Choosing the Right Material: A Training Course in Concrete, Steel, Asphalt and Advanced Construction Materials
1Summary
A structure's durability, cost and maintenance burden are largely decided before construction even starts — in the choice of materials. This Construction Materials Engineering training course examines concrete, steel, asphalt, polymers and composites side by side, giving participants a practical basis for comparing properties, testing performance, and choosing materials that hold up under real service conditions across buildings, roads, bridges and civil infrastructure.
This Construction and Civil Engineering Training course is designed within the Engineering Maintenance and Operation category. It covers material characterization, metallurgy, concrete technology, steel performance, asphalt engineering, advanced material applications, material deterioration, quality control, and lifecycle performance. Participants learn how material properties influence structural performance, construction quality, durability, maintenance, and engineering decision-making.
2Objectives and target group
- Understand the physical, mechanical, chemical and durability properties that govern material selection.
- Evaluate concrete constituents, mix behaviour and common defects.
- Understand steel properties, fabrication, corrosion mechanisms and the metallurgy behind them.
- Examine asphalt composition, production and pavement applications.
- Understand the characteristics and construction applications of polymers, composites and other advanced materials.
- Apply material testing and quality control procedures across concrete, steel and asphalt.
- Identify common causes of material deterioration and investigate performance failures.
- Apply material selection principles based on cost, durability and lifecycle performance.
- Support maintenance and engineering decision-making through effective materials evaluation.
Target Audience
- Civil, structural and materials engineers
- Construction and site engineers
- Road and pavement engineers
- Quality control and quality assurance professionals
- Construction project managers
- Infrastructure engineers
- Engineering maintenance and asset management professionals
- Technical consultants responsible for material selection and performance evaluation
3Course Content
Module 1: Material Choices Decide Durability, Cost and Safety
- Principles of Construction Materials engineering
- Material classification and characteristics
- Physical, mechanical and chemical properties
- Material selection criteria and specification requirements
- Construction material performance expectations
Module 2: Concrete: Constituents, Performance and Common Defects
- Concrete constituents and mix design principles
- Cement, aggregates and admixtures
- Fresh and hardened concrete properties
- Concrete strength, durability and testing methods
- Common concrete defects and deterioration
Module 3: Steel and Metallurgy: Properties, Fabrication and Corrosion
- Types and grades of construction steel
- Mechanical and physical properties, and structural applications
- Fundamentals of metallurgy, alloying and heat treatment
- Steel microstructure and performance
- Corrosion mechanisms, protection and maintenance requirements
Module 4: Asphalt and Pavement Materials
- Asphalt composition and bitumen properties
- Asphalt mixtures, aggregates and production
- Pavement material testing
- Temperature and load effects
- Asphalt deterioration, maintenance and rehabilitation
Module 5: Polymers, Composites and Advanced Materials
- Fundamentals of polymers and polymer-based construction products
- Sealants, coatings, membranes and insulation
- Fundamentals of composites and fibre-reinforced materials
- Fibre-reinforced polymer and advanced concrete applications
- Smart and high-performance materials for infrastructure
Module 6: Testing and Quality Control Across Materials
- Principles of material testing and sampling
- Mechanical and durability testing
- Concrete, steel and asphalt testing methods
- Standards, specifications and acceptance criteria
- Interpretation of test results
Module 7: Why Materials Fail: Deterioration and Failure Investigation
- Causes of construction material deterioration
- Environmental exposure, corrosion and chemical degradation
- Cracking, fatigue and material failure
- Material defects and construction-related failures
- Failure investigation, diagnosis and preventive measures
Module 8: Selecting Materials for Lifecycle Performance and Maintenance
- Engineering criteria for material selection
- Cost, durability, compatibility and performance considerations
- Lifecycle performance of Construction Materials
- Maintenance, replacement and sustainable material selection
- Integrating material decisions into engineering maintenance and operation