What is Cement?

Cement is a fine powder, which when mixed with water and allowed to set and harden, is capable of uniting fragments together to produce a mechanically strong material. Cement can be used as a binding material with water for bonding solid particles of different sizes like bricks, stones or aggregates to form a monolith.

Plate Load Test

Plate load test is a field test to determine the ultimate bearing capacity of soil. The test essentially consists in loading a rigid steel plate at the foundation level and determining the settlement corresponding to each load increments. The ultimate bearing capacity is then taken as the load at which the plate starts sinking at a rapid rate.

Abacus

1. The uppermost member of the capital of
a column; often a plain square slab, but sometimes
molded or otherwise enriched.

Introduction to Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like bridges, roads, canals, dams, and buildings. Civil engineering is the oldest engineering branch which is growing right from stone age civilization.