Construction Materials and Techniques for Building Animal Shelters

Posted on Oct 24, 2024 in Geology

Construction Materials

Natural Materials

• Stone
• Sand
• Gravel
• Clay
• Wood

Composite Materials

• Adobe
• Brick
• Mortar
• Concrete
• Reinforced Concrete

Material Properties and Characteristics

Stone

Very compact structure, hard, tough, heavy. Can be used as a building material.

Gravel

Compact structure, hard, not very heavy (weighing 1500-1700 kg/m³), permeable. Not typically used as a standalone building material, but as a component of concrete.

Sand

Compact structure, hard, not very heavy (weighing 1500-1700 kg/m³), permeable. Not typically used as a standalone building material, but as a component of concrete and mortar.

Clay and Silt

Unstable porous structure, low hardness, not very heavy, waterproof. Combined with water and binders, it produces ceramics and bricks.

Wood

Non-compact, variable hardness, can be shaped, lightweight, swells with water, vulnerable to fire.

Composite Materials Explained

Composites are formed by mixing two or more materials to create a material with improved qualities.

Adobe

Made from clay, sand, and water, uncooked. Very compact but weak, low hardness, relatively lightweight, fire-resistant, but susceptible to water damage. Used for walls.

Brick

Made from clay, sand, and water, fired. Compact, relatively strong, relatively hard, relatively lightweight, and fire-resistant. Manufacturing process involves kneading and molding.

Mortar

Made from sand, lime, and cement. Relatively strong, compact structure, not hard, relatively lightweight, fire-resistant, and weather-resistant. Used as a binder for walls.

Concrete

Made from gravel, sand, and cement. Compact, hard, heavy, fire-resistant, and somewhat weather-resistant. Used for slabs and walls.

Reinforced Concrete

Made from steel, sand, gravel, and cement. Compact and strong, hard, heavy, fire-resistant, highly resistant to compression, and weather-resistant. Used for columns.

Construction Technology

Construction involves a defined set of tasks to complete a project with relative precision in work plans and costs.

Construction Tasks

• Preliminary work
• Excavations
• Foundations and footings
• Masonry (walls)
• Elevations, floors, and subfloors
• Roofs
• Fill and compaction

Preliminary Work

Includes reconnaissance, installation tasks, weeding, redesign, and layout.

Excavations

Involves digging for leveling the ground.

Foundations and Footings

Applying foundation footings and formwork.

Masonry

Placement of bricks, adobe, stone, or concrete for walls.

Elevations, Floors, and Subfloors

Using columns (brick, concrete, wood), concrete beams, wood beams, and stone.

Agricultural Shed Construction

Includes a door, earth wall, roof poles, and straw. Considers protection from sun and rain, using wood and straw for the roof. Adequate size to avoid overcrowding (e.g., 1m² for a sheep, 5-6m² for a cow).

Importance of Sheds

Protects animals from wild beasts, wind, sun, rain, and disease.

Animal Production

Good results require animal health and welfare management, including hygiene, diet, and climate.

Animal Housing

Considerations include construction type, size, ventilation, lighting, water, and sanitation.

Bill of Materials