Researching Materials

Concrete 

A composite material. Water, some form of aggregate, and Cement make up Concrete. Additives can improve the finish of the material. Some famous landmarks using Concrete include the Hoover Damn, Panama Canal and the Roman Pantheon.

Modern concrete is created as a viscous liquid which makes it easier to pour into complex shapes. Large storage is required for the individual ingredients. Raising water content and adding other ingredients can increase the 'workability' of concrete - the ability to fill a mould/form properly. Since the concrete mixture hardens rapidly, it is important that the production is close to the construction area.

Concrete can 'spall' (flaking) if subjected to freezing and thawing. Too much water in the mix will produce a weaker and less durable concrete. Concrete is resistant to wind and rain, however, trapped moisture rots insulation, sheathing and wood framing of concrete but not the concrete itself. UV Radiation does not harm concrete. As concrete is inedible, it cannot be harmed by insects or animals. Aggressive contaminants (such as those in sewers) do not have much of an effect on concrete, unlike most materials. This is why they are used in industrial drains and sewers. Sulfate attack is possible where the concrete is rapidly wetted and dried.

Concrete has relatively high compressive strength, but significantly lower tensile strength. It needs to be reinforced with materials that are strong in tension. This is why steel bars are used to reinforce concrete walls and pillars.

Glass

Glass is used for windows and certain walkable surfaces of buildings. It is generally made using Soda, Lime and Silica. The ingredients are heated in a furnace to around 1500 degrees Centigrade, and fuse together. Sheets are then formed by a process of drawing, floating and rolling. The glazing quality varies depending on the drawing. 

Glass in buildings is required to resist loads, including wind, impacts from people and animals (including birdstrikes), and sometimes thermal and other stresses. As a general rule, the area of the glass pane dictates the thickness of the pane itself.

Glass is elastic right up to its breaking point, but is extremely brittle, showing no signs of wear prior to failure. Glass performance is dictated by its supporting materials. Thermal movement of glass can be combated by cutting panes with a small allowance around the edges.

Burnt-Clay Brick

These can be made using a variety of methods, ranging from sophisticated factory work to simple labour-intensive technology. Hand-made bricks are usually of lower quality, especially in terms of compressive strength. Longevity of bricks usually varies depending on the quality of ingredients, skills of workers, and the climate where they are used.

Bricks are made using clay, sand, lime, iron oxide, magnesia, and water. Using high amounts of heat, the moulded clay is 'fired' in a kiln and cooled to produce a block shape. The mineral content of the brick informs its colour.

A weakness of using bricks is their weakness against earthquakes. The block structure easily falls apart under the stress of ground movement and causes collapses.