Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 13.1:
Materials and related structures
Material
Foundations
Walls
Floors
Roof
Steel
Aluminium
In general use
Not in use
In general use
Limited use/at
experimental
stage
Not in use
In general use
Limited use/at
experimental
stage
Not in use
In general use
Limited use/at
experimental
stage
Not in use
Concrete with air-
curing binder
Concrete with
hydraulic cement
Stone
In general use
In general use
In general use
In general use
Limited use/at
experimental
stage
Not in use
Limited use/at
experimental
stage
Limited use/at
experimental
stage
Not in use
Limited use/at
experimental
stage
Not in use, except
for special struc-
tural elements or
as a vault
Not in use, except
for special struc-
tural elements or
as a vault
Not in use
Limited use/
at experimental
stage
In general use
Bricks, well-fired
Not in use, except
for special struc-
tural elements or
as a vault
Not in use, except
for special struc-
tural elements or
as a vault
Not in use
Limited use/
at experimental
stage
In general use
Bricks, low-fired
Limited use/at
experimental
stage
Stamped earth
Plastic, formed
from recycled
material
Softwood
Not in use
Limited use/
at experimental
stage
In general use
Not in use
Not in use, except
for pine in extra
foundations below
the water table
Not in use, except
for aspen, elm and
alder in extra
foundations below
the water table
Hardwood
Not in use
Not in use
Not in use
Peat
Not in use
properties and must be used in a building technique which is in static equilibri-
um due to its compressive strength. Structures that are in a state of static equi-
librium tend to have a longer life span than those with different tensile loads,
which in the long run are exposed to material fatigue.
The proportion of structural materials in a building vary from 70-90 per cent
of the weight - a timber building has the lowest percentage, and brick and con-
crete have the highest percentage.
Structural materials usually provide very few negative environmental effects
per unit of weight compared with other building materials. They are usually
