ARCH 626: BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS AND
ASSEMBLIES. EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Concrete - ANS - LCA is the investigation and evaluation of
the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service.
- Impacts associated with all the phases of a building's life cycle: procurement, construction,
operation, and decommissioning
- Inputs = raw materials and energy
- Outputs = environmental footprint
- When it comes to concrete, Portland cement is responsible for most of the carbon emissions -
roughly 90%
- The amount of Co2 embodied in concrete is primarily a function of the cement content in the
mix
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): What are the Benefits of Concrete? - ANS - Concrete is a very
durable and relatively maintenance free.
- Concrete buildings are durable, long-lasting structures that resist natural disasters
- High thermal mass buildings can have benefits
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,The thermal mass of concrete delays peak temperatures and reduces and spaces out peak
energy loads (therefore shifting the energy demand to off-peak periods why utility rates may be
lower).
What role does Cement play?
(Concrete Basics) - ANS - Cement and Concrete are NOT synonymous
- Cement is a part of Concrete
- Binder material (mortars, grouts, and concrete).
Concrete is a combination of what?
(Concrete Basics) - ANS Cement, large aggregates (gravel), small aggregates (sand), and water
Cement Clinker
(Concrete Basics) - ANS - Grinding limestone and clay into a fine powder - heat up to 2600
degrees F - chemical bonds break down and recombine into a new compound (CLINKER)
- Clinker (ground into powder) + gypsum = cement
World cement production generates 2.2 billion tons of CO2. How can this be reduced?
(Concrete Basics) - ANS - Increase the use of industrial byproducts, such as fly ash, blast
furnace slag to supplement a portion of the cement used in concrete
- Fly ash (a byproduct of burning coal) can be used as a Cementous binder
What is Hydration? (Concrete Basics) - ANS Concrete cures (mixing cement)
What does it mean that the concrete cures instead of dries (Concrete Basics) - ANS - It's a
chemical process
- BONDS all the ELEMENTS of the concrete together when mixed with water.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,How long does it take to cure Concrete? (Concrete Basics) - ANS About 28 days
What is the role of ASTIM (American Society for Testing Materials) in the production of
concrete? (Concrete Basics) - ANS ASTM Develops and publishes standards for a variety of
different industries, with the overarching aim of improving PERFORMANCE and SAFETY and
promoting CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.
The strength of the concrete is determined by the proportioning of the elements in the mix...
What is the most important aspect of the mix that impacts the strength of the concrete?
(Concrete Basics) - ANS The ratio between the CEMENT and the WATER.
- Much more water is needed to "work" the concrete than is needed to start the hydration
reaction
*Too much water weakens the concrete
Why is a Slump Test done on site? (Concrete Basics) - ANS - Checking how much water is in
the concrete mix
- Cone filled with concrete, tampered with rod, the cone is removed, and measurement of the
slump (settlement) is taken.
ESSENTIALLY to make sure the proper amount of water is in the concrete so that it doesn't settle
when poured into forms
Concrete is strong in compression but performs very poorly in tensions. Why do we care?
(Structural Characteristics of Concrete) - ANS Its use was limited until the use of steel
reinforcing bars (rebar) added tensile strength.
*Pantheon: is the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world
What is secondary Reinforcing?
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, (Structural Characteristics of Concrete) - ANS Used to keep concrete from cracking but not to
resist structural loads
Reinforcing Bars OR Rebar (Structural Characteristics of Concrete) - ANS Reinforcing Bars
(Rebar)
Mild carbon steel with deformations (ridges) to create friction bond between the bars and the
concrete
Rebar and concrete expand and contract at similar rates.
What is the main function of foundation? - ANS To transfer the structural loads of a building
safely to stable ground.
Dead Loads (Foundation Loads) - ANS Weight of the building
Live Loads (Foundation Loads) - ANS All the stuff we put in it - and us
Rain and Snow Loads (Foundation Loads) - ANS Horizontal downward and even upward
pressure
Earth and Water (Foundation Loads) - ANS Horizontal loads (hydrostatic pressure)
Horizontal Structural Loads (Foundation Loads) - ANS Vaults or A-Frames for examples
Uplift (Foundation Loads) - ANS Soil changes or floating on sub-surface water
Types of Concrete Additives - ANS Water Reducing Admixtures: Workable without the need
of adding more water
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS AND
ASSEMBLIES. EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Concrete - ANS - LCA is the investigation and evaluation of
the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service.
- Impacts associated with all the phases of a building's life cycle: procurement, construction,
operation, and decommissioning
- Inputs = raw materials and energy
- Outputs = environmental footprint
- When it comes to concrete, Portland cement is responsible for most of the carbon emissions -
roughly 90%
- The amount of Co2 embodied in concrete is primarily a function of the cement content in the
mix
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): What are the Benefits of Concrete? - ANS - Concrete is a very
durable and relatively maintenance free.
- Concrete buildings are durable, long-lasting structures that resist natural disasters
- High thermal mass buildings can have benefits
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,The thermal mass of concrete delays peak temperatures and reduces and spaces out peak
energy loads (therefore shifting the energy demand to off-peak periods why utility rates may be
lower).
What role does Cement play?
(Concrete Basics) - ANS - Cement and Concrete are NOT synonymous
- Cement is a part of Concrete
- Binder material (mortars, grouts, and concrete).
Concrete is a combination of what?
(Concrete Basics) - ANS Cement, large aggregates (gravel), small aggregates (sand), and water
Cement Clinker
(Concrete Basics) - ANS - Grinding limestone and clay into a fine powder - heat up to 2600
degrees F - chemical bonds break down and recombine into a new compound (CLINKER)
- Clinker (ground into powder) + gypsum = cement
World cement production generates 2.2 billion tons of CO2. How can this be reduced?
(Concrete Basics) - ANS - Increase the use of industrial byproducts, such as fly ash, blast
furnace slag to supplement a portion of the cement used in concrete
- Fly ash (a byproduct of burning coal) can be used as a Cementous binder
What is Hydration? (Concrete Basics) - ANS Concrete cures (mixing cement)
What does it mean that the concrete cures instead of dries (Concrete Basics) - ANS - It's a
chemical process
- BONDS all the ELEMENTS of the concrete together when mixed with water.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,How long does it take to cure Concrete? (Concrete Basics) - ANS About 28 days
What is the role of ASTIM (American Society for Testing Materials) in the production of
concrete? (Concrete Basics) - ANS ASTM Develops and publishes standards for a variety of
different industries, with the overarching aim of improving PERFORMANCE and SAFETY and
promoting CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.
The strength of the concrete is determined by the proportioning of the elements in the mix...
What is the most important aspect of the mix that impacts the strength of the concrete?
(Concrete Basics) - ANS The ratio between the CEMENT and the WATER.
- Much more water is needed to "work" the concrete than is needed to start the hydration
reaction
*Too much water weakens the concrete
Why is a Slump Test done on site? (Concrete Basics) - ANS - Checking how much water is in
the concrete mix
- Cone filled with concrete, tampered with rod, the cone is removed, and measurement of the
slump (settlement) is taken.
ESSENTIALLY to make sure the proper amount of water is in the concrete so that it doesn't settle
when poured into forms
Concrete is strong in compression but performs very poorly in tensions. Why do we care?
(Structural Characteristics of Concrete) - ANS Its use was limited until the use of steel
reinforcing bars (rebar) added tensile strength.
*Pantheon: is the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world
What is secondary Reinforcing?
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, (Structural Characteristics of Concrete) - ANS Used to keep concrete from cracking but not to
resist structural loads
Reinforcing Bars OR Rebar (Structural Characteristics of Concrete) - ANS Reinforcing Bars
(Rebar)
Mild carbon steel with deformations (ridges) to create friction bond between the bars and the
concrete
Rebar and concrete expand and contract at similar rates.
What is the main function of foundation? - ANS To transfer the structural loads of a building
safely to stable ground.
Dead Loads (Foundation Loads) - ANS Weight of the building
Live Loads (Foundation Loads) - ANS All the stuff we put in it - and us
Rain and Snow Loads (Foundation Loads) - ANS Horizontal downward and even upward
pressure
Earth and Water (Foundation Loads) - ANS Horizontal loads (hydrostatic pressure)
Horizontal Structural Loads (Foundation Loads) - ANS Vaults or A-Frames for examples
Uplift (Foundation Loads) - ANS Soil changes or floating on sub-surface water
Types of Concrete Additives - ANS Water Reducing Admixtures: Workable without the need
of adding more water
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
