CONST. MTRLS AND TESTING: FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTIES

Structures are built based on the engineers' or the architects perception of the project. From structures made from clay in the ancient times, steel and glass structures are built nowadays. Furthermore, with the global idea of saving the planet even much more innovations on different materials used in construction are being developed. Construction materials are divided into six general categories:

1. Metals and alloys    - this includes ferrous and non-ferrous materials and the combination of metals.
2. Ceramics                - tiles, bricks, roof and floor times and also certain kind of pipes
3. Polymers                - a combination of materials with a large amount of similar units bonded together, such as plastics, resins and synthetic materials.
4. Composites            - materials which are made up of different materials consisting of different properties such as cement.
5. Wood                     - timber
6. Advanced materials - these are the newly innovated kinds of materials which are made mostly from recycled materials or those materials scientifically studied to be alternative sources to make up a new, more eco-friendly construction material.
Click for Notes on Fundamental Properties of Construction Materials

Not only is the aesthetic property to be looked for and studied but more importantly the physical, mechanical, thermal, chemical and even the economic properties. These are the main parameters to check the suitability of a material for a structure.

Moreover, another major concern of the course is the availability of the materials, this holds the threshold if the material is to be considered as a good material or not. The study of availability of the materials includes the traces and economics in producing them.