Civil Engineering Materials Testing Laboratories

The Civil Engineering Department at the University of New Mexico has three well-equipped laboratories in which the physical and mechanical properties of Civil Engineering Materials are evaluated.

These three laboratories include:

• The mechanics of materials laboratory where students test the behavior of metals (steel & aluminum) and timber.
• The concrete laboratory where students evaluate concrete aggregates, portland cement and portland cement concrete (PCC).
• The bituminous laboratory where students test asphalt binders and hot mix asphalt (HMA).

These web pages describe these laboratories, equipment, and the important test methods that help civil engineering students understand the behavior and properties of these fundamental Civil Engineering Materials. Photographs and videos are included to aid the student in better preparation for the laboratories that are part of the UNM course CE 305L, Civil Engineering Materials. Downloadable Test Procedures and Test Forms are also included for the student in preparation for laboratory exercises.

Ms. Sarah Shannon, as part of an Honors Course Project, prepared these web pages during the Spring Semester 2004. She took CE 305L in the Fall Semester of 2003. Ms. Shannon obtained much of the experimental data presented herein when she took CE 305L. Great appreciation is extended to Sarah for her time, dedication, and effort in preparing these web pages. Acknowledgements to Jerome Aigner, Michael Prudhomme, and Stephen Mahnke, former CE 305L students, for their contributed photos. Special thanks to Tommy and Kenny for their constant laboratory vigilance and dedication.