CVEN 3023 — Construction & Building Materials

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Overview

Instructor of Record — Louisiana Tech University Spring 2023; Winter 2023–24; Spring 2024; Winter 2024–25; Spring 2025; Winter 2025–26 6 terms · 259 students · Paired lecture and laboratory sections

CVEN 3023 is the foundational undergraduate course in civil and construction engineering materials. I developed and delivered the full course across six terms — writing exams, laboratory handouts, procuring materials from local suppliers, and iterating the curriculum through student assessment each term. The course satisfies prerequisites for upper-level structural and geotechnical courses.

Topics

Lecture and laboratory content spans the full range of materials encountered in civil and construction engineering practice:

Structural & Cementitious	Testing & Mechanics	Special Topics
Aggregates & masonry	ASTM standard testing methods	Geopolymer cement & fly-ash binders
Portland cement & concrete mix design	Electromechanical sensors (LVDT, strain gauges)	Additive manufacturing & 3D concrete printing
Steel & aluminum	Corrosion mechanics	Trenchless technology (intro)
Wood & timber	Resonance & vibration	Novel construction methods
Plastics & composites	Thermal expansion & thermal stress	Foundation engineering (intro)
Asphalt & pavement materials

Laboratory Program

Laboratory sections meet twice weekly for three hours each. Students perform the same tests used by practicing engineers, record real data, and connect results to lecture material before the unit closes.

Standard	Test
ASTM C136	Aggregate sieve analysis and gradation
ASTM C127 / C128	Specific gravity and absorption — coarse and fine aggregate
ASTM C39	Compressive strength of concrete cylinders (3-, 7-, 28-day)
ASTM D638	Tensile properties of plastics / CIPP liner specimens
ASTM D790	Flexural properties of polymers and composites
ASTM D256	IZOD impact resistance (with xenon-arc weathering exposure)
—	Metal, wood, and hardness / noise characterization

Concrete materials are estimated, sourced, and procured each term from Century Ready Mix (Ruston, LA). Students participate in mix design, batching, casting, curing, and breaking cylinders on a professional load frame.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing CVEN 3023 will be able to:

Apply principles of engineering, science, and mathematics to describe and characterize construction materials used in engineering practice
Perform fundamental laboratory tests — tensile, flexural, and compression — and apply results to engineering design
Understand cement and fly-ash classification per ACI standards
Communicate effectively through written lab reports and formal in-class presentations
Recognize the ethical importance and professional responsibility of standardized materials testing
Function effectively on a laboratory team and foster a collaborative, inclusive environment
Explain the properties and applications of fly-ash-based geopolymer cementitious materials

ENGR 1222 — Engineering Problem Solving III

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Overview

Instructor of Record — Louisiana Tech University Spring 2026 · Sections 002 and 006 1 term · 49 students · 2 lecture sections

ENGR 1222 is the third course in Louisiana Tech’s Living with the Lab (LWTL) first-year engineering sequence, which integrates hands-on problem solving, fabrication, and professional development from the first week of study. I delivered lectures to two sections — meeting four hours per week per section — covering the full course curriculum alongside the course coordinator team.

The course culminates in an open-ended design project in which student teams apply sensors, microcontroller programming, and fabrication skills to solve a self-defined engineering problem.

Topics

Electromechanical Systems	Design & Fabrication	Professional Skills
Circuit fundamentals & sensors	Engineering design process	Technical communication
Arduino microcontroller programming	Laser-cut nameplate fabrication	Engineering format homework
Robotics kit integration	SolidWorks (CAD)	Engineering economics
Troubleshooting & debugging	Extruded aluminum structures	Global & societal issues in engineering
Selected math & science topics	Design project development	Professional development activities

Hands-On Activities

Arduino & Robotics Kit Students build on the Arduino microcontroller and robotics kit used in ENGR 120 and 121, implementing sensors and devices for a final open-ended design project. All programming activities require hardware demonstrated at the start of class — Arduino ready, circuitry assembled, program uploaded.

Sensors, Devices & Fabrication Each student purchases a kit with sensors and materials for a fabrication activity. Students design a personal nameplate in CAD, cut it on the prototyping lab’s laser cutter, and mount it on a stand constructed from extruded aluminum.

Design Project Teams complete an open-ended engineering design project integrating the sensors, programming, and fabrication skills developed throughout the quarter. The project counts for 20 % of the course grade and is presented formally at the end of term.

Professional Development Students are required to attend four approved professional development events during the quarter — including professional society meetings, engineering college service hours, and invited technical talks.

Teaching | Stephen Timothy Gordon II

CVEN 3023 — Construction & Building Materials

Overview

Topics

Laboratory Program

Student Learning Outcomes

ENGR 1222 — Engineering Problem Solving III

Overview

Topics

Hands-On Activities