By
Kaushal Kishore
Materials Engineer, Roorkee
The new Solani aqueduct on Ganges canal Roorkee was built with prestressed concrete which allows for longer spans and a simple more robust design compared to old bricks, lime- surkhi mortar masonry arches of the old aqueduct, in which 8.5 crores bricks were used, while iron railing used in the sides of two lanes were imported from England. This is interesting to note that materials bringing those days on ship from England to Indian ports take 6-10 weeks via the Suez canal or 3 to 6 months via the longer Cape of Good Hope. Calculate in it also time taken on road from Indian ports to Roorkee.
After retirement from University of now IIT Roorkee I joined M/S Roffe Construction Chemicals Pvt.Ltdd, Mumbai as it’s Chief Concrete Technologists afterwards I became it’s one of the Director.

AQUEDUCT picture taken on 7/10/2025
For the contractor of above aqueduct I designed M-40 grade of concrete with Roffe superpladticizer. Those interested may read my paper by visiting Google site and log in; Civil engineering portal The Ganges canal by Kaushal Kishore.
I had designed numerous concrete mix design almost all cements of India in this I find Utra Tech cement as one of best cement OPC and PPC both With Ultratech cement I had designed numerous concrete mixes from ordinary strength to M-80 grade concrete, self compacting concrete, shot crete concrete, fibre reinforced concrete, fly ash concrete and more There is life after retirement and after retirement I worked for 30 year’s which includes in free time working in home research and testing laboratory and numerous construction sites visits almost all India and outside India. At my age of 92 years I still work for 12 hours daily.
I had never worked for money. In spite of doing so gigantic work what to say about car I even do not have 2 wheeler not any of my house not a single inch of land in this world only pension from IIT Roorkee and few clothes
I want to know more about Civil engineering and water resources engineering.
i m dng civil engnrng and i feel it intrstng
i m in 12th and i also want to do civil engineering , will u plz tell me hw to apply for dis and also suggest some colleges
plz tell me manufacturing of bricks??
Bricks can be manufactured by 4 ways…at first-preparation of clay,then moulding or pugging the clay,then drying,then burning…….
soon i will upload a through brick manufacturing and other contents related to bricks that will help out u………stay connected (nustian)
i also want to know..?
plz tell me grading of coarse aggregate on the strength of conrete
It is directly affect on strength and durability of concrete…
If grading is not in permissible limits and uniform…
i.e., if more coarser aggregates present, it will lead concrete to segregate, due to reduced surface of aggregates water will get increased also bleeding problems will be there..
and if more finer aggregates are present, they will increase demand of water and concrete will be weak in workability and compaction, will result in honycombing and reduced strength
strength of concrete depends on three things
1) aggregates
2) cement
3) ratios
in this actual strength was of aggregates, while cement act as a binding material.
If the aggregates are poorly graded
(i.e 1.uniformly graded (of uniform size) or gap graded(don’t have aggregates of a particular size))
then there will be small gaps remain inside the concrete and will reduce the efficiency of concrete and the required strength will not be achieved and the concrete will fail from its weakest location.
i m studying in civil engnrng
plz tell me about my major project topic in diploma. i am studing in rayat bahara . i have no information about that on what yopic in have to work in major project. (final year)
u have to make a project on construction management system
i am studying in BUETK and i m interested in civil engineering. plz e mail me building construction notes.
im architect, i want to learn reinforced concrete structural design.
you cant learn whole design here through net
you should concern any design center or any engineer nearby
it will take about a month to learn RCD (Reinforced concrete Design) tough at bachelor’s level
i wish to persue a career in this field and want to study it next year. I would like for you to advise me pllllzzzz thank you.
I found civil engineering intrstin but my institution is not helpin matters at all
Dear friends,
I need your help with the design and the selection of filter materials in a coffer dam. THANKS IN ADVANCE AND YOUR HELP WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.
I am studying civil engineering as a fresher and I am proud of that.
I hope I would do my best construction to this innovative world.
All the best…!!!
This words should get changed to action…
2nd year(3rd sem) b.tech civil engineering student,lookin for good internship/industrial training opportunity…kindly advice
Try at B.G. Shirake Construction, Pune… it is only the company in our country working for Prestressing concrete… Training will be very fruit full…so enjoy…
what kind of materials can be used to finish the honeycombing of concrete.
U CAN USE A VIBRATORS TO AWAY THAT HONEYCOMBS
It is not finishing..
it is repairing by mortar of sand and cement in 1:4 ratio…
after repairing, you can finish it with a paint of Cement and water…
honeycombing in concrete is normally hidden by the plaster.
during pouring of conc you can use vibrator to avoid it but too much use of vibrator can cause sagrigation
Kindly specify the materials to fill the cracks of concrete surface.
before doing concrete u have to mix a soap solution in the mixture.after taking all methd’s & precautions u will see the cc become more strengthable and shrinkage cracks free…..
Concrete/mortar is a builder’s glue. Clean out all dirt and dust from the cracks and prepare to wet the surfaces before you apply the mixture as you will want it to stict to all of the surfaces.
Use mortar (the CONCRETE powder only-no sand, no gravel-they won’t fit into the small parts of the crack). Mix in a ‘little’ WATER and stir. Don’t make it too runny. Just enough so you can get it into the cracks and smooth it over with a trowel (buy it where you buy your concrete/mortar).
Good luck. I’ve done it a few times and my masonry skills have still not improved much.
different admixtures are use with concrete or mortar for filling cracks
you can ask the nearest supplier for the admixture available in your area for filling cracks, fractures or joints or search on google “grouting admixtures for concrete”
wow..Civil Engineering is very nice but its hard.,hehe i hope and i pray to God that this will be my course in college. I want to be a License Civil Engineering someday..LORD guide me
i m doing be from civil branch ….after be wt should be do.or from where .?plz advice
After BE, there are two options basically…
1. Go for design field..
2. Go for management i.e., execution field
So…
while doing BE, you should keep analysing your interest of field…
Design field is fully technically..
while execution is fully technically managerial..
Both field have wide scope and salaries once become proficient…
i am persuing in B.tech(civil).i love civil engineering. nd the scope of this is very gud, any one who r studying in this I WUD LIKE TO THANKS WHO JOINED THIS.
i like to read much concrete technology & soil mechanics.
i also like a sub design of steel structures
i want how to calculate requirement of retrials in one cubic concrete with concrete grad list