Building Materials - English for Civil Engineering

This presentation belongs to civil engineering students

1. Building Materials Juvrianto CJ, S.Pd., M.Pd . English for Civil Engineering

2. Building materials are materials that are used in the construction of buildings, houses and other structures. This includes traditional materials such as wood and newer materials that are designed to meet a variety of modern construction requirements. The following are common types of building material . Without knowing and understanding about building materials, we cannot build a good building. Remember, “ Best building comes from best building materials ”

3. WOOD Example Uses Exteriors, interiors, flooring, roofs, decorative elements, load bearing structures, landscaping and fencing. Properties Resists compression, reasonably high tensile strength , pliable, workable and visually appealing. The properties of wood differ greatly depending on the type . Notes Woods are broadly classified into softwoods and hardwoods based on tree species. This is somewhat misleading as hardwoods aren't necessarily harder than softwoods. A hard natural material that has been used for interiors and exteriors for thousands of years. Wood is a sustainable material when responsibly sourced as it is a carbon-neutral renewable resource.

4. CONCRETE Concrete is a composite material that contains aggregates such as sand, gravel and crushed stone with a binder such as Portland cement. Chemical admixtures are often added to change the properties of the concrete or to speed up or slow down hardening. Example Uses Foundations, load bearing structures and sidewalks. Properties Concrete is heavy and has high compressive strength but remarkably low tensile strength . For this reason, it is often reinforced with a material with high tensile strength such as steel bars known as rebar. Notes Concrete is by far the most widely used construction material by weight. It is generally perceived as unattractive and stark as it is associated with utilitarian infrastructure such as highway overpasses and dams. Cement production produces significant greenhouse gas emissions.

5. GLASS A durable but brittle material that is valued for its optical properties such as its ability to refract, reflect and transmit light. Glass is often designed to be transparent or translucent. Most glass contains silicon dioxide and is manufactured in thousands of varieties. A strong type of frameless glass known as structural glass can be used in load bearing structures. Example Uses Windows, facades, walls, roofs and floors. Properties Valued for its optical properties, particular its transparency. Glass is durable but brittle and is prone to fracture. Treatments such as laminates can make glass less brittle. Notes Glass comes in many varieties that include materials such as fiberglass, glass-ceramics and fiber optics.

6. CERAMICS Ceramics are a broad category of hard inorganic material manufactured using minerals. Most tranditional ceramics are non-metallic. However, some materials made from combinations of metals and minerals are considered ceramics. Traditional ceramics include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. Modern ceramics include silicon nitride, silicon carbide and titanium carbide. Example Uses Bricks, fireplaces, chimneys, mortar, decorative features, countertops, sinks, tubs, bathrooms and kitchen tiles. Properties Ceramics are often hard, durable, water, heat and fire resistant. Modern engineered ceramics such as titanium carbide and tungsten carbide are amongst the strongest known materials. Notes Production of ceramics often requires high temperatures. As such, ceramics can be energy intensive and expensive. However, they are often extremely durable.

7. STEEL Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is also common to add other metals to steel to improve its properties. For example, stainless steel includes chromium and nickel to improve the corrosion resistance of the metal. Steel began to replace cast iron as the structural metal of choice for large structures at the end of the 19th century. Steel is also used in a large number of construction materials, parts and components. Example Uses Structural steel, reinforcing bars, decorative elements, sheet metal, wires, pipes, bolts, nails and screws. Properties The properties of steel differ based on its carbon content, metal content and manufacturing processes. Generally speaking, it has high compressive and tensile strength. Steel is durable, highly recyclable and has good thermal conductivity. Stainless steel resists corrosion. Notes Steel is not combustible but can lose strength in a fire. As such, most structural steel must be fireproofed.

8. CARBON FIBER Carbon fibers are a relatively new material that have interesting material properties for construction including high tensile strength, chemical resistance and low thermal expansion. These are often used in composite materials such as fiber-reinforced concrete and carbon fiber reinforced plastic where fiber is used for its superior tensile strength. Example Uses Used to improve the strength of concrete, wood, plastics and masonry. Properties Carbon fiber has a far higher tensile strength than most known materials. For example, its tensile strength is more than 5x that of steel. Other carbon-based materials are even stronger . For example, graphene has a tensile strength of around 18,854,905 Psi compared to steel at approximately 77,015 Psi. Notes Carbon nanotubes and graphene are far stronger than carbon fiber and are likely to become important construction materials in the future.

9. COPPER Copper has been used in architecture since at least the 3rd century BC. It is valued for its superior qualities in areas such as thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance. Copper is also viewed as a visually attractive metal with a lustrous reddish-gold color and a bright green patina that forms with exposure to the elements. Example Uses Roofs, gutters, pipes, wall cladding, building expansion joints, wires, radio frequency shielding and lightning protection. Properties Durable, corrosion resistant, low thermal expansion, low maintenance, antimicrobial and highly recyclable. Notes Copper surfaces form a characteristic green patina coating with time that provides corrosion resistance. In the absence of harsh conditions such as pollution and salt, copper corrodes at a rate of less than 0.4 mm in 200 years.

10. ALUMINIUM A lightweight and durable metal that has a large number of specialty uses. Example Uses Exterior panels, facades and window frames. Properties Light, ductile, malleable, corrosion resistant, nonmagnetic, thermal conductor, electrical conductor. Notes Aluminum is corrosion resistant due to the formation of a layer of aluminum oxide when exposed to air. Aluminum is highly reactive and is not resistant to a wide variety of chemical exposures such as salt. This is the reason it is not typically used in plumbing.

11. PLASTIC Plastic is a category of synthetic material derived from petrochemicals or renewable biomass sources. It is an inexpensive material that is formulated and shaped into a very large number of construction products. Example Uses Pipes, flooring, roofing, siding, windows, doors and interior panels. Properties Cheap and available in significant variety. Plastics are often lightweight, durable, flammable and sensitive to temperature. They can be reasonably strong for most applications but aren't typically used for load bearing structures. Often used as a coating or covering for other materials. Notes People may have negative perceptions of plastic including the idea that plastic materials are "fake."

12. PLASTER Plaster is a material that is applied as a decorative or protective coating of interior walls and ceilings. A similar material applied to exteriors is known as render or stucco. Plasters are based on gypsum, lime, cement or clay and are applied as a paste that hardens. Example Uses Interior walls, exterior walls, ceilings and fireproofing. Properties Easily worked, moulded and finished. Plasters are not strong and are easily damaged. However, they also tend to be easy to repair. Some plasters have fireproofing properties and a thick plaster formulated for this purpose can resist fire for up to an hour. Notes Plaster-like materials are often used in sculpture and art.

13. STONE The craft of using stone in construction is known as stonemasonry. This is an ancient type of construction that is difficult and expensive as compared to modern materials. Stone such as limestone, slate and sandstone are commonly used to repair and restore historical buildings. Visually appealing stones such as granite and marble are used to add luxury features to building interiors and exteriors. Example Uses Repair of historical buildings, facades, interior walls, floors, bathrooms and countertops. Properties Heavy, durable, hard, high compressive strength, difficult to work and visually appealing. Notes Stonemasonry is amongst the most difficult of the trades that was traditionally a 7 year apprenticeship. Modern apprenticeships are often 3 years.

14. MINERALS (SAND) Minerals such as sand, clay and gypsum are used in construction due to their low cost and properties such as fire resistance or compressive strength. For example, drywall made with gypsum and paper that is used for interior walls and ceilings. Example Uses Drywall, bricks and aggregate for cement and mortar. Properties Minerals may be relatively inexpensive and have desirable properties such as fire resistance or high compressive strength. Notes Minerals are also used in the production of glass and ceramic materials such as tiles.

15. STONE The craft of using stone in construction is known as stonemasonry. This is an ancient type of construction that is difficult and expensive as compared to modern materials. Stone such as limestone, slate and sandstone are commonly used to repair and restore historical buildings. Visually appealing stones such as granite and marble are used to add luxury features to building interiors and exteriors. Example Uses Repair of historical buildings, facades, interior walls, floors, bathrooms and countertops. Properties Heavy, durable, hard, high compressive strength, difficult to work and visually appealing. Notes Stonemasonry is amongst the most difficult of the trades that was traditionally a 7 year apprenticeship. Modern apprenticeships are often 3 years.

16. EXERCISES

17. Find your partner. Make a conversation about “what is your house is made from?” Example: A : “What is your house made from?” B : “My house is made from stone” or “My house is made from wood.” A : “What is its window made from?” B : “Its window i s made from wood and glass” window / roof / door / floor / wall