him a small card, stay with him as he opens it, face him and look intently through his eyes while he reads your message. Stay quiet, like no expression and just wanting to know his answer. If he teases you and says no, don’t break your stare at him and remain silent like your life depends on his yes.

8^th of February: Because you just got his yes the other night. Be the first one to post to his timeline how happy you feel to be his valentine. Be creative and work on sparks or anything available. This should be posted an hour or more before he wakes up so you got the time to answer to friends’ comments and he can read all these when he wakes up.

9^th February: This is the day when you get to send a post to him. Have a hand written card posted to him at work. Have the address like a fictitious sweet place like 143 Loverslane, Sunset Blvd or Loveland, XOXO Ave. Enclose in the card a photo you had with him. Remind him of that time you took that photo and how happy you were.

10^th February: Get up early and head to his home. Pick him up and drop him to work. Make sure that before doing this, he is really going to work and not to some conference or seminar somewhere else. You can give him the heads up a few minutes before you arrive. Give him a call and tell him you are on the way to pick him up for work. Take some newly baked doughnuts and hot coffee then tell him you got his breakfast handled. Before dropping him at work. Tell him you are going to pick him up later after work.

11^th February: This day falls on a weekend for 2018. You have more time to arrange a movie with him. Rather than watching a movie in the theater, it will be more appreciated if you bring the movie to his home. Prepare the popcorn and drinks as well. This is a movie he likes watching and though you are less interested in the kind of movie, just stay with him and intently watch it.

12^th February: Record a short video of you singing your favorite love song. Send this video to him on his break time at work. Select that time when you know that he is busy or already stressed out. Make him laugh and feel how relieving to see you on those moments he is already tired.

courtesy of Foodal

13^th February: Bring him lunch at work. If you have time, it would even be sweeter if you cook the lunch you are bringing for him. Take along candles and elegant wears. An hour like this in his office will be magical.

14^th February: Wake him up with a call about half an hour before he gets up. Ask him not to stand up or prepare for work yet. Let him lie on bed and just tell him things you love about him. Make it sweet but not lusty. Keep him thrilled to meet you on your Valentine’s date. Then it will be his turn to let you know just how much he loves you.

A little effort from you to make Valentine's day worth remembering. Do things which would make him realize that he made the right choice of having you in his life. 

BASIC GEOMATICS: TRAVERSE AND TRAVERSE COMPUTATIONS

Traversing is the surveying method to determine stations by using traverse lines observed using the different methods in determining angles, directions and distances.

Click for Notes on Traverse and Traverse Computations

The two kinds of traverse are closed traverse and open traverse. Closed traverse is further identified as those which have the last remaining station with known information which means the surveyors would have a definite idea on the discrepancy in cases when errors are observed. Closed traverses are those commonly employed when checking the boundary lines of a property and when surveying routes for pavement or roads with the end station of known angle.

Open traverse, on the other hand, is similar with the traverse used for roads but the only difference is that this kind of traverse have an unknown last station. Surveyors have no basis to check the angles observed in the procedure.

Traverses are measured by the following methods:

A. Interior / Exterior Angle

B. Angle to the Right / Left

C. Deflection Angles

D. Bearings

E. Azimuths

BASIC GEOMATICS: MEASUREMENT OF ANGLES AND DIRECTIONS

Although the compass is already included in topics involving the transit, introductory discussion about measurement of angles focusing on its use should be discussed.

Compasses have different units although the most common is using the degrees. In technical subjects, one has already been introduced to radians where 2 radians would equal to 360 degrees. The other units to learn in this chapter are the:

A. Grads

B. Mils

Furthermore, the meridians ( the invisible circle line passing at certain specified places at the terrestrial poles on the surface of the earth) are categorized according to how they are observed:

A. True meridian

B. Magnetic meridian

C. Grid meridian

D. Assumed meridian

With these kinds of meridian, it is easy to follow that there would also be 4 different ways to designate the north points.

Notes on Measurement of Angles and Directions

This discussion covers the horizontal angles and there are different kinds to measure them.

1. Interior angles - as long as it is clear on where the target area is, interior angles will be considered in observing the area of a lot. Traversing or working on the bouNdary lines would always consider he angles included inside the area. The opposite procedure for this method is the Exterior angles. Both have similar procedures and only differ in computation of angles.

2. Angles to the right considers the movement of traversing. The clockwise movement of proceeding with the traverse is followed while moving counterclockwise signifies Angles to the left method.

3. Deflection angles is a totally different method from the two previously discussed. This method works with the immediately previously observed traverse line, and checks on the deviation of the next direction with this line.

4. Bearings are a common method used in surveying where the four quadrants of the coordinate system is considered. This is a method imploring the use of the directions North, South, East and West with the angles.

5. Azimuths are similarly often used by surveyors as the bearings. The only difference is azimuths work on the full revolution of 360 degrees using either the reference North or South. Thus this method only gives the angles without directions.

VALENTINE'S GIFT IDEAS: COUPLE WATCHES

With couples displaying more of their commitment to each other, most objects they share were born in pair (often termed couple stuff). While it was funny yet sweet to see couples wearing similar shirts before, or wearing similar shoes, it has already been a normal trend to see these days. This Valentine's day, if you still have not decided on what to give to your special someone, perhaps you would consider using stylish couple watches.

Celebrate the day of hearts with gift ideas with these Ulzzang simple high school students porous popular watch with a simple yet stylish design not quite seen with watches. With leather straps and mineral glass material, these watches are an elegant display of togetherness in style.

If you are looking for an affordable yet stylish couple watch for this Valentine's day, the BYL compass Wheel Gear watch pointer is also a good option. The 3.7cm alloy watch (female watch) is strapped in stainless steel.

PROTECTING YOURSELF ON THE BEACH: USE RASH GUARDS

It’s another summertime and people will be crowding on beaches to refresh themselves from the scouring heat of the sun once more. The dry, hot sand, combined with the blazing heat of the sun - these are all a part of the beach vacation most of us look forward too.

However, people now do observe proper clothing in order to protect themselves from any injuries or later problems. It is a matter of fact that people are already concerned with skin irritation due to too much exposure to the sun rays.

So instead of wearing skimpy bikinis which are truly nice to look at especially with so many different colors reflecting with the sparkles in the water the sun rays themselves, more people prefer using longer clothing. I don’t mean using jeans and cotton shirts in this case as the fabrics may hinder one to enjoy the beach adventure.

Rash guards are already getting more popular for basically all beach goers, no matter which activities they intend to do. Men and women of all ages, small kiddies are seen wearing their cute rash guards even.

With rash guards, one will surely be protected from sun exposure. For the type of person who would just enjoy the water, and no deep diving, boarding or skiing to do, rash guards would still fit their activities. Asians who wanted to keep their complexion while enjoying the sun might as well wear long sleeve rash guards in order to protect themselves.

For the exterme adventurists like those boarding or diving, rash guards are also the best recommended wear as they not only protect one the sun but also from any possible injuries they might encounter. Having to wrap yourself with a truly flexible material will keep you safe from any foreign objects that might hurt you in the water.

NAVY BLUE rash guard

NEON GREEN rash guard

And from the name itself, rash guard, it is easy to understand why these suits were ever invented. Not only from the heat of the sun but there are some things n the water which can totally give swimmers rashes. Some beaches may have jelly fishes or see weeds floating. Although not all are itchy, it would be safer to have your whole self protected against these water inhabitants so as not to spoil your vacation.

As I prepare for the great beach bash, I procured rash guards for my family. And since they are quite conservative, both of them chose to buy something long. I bought their suits online and delivery is in perfect timing. The suits came in four pieces:
                      a. a long sleeved zippered shirt,
                      b. long pants or (long leggings for the other), 
                      c. an underwear, and 
                      d. a swimming brassier 
for the good price. I've chosen those shirts with zippers to be able to have them removed easily. I also think these are the styles seldom found in shops and stores.

Although they are items sold internationally, the delivery was prompt and the price is just right for the quality, beauty and comfort. Great material, stylish look, price worth it!