My civil engineering experience

3 4 5 METHOD USED IN SETTING OUT The 3 4 5 method is an accurate method use in Ge tting the Exact Square of a Plan instead of Using the Engineering Square which may not be accurate for a Longer Span.   The 3 4 5 method is an application of the Pythagoras Theorem. i.e Forming right Angle. Most times, 2 or 3 people are involved in this.  3 meters is Measure from the Parallel Line created, then 4 Meter Away from the First point forming a Right Angle, you use your Measuring tape to Confirm the distance between the 3m point noted at the parallel line and the 4m noted at the other line is 5m. Note that your Parallel line remains The same, you only shift the other line to form the right Angle.

 SETTING OUT A Case Study-Setting Out Setting out is the process of developing the physical positions of corners and walls of a building, and it’s done by transferring dimensions from the layout plan.  Setting out clearly defines the outline of the excavations and the centerline of the walls so that the construction can be carried out according to the plan. A building is set out in order to accurately define the outline and width of the excavation and to determine the centerline of the proposed building walls so that construction according to the building professionals drawing (the architectural plan) plan can be transferred into the ground, this building process is called setting out of the building.  The centerline method of setting out is generally preferred and adopted.  Draw the centreline of a given plan and delete unwanted items.  Take a copy of the centreline drawing plan and taking offset of outer walls (offset distance 6cm) Taking offset 22.5cm for base

Concrete Floor Slab Construction Process Assemble and Erect Formwork Prepare and Place Reinforcement Pour, Compact and Finish Concrete Curing Concrete and Remove Formwork 1st stage of formwork 2nd stage of formwork The formwork shall be designed to withstand construction loads such as fresh concrete pressure and weight of workers and operators and their machines. Moreover, there are various construction aspects that need to be considered during the erection of formworks. For example, it should be positioned correctly, lined and leveled, joints sealed adequately, and prevent protruding of nails into the concrete, etc. Furthermore, different materials such as wood , steel, and aluminum can be used for the formworks of the concrete floor slab.  Prior to the placement of reinforcement for concrete floor slab construction, inspect and check forms to confirm that the dimensions and the location of the concrete members conform to the structural plans. Added to that, the

How To Improve Our Soft Skill Soft skills  are a combination of people skills, social skills, communication skills, character or personality traits,  attitudes, career attributes,  social intelligence,  and emotional intelligence  quotients, among others, that enable people to navigate their environment, work well with others, perform well, and achieve their goals with complementing hard skills. I had a chance to attend a class on soft skills taken by Mrs. Beena Vas during my DCM training at Marine Drive. She took classes by conducting group activities related to communication skills. She suggested some of her views for improving our language and confidence for communication. Soft skills for business executives Communication – oral speaking capability, written, presenting, listening, clear speech & writing. Courtesy – manners, etiquette, business etiquette, gracious, says please and thank you, respectful. Flexibility – adaptability, willing to change, lifelong learner, a

Crank Bar in  slab The slab is supported at two ends. The maximum tensile stress that is positive moments (sagging) acting in the middle of the slab and the maximum compressive stress that is negative moments (hogging) acting at both ends of the support. So bottom steel is required at the mid-span and top steel resists negative moments at the supports. A bent-up bar called a  crank bar  is provided to make RCC slab safe from compressive stresses. So crank bars are generally provided 1. To resist the negative bending moment (hogging). 2. To  resist shear force which is greater at supports. 3. To reduce the risk of brittle failure of slab-column connection. 4. To reduce the amount of steel used. 5. For the economization of materials.

Importance  of  Curing Curing plays an important role in strength development and durability of concrete. Curing takes place immediately after concrete placing and finishing, and involves maintenance of desired moisture and temperature conditions, both at depth and near the surface, for extended periods of time.  Curing is the process of controlling moisture loss from concrete that has already been placed. Curing ensures hydration of the cement, which in turn enhances it, s strength and durability. Curing takes place immediately after placing the concrete and deals with maintenance of the desired temperature and moisture for extended periods of time.  Properly cured concrete has an adequate amount of moisture for continued hydration and development of strength, volume stability, resistance to freezing and thawing, and abrasion and scaling resistance. The length of adequate curing time is dependent on the following factors: Mixture proportions Specified strength Size and shap

Why pile chipping is required before the pile cap works? Piles are casted with high slump concrete, during the concreting of piles, there is a chance that fines from concrete might accumulate at the top and also if there is any slush in the bored pile, it will also come up during concrete. So the concreting of pile is basically overflowed to take out all impurities. After casting of the piles, the top portion of the pile is chipped out till the pile cap or beam bottom level.

     Why pile caps are required in multi-storeyed buildings? A  foundation  is described as 'piled' when its depth is more than three times its breadth. Pile foundations  are principally used to transfer the  loads  from  superstructures , through weak, compressible strata or  water  onto stronger, more compact, less compressible and stiffer  soil  or  rock  at depth, increasing the effective size of a  foundation  and resisting  horizontal loads . They are typically used for large  structures , and in situations where the  soil  is not suitable to prevent excessive  settlement . A pile cap is a thick concrete mat that rests on concrete or timber piles that have been driven into the soft or unstable ground to provide a suitable stable foundation. It usually forms part of the foundation of a building, typically a multi-story building, structure or support base for heavy equipment. Piles  can be used individually, or they can be grouped together and linked by a  re