2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Undergraduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering
Building Materials and Construction
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Yutaka Yokoyama / Shintaro Fukuda
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- ARC.S204
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course lectures basic characteristics and usage of structural materials such as concrete, wood and steel, as well as the principle and properties of typical structures built with these materials. This course explains basic relations between structural materials, their compositions and the climate or life style in the region of building location.This course also lectures micro structure and composition of the materials, mechanical properties and other basic characteristics such as fire resistance, durability and workability of the materials, in connection with the requirements for structural materials.
In designing of architecture, appropriate selection of materials and their compositions is essential. The aim of this course is to provide necessary knowledge on structural materials and their compositions, for designing building structures which match well with users' demand.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain types, principles, properties and construction methods of major building structures.
2) Explain basic relations between structural materials, their compositions and the climate or life style in the region of building location.
3) Explain basic requirements for structural materials used in major building structures.
4) Explain micro structure and composition of the materials, mechanical properties and other basic characteristics such as fire resistance, durability and workability of the materials.
5) Explain the characteristics of major structural materials, in connection with the properties of building structures.
Keywords
reinforced concrete structure, wooden structure, steel structure, masonry structure, membrane structure, monolithic construction, framework construction, seismic resistance, fire resistance, weather resistance, durability, workability, environmental friendliness and sustainability
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Students are recommended to read the relevant chapter of the textbook before coming to class. Check the required learning for each class and be sure to complete it as part of review. In class, students are occasionally asked to solve exercise problems.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Structural materials for reinforced concrete (RC) structure - Principles and properties of RC structure | Explain types, mechanical properties, fire resistance, durability of RC structure. |
| Class 2 | Construction method of RC structure buildings. Requirements and characteristics of reinforcing steel bars | Explain construction method of RC structure buildings. Explain types and characteristics of reinforcing steel bars. |
| Class 3 | Materials, composition and micro structure of concrete | Explain types of constituent materials, and the principle of composition of concrete. |
| Class 4 | Requirement and general knowledge of concrete at construction works | Explain requirement and general knowledge of concrete at construction works. |
| Class 5 | Requirement and general knowledge of concrete as a structural material | Explain requirement and general knowledge of concrete as a structural material. |
| Class 6 | Mixture design of concrete | Understand design method of well-matched concrete to users' demand. |
| Class 7 | Key points at construction works of concrete, typical possible defects at the works, and durability of RC structure | Explain key points at construction works of concrete, typical possible defects at the works, and durability of RC structure. |
| Class 8 | Materials for wooden structure - Principles and properties of wooden structure | Explain types, mechanical properties and fire resistance of wooden structure. |
| Class 9 | Requirement and general knowledge of wooden materials | Explain types, manufacturing method, and characteristics of wooden materials. |
| Class 10 | Durability of wooden structure | Explain deterioration process of wooden materials, and durability of wooden structure. |
| Class 11 | Materials for steel structure - Principles and properties of steel structure | Explain types, mechanical properties and fire resistance of steel structure. |
| Class 12 | Requirement and general knowledge of steel materials | Explain types, manufacturing method, and characteristics of steel materials. |
| Class 13 | Deability of steel structure | Explain deterioration process of steel materials, and durability of steel structure. |
| Class 14 | Materials for masonry and membrane structure | Explain types, principles and properties of masonry and membrane structure. Explain mechanical properties, fire resistance, and durability of masonry and membrane materials. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Yokoyama Yutaka, Mikami Takamasa, Tanaka Kyoji: New Building Materials, Vol. 1, Structural Materials, Suurikougaku-sha, ISBN978-4-86481-071-5
(Japanese)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Architectural Institute of Japan: Textbook for Learning Building Materials, ISBN 4-8189-2229-7
(Japanese)
Evaluation methods and criteria
exercise problems and final exams
Related courses
- Finishing Building Materials and Construction
Prerequisites
No requirement in advance