Materials+Review

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 * The content of this page is a short review of all the construction materials that have been studied in class. The summary has the most important characteristics of each material, advantages and disadvantages. **======



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From all the materials studied in class only stone is the one used in its natural state while brick, concrete, iron and steel are minerals and metals fused with other materials to make them suitable construction materials. Stones are found on the Earth's surface. Brick is composed by clay and mixtures available in the soil; iron and steel are metals weld with alloys that differ from each other because their carbon composition. When it comes to price, brick is the cheapest material and iron the most expensive. Concerning the performance of each material: stones are very hard and heavy. Concrete is lighter but heavy when it hardens. Cast iron is brittle but allows the construction of bigger structures. These three materials have good compression forces but poor tensile strengths. Brick is mostly used for columns, walls and large horizontal surfaces; because it is light, it needs mortar to attach to itself and maintain a structure without falling apart. Steel is used to build bigger and higher structures because it has great compressive and tensile strength but it rusts when not treated correctly. Nowadays, each material has a specific roll in constructions. Aesthetically, stone and brick are applied in ashlar masonry, veneer and small walls and columns because their colors and textures (they've been replaced as structural members). Structurally, cast iron has lost popularity since steel has overcome with its weakness. The plasticity of concrete has been favoured in the construction of vaulted buildings. The combination between concrete and steel (reinforced concrete) opened the door for a huge variety of construction able to support compression and tension. ======