College
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
Date of Last Revision
2023-05-05 06:33:05
Major
Civil Engineering
Honors Course
4300:497
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2022
Abstract
This report will compare structural steel, concrete, and lumber through the lenses of mechanical properties, design process, cost, and environmental impact. Steel is a versatile, strong, and lightweight material that comes at a premium price – both financially and environmentally. It is the most expensive material of the three included in this report. This is largely due to its complex manufacturing process that is also responsible for a significant amount of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. Concrete is significantly less expensive than steel, but the carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing are approximately equal. Concrete also only performs well in compression and requires more material to achieve the same strength as steel. Lumber’s strength properties depend on the direction of the force in relation to the direction of the grain. Due to trees needing to grow for a few decades before they can be harvested, lumber is more expensive than concrete. It is the most environmentally friendly material though since those decades of tree growth help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Structural engineers must understand each material in depth in order to ensure their design is as efficient as possible.
Research Sponsor
Dr. David Roke
First Reader
Dr. Anil Patnaik
Second Reader
Dr. Ala Abbas
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Ping Yi
Recommended Citation
Green, Molly, "A Comparison of Common Structural Materials" (2022). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1523.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1523