Material Research

Concrete

Concrete is a long life composite construction material. It is usually composed of aggregate, cement, and water. The aggregate is generally a coarse gravel or crushed rocks such as limestone, or granite, along with a fine aggregate such as sand. Concrete has high compressive strength but low tensile strength. So it is usually reinforced with strong tension materials like steel. Concrete can be used for architectural structures, foundations, bricks, footing for gates.

Concrete can be damaged by many processes, such as the expansion of corrosion products of the steel reinforcement bars, freezing of trapped water, fire or radiant heat, aggregate expansion, sea water effects, bacterial corrosion, leaching, erosion by fast-flowing water, physical damage and chemical damage (from carbonation, chlorides, sulfates and distillate water.)

Glass

Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent. The use of glass in buildings is a transparent feature to allow light to enter into rooms and floors, illuminating enclosed spaces and framing an exterior view through a window. It is also a material for internal partitions and external cladding.
Glasses have a very long life.

Steel

Steel is an alloy made by combing iron and other elements. Steel is often used in architectures as skeleton. Even those with a concrete structure will employ steel for reinforcing.

The service life of steel is not that long as steel can be easily damaged by acid , oxidation, etc.