Reg 361 Essential Exam Notes PDF

Got it! Here’s a meaningful, easy-to-understand breakdown of the key points in REG 361 that will help you score well without needing to memorize too much. REG 361: Essential Exam Notes (Focus on understanding, not memorizing!) 1. SOIL & ENGINEERING CHARACTERISTICS Why is soil important in constr...

Got it! Here’s a meaningful, easy-to-understand breakdown of the key points in REG 361 that will help you score well without needing to memorize too much. REG 361: Essential Exam Notes (Focus on understanding, not memorizing!) 1. SOIL & ENGINEERING CHARACTERISTICS Why is soil important in construction? Soil is the base of every structure. A weak base = cracks, sinking, or even collapse. Key Soil Types: Granular Soils (Sand & Gravel) – Strong, good for foundations. Fine-grained Soils (Silt & Clay) – Weak, shrinks when dry & expands when wet (bad for stability). Organic Soils (Peat, Organic Clay/Silt) – Worst type for construction (compresses & contains gases). What affects soil behavior? Particle size & shape (Large & angular = stronger) Water content (Too much = weak soil) Packing & density (More compact = stronger) 2. EARTHWORK & EXCAVATION What is Earthwork? Moving, cutting, and filling soil to prepare a site for construction. First step = Soil Investigation (tests soil strength & stability). Types of Excavation: Trenching – Long, narrow holes (for pipes, cables). Bulk Excavation – Large-scale soil removal (for basements, roads). Safety in Excavation: Shoring – Supports trench walls (prevents collapse). Sheet Piling – Metal/concrete sheets to hold soil in place. Sloping & Benching – Cutting soil at an angle to prevent landslides. 3. SOIL COMPACTION (Super important for strong foundations!) What is compaction? Pressing soil to remove air & increase strength. Why? Prevents sinking, cracking, and increases soil strength. Best Equipment: Sheepsfoot Roller – Best for clay. Vibratory Roller – Best for sand/gravel. Tamping Rammer – Small areas. Common Problems: Over-compaction – Can break soil structure. Under-compaction – Can cause settlement (building sinks). 4. CONCRETE BASICS (The main material used in buildings!) What is Concrete Made Of? Cement + Water + Sand + Gravel More water = weaker concrete! Important Properties: Strength – Measured in MPa (Higher MPa = stronger). Workability – How easy it is to mix & place. Too dry = Hard to work with.  Too wet = Weak structure. Curing (Super Important!) What is it? Keeping concrete wet to let it gain strength. Best Methods: Water curing – Sprinkling water. Plastic sheeting – Covers to trap moisture. 5. FOUNDATIONS (Shallow vs. Deep) (Think of a foundation like a tree root: weak roots = tree falls!) Shallow Foundations (For light structures, firm soil close to surface) Types: Strip Foundation – Long, narrow concrete strip. Raft Foundation – Large slab, spreads weight (best for weak soil). Deep Foundations (For tall buildings, weak surface soil) Types: Pile Foundation – Long columns (wood, steel, concrete) driven deep into the ground. Caisson Foundation – Large, hollow structures sunk into deep soil. Pier Foundation – Short, thick columns (for bridges & heavy loads). When to Use Deep Foundations? When the soil near the surface can’t handle the building’s weight. When the groundwater table is too high. 6. SITE INVESTIGATION & SOIL ANALYSIS Why is this important? Prevents foundation failures by testing the soil before construction. Key Tests:  1. Soil Boring – Drilling into soil to check layers. 2. Penetration Test – Measures how deep a metal rod can go (harder soil = stronger). 3. Moisture Content Test – Checks how much water is in the soil. HOW TO SCORE WELL? 1. Understand the WHY: Don’t just memorize—think of real-life examples (buildings cracking, roads sinking). 2. Focus on keywords: (Granular = strong, Clay = weak, Compaction = prevents sinking, Curing = strengthens concrete). 3. Look at diagrams & flowcharts – Many questions are based on visual understanding. 4. Use logic in multiple-choice questions – If something sounds unsafe or weak, it’s probably wrong! This is all you need to score well! Keep it simple, focus on understanding, and you’ll be fine. Good luck! 7. EXCAVATION & TRENCH SAFETY (One of the biggest risks in construction is excavation collapse!) Excavation Basics Excavation: Removing soil/rock to create foundations, tunnels, roads, etc. Trenching: Narrow excavations, usually deeper than they are wide (e.g., for pipelines). Key Safety Measures Shoring: Supports trench walls to prevent collapse. Sloping: Cutting soil at an angle instead of straight down. Trench Boxes: Shields placed inside trenches to protect workers. Water Control: Pumping out groundwater prevents instability. Failure Risks & Causes Tension Cracks – Appear near trench edges, leading to collapse. Heaving & Bulging – Soil at the bottom is pushed up due to pressure. Sliding Failure – The entire soil mass moves due to instability. 8. CONCRETE WORKS & TESTING (Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension – that’s why we add steel reinforcement!) Important Concrete Properties Compressive Strength – How much weight it can bear before cracking. Workability – How easy it is to mix, place, and finish. Durability – Resistance to weather, chemicals, and wear. Testing Concrete Strength 1. Slump Test – Checks workability (too wet = bad, too dry = hard to place). 2. Compression Test – Measures strength (done after 7, 14, or 28 days).  3. Rebound Hammer Test – Quick test for surface hardness. Common Concrete Problems Segregation – Larger aggregates separate from the mix (weak structure). Bleeding – Water rises to the surface (weakens top layer). Honeycombing – Gaps inside concrete due to poor compaction. 9. FOUNDATION FAILURES & PREVENTION (A weak foundation = disaster! Buildings can sink, crack, or tilt.) Common Causes of Failure Poor soil conditions (weak, loose, or expanding clay). Excessive settlement (uneven sinking due to bad compaction). Water problems (erosion, water table changes, leaks). Overloading (building heavier than what the foundation can support). How to Prevent It? Proper Site Investigation – Test the soil before building! Use the Right Foundation – Shallow for firm soil, deep for weak soil. Drainage Systems – Prevent water from weakening the soil. 10. KEY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT (Machines make construction faster, safer, and more precise!) Excavation Equipment Backhoe Loader – Digs trenches, moves material. Excavator – Heavy-duty digging for large projects. Bulldozer – Pushes large amounts of soil. Compaction Equipment Sheepsfoot Roller – Best for clay soil.  Vibratory Roller – Best for sand and gravel. Tamping Rammer – Used in small spaces (trench work). Concrete Equipment Concrete Mixer – Mixes cement, sand, and gravel. Concrete Pump – Transfers concrete to high or hard-to-reach places. Vibrators – Removes air bubbles to ensure solid concrete. HOW TO APPROACH THE EXAM? MCQs & Theory Questions: Think logically – If something sounds unsafe, unstable, or weak, it’s probably wrong. Focus on keywords – (Compaction = strength, Water = instability, Clay = weak, Gravel = strong). Use real-life examples – Imagine a sinking road, cracked walls, or foundation collapse. Diagram-Based Questions: Understand Soil & Foundation Types – Be ready to identify different foundations. Safety Measures – Expect to label excavation safety methods (shoring, trench boxes, etc.). Equipment Identification – Be familiar with excavation, compaction, and concrete equipment. LAST-MINUTE REVISION CHECKLIST Soil Types & Their Strengths (Granular = strong, Clay = weak, Organic = worst) Importance of Soil Compaction (Prevents sinking & increases strength) Excavation Safety (Shoring, Sloping, Water Control) Concrete Basics (Mixing, Strength, Workability, Testing) Foundation Types (Shallow vs. Deep, When to Use Each) Construction Equipment (Excavators, Rollers, Concrete Mixers) FINAL TIP: THINK LIKE AN ENGINEER! If the soil is loose & weak, compact it. If the excavation is deep, support it (shoring, trench boxes). If the concrete is too wet or too dry, adjust it. If the foundation is on weak soil, go deeper (pile or caisson foundation). This is all you need to score well! Keep it simple, stay logical, and use common sense. You got this!