Building and Concrete Materials

• Building involves designing, planning, and assembling materials for structures or infrastructure.
• Buildings offer workspace, storage, and shelter
• Infrastructure refers to roads, bridges, and utilities.

Building Materials

• Building materials are chosen for their properties, availability, and cost.
• Common building materials are steel, concrete, masonry, wood, glass, and plastics.

Concrete

• Concrete consists of cement, aggregates, and water
• Cement is the binder
• Aggregates, like sand and gravel, offer strength and bulk.
• Hydration of cement requires water
• Concrete excels in compression but is weak in tension.
• Concrete's tensile strength is improved using steel reinforcement.
• Reinforced concrete sees widespread usage for bridges, buildings, and foundations.
• Cement types can alter concrete properties, including chemical attack resistance and setting time.
• Admixtures boost concrete's workability, durability, and other characteristics.
• Concrete's properties depend on mix ratios, material quality, and curing conditions.
• Concrete is both durable and versatile.

Steel

• Steel, a carbon and iron alloy, is strong, ductile, and weldable.
• Steel is used for cladding, concrete reinforcement, and structural frames.
• Steel types have different strengths and properties.
• Carbon steel is the most common type.
• High-strength steel suits high-strength applications.
• Stainless steel resists corrosion and is used in exposed settings.
• Coatings like paint or galvanizing protect steel from corrosion.
• Steel is recyclable.
• Steel is an essential modern construction material.

Wood

• Wood is strong, lightweight, and renewable, composed of cellulose fibers.
• Wood is used for sheathing, finishes, flooring, and framing.
• Softwoods, like fir and pine, are used for framing.
• Hardwoods, like maple and oak, are used for finishes and flooring.
• Wood requires treatment with preservatives because it is susceptible to decay, insects, and fire.
• Fire-retardant treatments exist for wood.
• Wood is sustainable if harvested responsibly.
• Engineered wood products are oriented strand board (OSB), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and plywood.

Masonry

• Masonry is building structures from units bonded with mortar.
• Bricks, concrete blocks, and stone are common masonry units.
• Mortar contains cement, sand, and water.
• Masonry offers good insulation and is strong in compression.
• Masonry walls can be load-bearing or non-load bearing.
• Masonry is durable and fire-resistant.
• English bond, stack bond, and running bond are types of masonry bonds.
• Masonry veneer is a thin layer applied to a building's exterior.
• Masonry needs skilled labor for proper installation.

Glass

• Glass, made from silica, can be translucent or transparent.
• Glass is used for curtain walls, doors, and windows.
• Glass allows natural light into buildings.
• Float glass is the most common type.
• Tempered glass is stronger than annealed glass.
• Laminated glass has a plastic interlayer bonding two or more glass layers.
• Insulating glass units (IGUs) consist of multiple glass panes separated by airspace.
• Reflective or low-E coatings on glass can reduce heat loss or gain.
• Glass is recyclable.

Plastics

• Plastics are synthetic polymer materials that are lightweight, versatile, and durable.
• Plastics are used for roofing, piping, insulation, and cladding.
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a common piping plastic.
• Polyurethane (PU) is used for insulation.
• Plastic recycling rates vary by plastic type.
• Some plastics release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can affect indoor air quality.
• Plastics use in construction is increasing.

Other Building Materials

• Other materials are roofing materials, insulation, copper, and aluminum.
• Aluminum is lightweight and resists corrosion.
• Copper is used for piping and electrical wiring.
• Insulation reduces heat transfer.
• Roofing protects buildings from the elements.
• Project requirements dictate material selection.

Sustainability of Building Materials

• The sustainability of materials is increasingly important.
• Sustainable building materials have a low environmental impact.
• Recyclability, resource depletion, and embodied energy should be considered.
• Embodied energy is the energy to transport and produce a material.
• Resource depletion is the consumption of resources.
• Recyclability is a material's ability to be recycled.
• Recycled materials, straw bales, bamboo and wood, are examples of sustainable materials.
• Green building rating systems, like LEED, promote using sustainable materials.

Material Properties

• Mechanical properties govern response to forces.
• Strength is the ability to withstand stress without breaking.
• Stiffness measures resistance to deformation.
• Elasticity is the ability to return to original shape after deformation.
• Density measures mass per unit volume.
• Thermal properties dictate a materials behavior under different temperatures.
• Thermal conductivity is the ability to conduct heat.
• Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of material by one degree.
• Durability is the ability of a material to withstand wear, weathering, and other forms of degradation over time
• Water resistance is the ability to resist penetration by water
• Chemical resistance is the ability to resist degradation by chemicals