KNS1042 Civil Engineering Materials Assignment 1 Brief 2025

KNS1042 BRIEF ON ASSIGNMENT 1 (100%)

The construction industry nowadays is increasingly seeking innovative solutions to improve sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of materials used in concrete production, aligning with global efforts to achieve zero carbon and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One such alternative is the use of ceramic tiles as a partial replacement for conventional coarse aggregates in concrete mixes. Ceramic waste, as shown in Figure 1(a), is a byproduct of the construction and demolition industry, and its disposal often presents significant environmental challenges. This case study explores the potential of ceramic tiles as a sustainable material in concrete production. It examines how varying the percentage of ceramic tile replacement affects the compressive strength and overall performance of concrete, which is critical for various civil engineering applications, such as road construction, pavements and low-cost housing projects.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) has consulted you to propose a new initiative to utilize ceramic tiles from the construction waste of the recently built Hospital Pengajar UNIMAS, as shown in Figure 1(b). Instead of discarding the unused ceramic tiles, UNIMAS envisions them as a potential replacement for coarse aggregates in concrete production for future building projects. In this assignment, your group are tasked with designing concrete mixes using ceramic tiles as a substitute for conventional coarse aggregates. Using the Design of Experiment (DOE) method, you will be forecasting the optimal mix proportions for concrete that meets its appropriate target strength, while considering various replacement levels of ceramic tiles (10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%). Before conducting any experimental tests, you are required to propose your mix design to UNIMAS, presenting all relevant justifications and calculations.

Course Learning Outcome:

After completing this task, student will be able to:

CLO2: Develop concrete mix design based on typical environmental condition (PLO2, C6).

KNS1042 Group Tasks:

KNS1042 REPORT GUIDELINES

A full report must be submitted before the end of Week 13 (due date: 12 January 2025). A deduction of 10% of the total marks will be applied for each day the submission is late. Prepare your report following the format outlined below:
Cover page (given at the front page of this assignment briefing)

• Full report of task (1)
• Complete calculations for tasks (ii), (iii) and (iv)
• Discussion and conclusion of task (v)
• References (if any)
• Appendix (if any)