Construction Materials & Methods Flashcards
7 cards from real CMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Construction Materials & Methods flashcards as text
Which type of concrete admixture is used to reduce the water-cement ratio while maintaining workability?
Answer: Superplasticizer
Superplasticizers (high-range water reducers) significantly reduce water demand while maintaining or improving concrete workability.
What is the primary purpose of a vapor retarder placed below a concrete slab-on-grade?
Answer: To limit moisture migration from soil into the slab
A vapor retarder beneath a slab-on-grade prevents ground moisture from migrating upward through the concrete, protecting floor coverings and interior conditions.
Glulam (glued laminated timber) beams are manufactured using which bonding agent?
Answer: Phenol-resorcinol or melamine-urea formaldehyde adhesive
Glulam beams use structural adhesives such as phenol-resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF) or melamine-urea formaldehyde (MUF) to bond laminations.
In masonry construction, what does the term 'efflorescence' describe?
Answer: White salt deposits that migrate to the surface
Efflorescence is the white crystalline deposit formed when water-soluble salts migrate to the masonry surface and crystallize upon evaporation.
Which steel section shape provides the most efficient resistance to bending about its strong axis?
Answer: Wide-flange (W-shape) section
Wide-flange sections concentrate material in the flanges, maximizing the moment of inertia about the strong axis for efficient bending resistance.
What is the principal advantage of using insulated concrete forms (ICF) in residential construction?
Answer: They provide integrated formwork and continuous thermal insulation
ICF systems serve as stay-in-place formwork while providing continuous rigid foam insulation on both faces of the concrete wall.
Which roofing membrane system relies on the weight of ballast to resist wind uplift rather than adhesive or mechanical fasteners?
Answer: Ballasted single-ply system
Ballasted single-ply roofing systems use river-washed stone or concrete pavers to hold the membrane in place against wind uplift forces.