Iron+&+Steel



__ Iron and steel __

Wood Characteristics:  The wood is cheap, lightweight, moderately strong in compression and tension but also rots, swells and burns easily. Wood is used in bridges, houses, two story buildings, roller coasters.

Plastic Characteristics : The plastic is made of long chains of molecules, its flexible, lightweight, long-lasting and strong in compression and tension but its so expensive. The plastic is used in umbrellas and inflatable roofs over sports arenas

Aluminum

Characteristics: The aluminum is lightweight, doesn't rust and is strong in compression and tension but like the wood is expensive. Is made of aluminum with magnesium and copper and is applied in airplane wings, boats, cars and the skyscraper skin. Brick Characteristics: The brick is made of burned clay, is cheap and strong but is heavy and weak in tension. Brick is used in walls of early skyscrapers and tunnels and domes. Concrete

Characteristics:

The concrete was made of cement, water and small stones. The concrete is used in early arch bridges and domes because is cheap, fireproof and weatherproof, molds to any shape and strong in compression although the concrete cracks with temperature changes and is weak in tension.

Reinforced concrete

Characteristics: The ingredients of this material are steel bars hidden in concrete. The reinforced concrete have low cost, is fireproof and weatherproof and is strong in compression and tension. This material is used in bridges, dams, domes and beams and columns in skyscrapers.

Cast iron Characteristics: This material is iron with lots of carbon. The best of this material its molds to any shape ans is strong in compression but breaks without warning. This is used in arch bridges, cannons and historic domes.

Steel

Characteristics: The steel is an iron with a touch of carbon. The steel is used in cables in suspension bridges, trusses, beams and columns in skyscrapers and roller coasters. This is one of strongest materials used in construction, strong in compression and strong in tension but also is rusts and loses strength in extremely high temperatures.