Iron+&+Steel

=     = = __Wood __ =

**Strengths:** Cheap, lightweight, moderately strong in compression and tension. **Weaknesses**: rots, swells and burns easily. **Applications:** Bridges, houses, two-to three-story buildings, roller coasters **Example:** son of beast- cincinnati, Ohio.



= __Plastic __ =

**Strengths:** Flexible, lightweight, long-lasting, strong in compression and tension. **Weaknesses:** expensive. **Applications:** Umbrellas, inflatable roofs over sports arenas. **Example:** Georgia Dome, Atlanta.



= **__Aluminium: __** =

**Strengths:** lightweight, doesn't rust, strong in compression and tension. **Weaknesses:** Expensive. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Applications:** airplane wings, boats, cars, skyscraper "skin" <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Example:** Petronas Towers- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

<span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">

= **__<span style="color: #ae975b; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Brick __** =

<span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Strengths:** Cheap, strong in compression <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Weaknesses:** Heavy, week in tension. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Applications:** walls of early skyscrapers and tunnels, domes <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Example:** Original Thames Tunnel- London, England.

<span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">

= **__<span style="color: #ae975b; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Concrete: __** =

<span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Strengths:** Cheap, fireproof and weatherproof, molds to any shape, strong in compression. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Weaknesses:** Cracks with temperature changes, weak in tension. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Applications:** Early arch bridges and domes <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Example:** Pantheon- Rome, Italy.

= **__<span style="color: #ae975b; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Reinforced Concrete: __** =

<span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Strengths:** Low cost, fireproof and weatherproof, molds to any shape, strong in compression. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Weaknesses:** Can crack as it cools and hardens. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Applications:** Bridges, dams, domes, beams and columns in skyscrapers. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Example:** Hoover Dam- Nevada, Arizona. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">

= **__<span style="color: #ae975b; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Cast Iron: __** =

<span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Strengths:** Molds to any shape, strong in compression. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Weaknesses:** Weaker than steel in tension, breaks without warning. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Applications:** Arch bridges, cannons, historic domes <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Example:** Iron Bridge - Shropshire, England. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">

= **__<span style="color: #ae975b; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%;">Steel: __** =

<span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Strengths:** One of strongest materials used in construction, strong in compression and tension <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Weaknesses:** Rusts, loses strenghts in extremely high temperatures. <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Applications:** Cables in suspension bridges, trusses, beams and columns in skyscrapers, roller coasters <span style="color: #ae975b; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: justify;">**Example:** Sears Tower - Chicago, Illinois.