Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 13.5:
Environmental profiles of structural materials
Compressive
Tensile
Quantity of
strength
strength
material used
Material
(kp/cm
2
)
(kp/cm
2
)
(kg/m
2
)
Horizontal structures:
Aluminium beams, 50% recycling
4300
4300
15
Steel beams, 100% recycling
5400
5400
40
In situ
concrete
(2)
150-700
7.5-35
400
Precast concrete
(2)
(normal concrete)
150-700
7.5-35
380
Precast aerated concrete
(1),(2)
, good insulation
30
4-5
130
Precast light aggregate concrete
(1),(2)
, good insulation
30
4-5
190
Softwood beams
450-550
900-1040
40
Pine beams, pressure impregnated
470
1040
40
Spruce, laminated timber
450
900
35
Hardwood beams
400-620
800-1650
35
Vertical structures:
Aluminium studwork, 50% recycling
4300
4300
5
Steel studwork, 100% recycling
5400
5400
30
In situ
concrete
(2)
150-700
7.5-35
350
Concrete blockwork
(2)
150-700
7.5-35
260
Aerated concrete blockwork, good insulation
(1),(2)
30
4-5
150
Light aggregate concrete blockwork, good insulation
(1),(2)
30
4-5
220
Lime sandstone
(2)
150-350
7.5-17.5
220
Granite, sandstone, gneiss
200-2000
100-320
500
Gabbro, syenite, marble, limestone, soapstone
200-5000
160-315
500
Well-fired solid brick
325
33
220
Well-fired hollow brick
75-150
7.5-15
170
Low-fired solid brick
150
15
200
Earth, without fibres added
40
Up to 6
800
Softwood studwork
(3)
450-550
900-1040
1
Pine, pressure impregnated
470
1040
1
Spruce, laminated timber columns
450
900
1
Hardwood studwork
(3)
400-620
800-1650
1
Notes:
(1) Structural materials with high thermal insulation; need little or no extra insulation
(2) Inclusive of reinforcement
(3) A comparison has recently been done by the Norwegian Building Research Institute between timber
framed and log buildings. This has shown that log buildings are slightly better than timber framed
buildings in use of resources and pollution effects over a period of 50 years. The log building also
has a better potential for re-use.
(4) Advancing to '2' if in brickwork specially prepared for re-use.
