ALI2173: Rural Construction

Welcome Message

Dear Students,

You are welcome to the module ALI2173 Rural Construction.

1.1. Overview of Objectives and Content

This module includes three units: Construction Materials, Soil Mechanics & Foundations, and Construction Technology. Students completing this module will gain a thorough understanding of various construction materials, their properties and uses, different construction methods for various types of buildings, and the physical properties of soil.

1.2. Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:

1. Identify and Evaluate Construction Materials: Students will be able to identify various construction materials, understand their properties, and evaluate their suitability for different construction projects.

2. Analyze Soil Properties for Foundation Design: Students will gain the ability to analyze the physical properties of soils and apply this knowledge to design appropriate foundations for various types of buildings.

3. Apply Construction Techniques: Students will demonstrate proficiency in applying different construction techniques for various building types, ensuring structural integrity and compliance with industry standards.

4. Integrate Sustainable Practices: Students will be able to integrate sustainable practices into construction projects, considering environmental impact and resource efficiency in the selection of materials and construction methods.

3. Indicative content

Construction Materials (Theory): Wood. Source of timber, Classification of timber. and their mechanical properties. Sand- Stones-sources, rocks. Classification of stones, stone quarry. Qualities of good building stones and their testing. Bricks-manufacturing, classification, characteristics of good bricks. Iron and steel-manufacturing process. Composition and source of iron ore. Wrought iron, steel. Characteristics and use of steel. Preservation of iron and steel. Cement-manufacturing. Characteristics of cement, concrete and mortars. Plaster and paints.

Practical:  -    To show different building materials and their use in farm infrastructures.

-          Test the qualities of good bricks.

-          Visit of stone quarry.

 Building construction (Theory): Introduction- Soil testing and suitability for building construction. Type of buildings-components of building. Concrete and RCC, Stone masonry-Materials for stone masonry. Classification of stone masonry - Tools and implements for stone dressing. Type of bricks masonry. Supervision of brick works. Type of foundations, types of walls. Lintel and arches-classification. Beams and columns, flooring. Door and windows, stairs. Roof and roof covering. Plastering. Paints and painting. Aesthetic aspect of building.

Practical: Making cement mortor, cement concrete, RCC, brick and stone masonry .

                : Visit of carpentry units making window, doors.

               : Visit of brick kilns, dams and building sites etc.

Engineering drawing (Theory): Design and Drawing – Introduction. Definitions – scope and applications, Scale – Definition – Type of scale – Scale selection – use of scales, Plane figures. Types and names. Geometric properties. Geometric constructions – straight lines – perpendicular – parallel lines. Tangents, Circles and polygons. Inscription – Circumscription, Reference planes – Cartesian planes - auxiliary planes. Orthographic projections – projection of points – lines – planes and solids, Concept of plan – elevation and sections. Three-dimension drawings.

Practical: Exercise on Design and Drawing,  Use of scales in class room exercise, Drawing plane figures, Geometric constructions-Straight lines-Perpendicular lines-Parallel lines -  Tangents, Circles and polygons - Inscription -   Circumscription, Reference planes - Cartesian planes  - Auxiliary planes, Orthographic projections   - Projection of points –   Lines -   Planes and solids, Concept of plan - Plan and Elevation -  sectional views, Three dimension drawings.

5.      Learning and teaching strategy

• Class lectures are used to impact essential knowledge relating to desired aims and out comes,
• Student centered approach is insured whereby most activities will done by the students and the lecturer acting as a promoter, facilitator and referee,
• Group tasks completion and feedback,
• Group discussions on topical issues,
• Practical sessions on field to ensure skill development.

6. Assessment Strategy

The assessment is done through:

• Continuous assessment tests (CAT)
• Group presentations and debates
• Reports on practical exercises from laboratory and field work
• Final examination

7.  Strategy for feedback and student support during module

The teaching team will be available to students for consultation,

• Analyse the results of continuous tests to find out problems and understanding difficulties to solve them,
• Group exercises to develop team spirit and active participation,
• Referencing books to help them to have in-depth understanding on the particular aspect of the modules,
• Laboratory and Field practical will be administered to enhance skills,
• Revision/ model questions.

8. Indicative resources

Physical resources

1. Farm infrastructures
2. Different building materials and their uses;
3. Fabrication of small objects
4. Visit of carpentry and blacksmith workshop.
5. Laptop,
6. Projector
7. Mini-drafter
8. Drawing board.

Books

1. Building construction B.C. Punmia, Ashok Kumar Jain and Arun Kumar Jain
2. Construction technology Roy Choudhari
3. Construction technology  Madan Mehta
4. Building construction, Sushil Kumar, 2003
5. Rural Building Reference book, Stichting Kongregate, 1986
6. Civil engineering Drawing, Gurcharan Singh, 2004

           And other relevant books of renowned authors will be added

      Websites for further reference

1. CAVM, Nyagatare library collections
2. Civil Engineering websites