Building Materials and Construction Flashcards
6 cards from real Architecture practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Building Materials and Construction flashcards as text
Which masonry bond pattern is considered the strongest for loadbearing walls?
Answer: English bond
English bond, with alternating courses of headers and stretchers, provides superior interlocking and is among the strongest masonry patterns.
What is the purpose of a weep hole in masonry cavity walls?
Answer: Draining water from the cavity
Weep holes are small openings at the base of masonry cavity walls that allow any infiltrated water to drain out and prevent moisture buildup.
What is the difference between tempered glass and laminated glass?
Answer: Tempered is heat-treated; laminated has an interlayer holding shards together
Tempered glass is thermally or chemically strengthened and shatters into small pebbles; laminated glass has a PVB interlayer that holds fragments together if broken.
Concrete with a water-to-cement ratio below 0.40 is generally considered:
Answer: High-strength and low permeability
A low water-to-cement ratio produces a denser concrete matrix with higher compressive strength and reduced permeability.
Which roofing material offers the longest expected service life in US climate zones?
Answer: Slate
Natural slate roofing can last 75–150 years when properly installed, far exceeding most other roofing materials in service life.
What is the primary structural advantage of post-tensioned concrete over conventionally reinforced concrete?
Answer: Reduced slab thickness for the same span
Post-tensioning applies compressive stress to concrete slabs, allowing thinner slabs to span greater distances than conventional reinforcement.