The properties of building materials

Materials that are used for structural purposes should meet several requirements. In most cases it is important that they should be hard, durable, fire-resistant and easily fastened together.

The most commonly used materials are steel, concrete, stone, wood and brick. They differ in hardness, durability and fire-resistance.

Wood is the most ancient structural material. It is light, cheap and easy to work. But wood has certain disadvantages: it burns and decays.

Stone belongs to one of the oldest building materials used by man. It is characteristic of many properties. They are mechanical strength, compactness, porosity, sound and heat insulation and fire-resistance.

Bricks were known many thousand years ago. They are the example of artificial building material.

Concrete is referred to as one of the most important building materials. Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, crushed stone and water.

Steel has come into general use with the development of industry. Its manufacture requires special equipment and skilled labour.

Plastics combine all the fine characteristics of a building material with good insulating properties. It is no wonder that the architects and engineers have turned to them to add beauty to modern homes and offices.

All building materials are divided into three main groups: 1) main building materials such as rocks and artificial stones, timber and metals. 2) binding materials such as lime, gypsum and cement. 3) secondary or auxiliary materials which are used for the interior parts of the buildings.

We use many building materials for bearing instruments. Binding materials are used for making artificial stone and for joining different planes. For the interior finish of the building we use secondary materials.

Natural building materials are stone, sand, lime and timber. Cement, clay products and concrete are examples of artificial building materials.

Ex.1. Define parts of speech of the following words and translate them into Russian:

structural, requirement, durable, commonly, hardness, mechanical, insulation, important, development, bearing, different.

Ex.2. Find synonyms in the text for the following words:

aim, to vary, old, to decompose, characteristics, man-made, significant, to unite, additional, power.

Ex.3. Complete the sentences with the words given below:

1 … is the most ancient structural material. 2. Wood burns and … . 3. … were known many thousands of years ago. 4.Manufacture of steel requires special … and … . 5.Plastics combine all the fine characteristics of auxiliary building material with good … . 6.Auxiliary materials are used for the … . 7.Timber is an example of … . 8.Concrete and cement are examples of … .

equipment, insulating properties, artificial building materials, wood, skilled labour, natural building, material, decays, interior parts of the building, bricks.

Ex.4. Answer the questions.

1. What are the properties of the building materials?

2. What are the most commonly used building materials?

3. Do building materials differ from each other?

4. What can you say about the most ancient building materials?

5. What can you say about bricks?

6. Is concrete an artificial or natural building material?

7. Into what groups do we divide building materials?

8. Can you give an example of a building material?

9. What artificial building materials do you know?

10. What natural building materials do you know?

Ex.5. Read, memorize and perform the dialogues in pairs:

I.– Plastics have appeared comparatively recently, haven’t they?

– - It goes without saying that they have.

– Have they found a wide application in building?

– Yes, but not only in building. They have found a wide application in many industrial fields.

– How interesting! I am sure it’s because of their inherent valuable and diverse properties. Don’t you think so?

–You are quite right. Plastics possess valuable and diverse properties.

II. – How are plastics divided in respect to their properties?

– They are divided into rigid, semi-rigid, soft and plastic.

– And in respect to the number of constituents?

– You see, in respect to the number of constituents they may be classified as simple and complex.

Unit 3

Read the words and learn them.

1. in comparison to [kəm′pæris(ə)n] - по сравнению

2. unsuitable [ ٨n′sju:təb(ə)l] – непригодный

3. enormous [i′n :məs] – огромный

4. to derive [di′raiv] – получать

5. softwood – мягкая древесина

6. hardwood – твёрдая древесина

7. panelling [′pænəliŋ] - панельная обшивка

8. veneering [vi′niəriŋ] – обшивка фанерой (кирпичом, шпоном)

9. durability – прочность, надежность

10. wallplate – стенная балка

11. sap – сок

12. resilience [ri′ziliəns] – упругость, эластичность

Read and translate the text.

TIMBER

Timber is the most ancient structural material. In comparison with steel timber is lighter, cheaper, easier to work and its mechanical properties are good. On the other hand, timber has certain disadvantages. First, it burns and is therefore unsuitable for fireproof buildings. Second, it decays.

At present an enormous amount of timber is employed for a vast number of purposes. In building timber is used too.

Timber is a name applied to the cut material derived from trees. Timber used for building purposes is divided into two groups: softwoods and hardwoods. Hardwoods are chiefly used for decorative purposes, as for panelling, veneering in furniture, and some of them are selected for structural use because of their high strength and durability. In modern construction timber is often used for window and door frames, flooring, fences and wallplates, for temporary buildings and unpainted internal woodwork.

Timber cannot be used for either carpenters’ or joiners’ work immediately it has been felled because of the large amount of sap which it contains. Most of this moisture must be removed, otherwise the timber will shrink excessively, causing defects in the work and a tendency to decay. Elimination of moisture increases the strength, durability and resilience of timber.

Ex.1. Give Russian equivalents for the English words and word combinations:

on the other hand, at present, chiefly, because of, strength, often, temporary, either … or, most of, otherwise, excessively.

Ex.2.Complete the sentences using the English equivalents for the Russian words and word-combinations in brackets:

1. (По сравнению со) steel timber is lighter. 2.On the other hand, timber has certain ( недостатки) .3.Timber burns and is therefore (непригодна) for fireproof buildings. 4.Timber is employed for a number of (целей). 5.Timber used for building purposes (делится на) two groups. 6.Hardwoods are chiefly used ( с целью украшения).7.Timber contains a large amount of (сока). 8.Elimination of (влаги) increases (крепость, прочнось и эластичность) of timber.

Ex.3. Rearrange the words so as to make up sentences:

1. good, its, mechanical, are, properties.

2. year, of, the, percentage, people, the, in, living, cities, to, continues, grow, year, to, from.

3. changes, taken, profound, the, nature, in, development, city, of, have, place.

Ex.4. Answer the questions:

1. Is timber a very ancient structural material?

2. What are the advantages of timber in comparison with steel?

3. What are the disadvantages of timber in comparison with steel?

4. Into what groups is timber, used for building purposes, divided?

5. For what purposes are hardwoods chiefly used?

6. For what purposes is timber often used in modern construction?

7. What increases the strength, durability and resistance of timber?

Unit 4

Read the words and learn them:

1. medieval [,medi′i:v(ə)l] – средневековый

2. Renaissance [ri′næsəns] – возрождение

3. to erect – сооружать, воздвигать

4. stone masonry [′meisənri] – каменная кладка

5. scarcity [skeəsiti] – нехватка, дефицит

6. granite [′grænit] – гранит

7. basement – основа, фундамент

8. sandstone – песчаник

9. quarts [kw :ts] – кварц

10. sill – подоконник

11. aggregate – заполнитель

12. marble [ma:b(ə)l] – мрамор

Read and translate the text.

STONE

Stone has been used as a structural material since the earliest days. Almost all famous buildings of classic times of the medieval and Renaissance periods and of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were erected of stone. The art of making any structure in stone is called stone masonry. In some places stone was used because of its durability.

The stone which are usually used for masonry work are as follows: 1. Granite. Granite is very hard, strong and durable. It is used particularly for basements, base courses, columns and steps and for the entire facades. Its colour may be grey, yellow, pink or deep red. 2. Sandstone. Sandstone is composed of grains of sand or quarts cemented together. Sandstones form one of the most valuable materials. The durability of sandstones depends very largely upon the cementing material. Thus there are different kinds of sandstones. Many sandstones are exceptionally hard and are selected for steps, sills, etc. It is an excellent material for concrete aggregate. 3.Marble. Marble is a crystalline stone chiefly used for decorative purposes. White and black marbles are used for ornamental decoration where the beauty of the marble is shown to its best advantage.

Ex.1. Find synonyms in the text for the following words:

famous, structure, due to, lack, normally, foundation, whole, type, to choose, mainly, aim.

Ex.2. Complete the following sentences using English equivalents instead of Russian words and word-combinations:

1. Stone has been used as a structural material since (древних времён). 2.The art of making any structure in stone is called (каменная кладка). 3.Granite is used particularly for (фундаментов, колонн, ступеней и т.д). 4.Sandstone is composed of (зёрен песка и кварца). 5.Sandstone is an excellent material for (заполнителя бетона). 6.Sandstones form one of the most (ценных материалов). 7.Marbles are chiefly used for (декоративных целей).

Ex.3. Find the English equivalents for the following words and expressions:

строительный материал, сооружать здания, период возрождения, каменная кладка, нехватка древесины, использовать камень, прочность, фундамент, ступени, фасад, цементировать, зависеть от, крайне твёрдый песчаник, бетонный заполнитель, для декоративных целей.

Ex.4. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. Камень добывают в карьерах. 2.Камни отбирают с большим количеством пор. 3.Камни покрывают специальными защитными средствами.4.Камень разрушается в результате покраски.

Ex.5. Answer the questions:

1. Do you know that stone has been used as a structural material since the earliest days?

2. What is called stone masonry?

3. Why did people begin to use stone?

4. Can you name the stones used for masonry work?

5. Granite is usually used in construction, isn’t it?

6. Does granite possess any special properties?

7. Can you say what these properties are?

8. What does the durability of sandstone depend upon?

9. Why are many sandstones selected for steps, sills, etc.?

10. Where is marble chiefly used?

Unit 5

Read the words and learn them:

1. ferrous [′ferəs] – чёрный ( металл)

2. non-ferrous - цветной ( металл)

3. iron [′aiən] – железо

4. alloy [æ′l i] – сплав

5. to possess – владеть

6. lustre [′l٨stə] – глянец, блеск

7. to forge [′f :dз] – ковать

8. mercury [′mз:kjυri] – ртуть

9. to melt – плавить(ся)

10. cast iron – чугун

11. to refer to – относиться к …

12. to support – поддерживать

13. to impose upon – налагать, навязывать

14. partition [pa:′ti∫(ə)n] – перегородка

15. reinforcement – укрепление, армирование

16. corrosion-resistant [kə′rəuз(ə)n]– устойчивый к коррозии

17. stainless – нержавеющий ( сталь)

18. cutlery [′k٨tləri] – столовые приборы

19. furnace [′fз:nis] - печь, горн

20. valve [vælv] – клапан

21. ball-bearing [b :l ′be(ə)riŋ] – шарикоподшипник

Read the text and translate it.