Materials Laboratory

Construction materials need to be evaluated in their physical and mechanical properties in order to guarantee reliability, quality and safety during the construction processes used in building and civil works. 

In this context, the Materials Laboratory seeks to provide the university community with an environment conducive to the development of academic work, teaching projects and scientific research work in this area. It also seeks to provide specialized technical support to the industry.

Tests
The Laboratory performs several types of tests such as: aggregates, concrete and masonry tests.

Tests on aggregates
Determination of moisture content of fine and coarse aggregates.
Granulometric analysis of fine and coarse aggregates.
Specific gravity and absorption of fine and coarse aggregates.
Loose and compacted unit weight of fine and coarse aggregates. 
Determination of material passing the 75 mm (No. 200) sieve.
Wear resistance of aggregates by abrasion and impact.
Study of aggregates for mix design.

Tests on concrete
Settlement.
Unit weight, air content, setting time.
Strength in beams: compression and bending.
Concrete mix design.
Compression test on concrete pavers.
Exudation. 
Resistance of concrete to chloride ion penetration.
Standard test to measure pulse velocity through concrete.

Tests on steel
Tensile test on rods.
Steel bending.
Tensile test on steel sheets.

Masonry tests
Compression in bricks.
Compression of brick piles.
Compression in adobe bricks.
Dimensional variation in bricks.
Measurement of void area.
Absorption in bricks.

Infrastructure
The Laboratory meets the requirements of national and international standards.