Category: Properties Of Construction Materials

Engineering materials when they come in contact with other substances are likely to react and suffer from chemical deterioration. Some of the chemical properties of importance are corrosion resistance, chemical composition and acidity or alkalinity.

Magnetic materials are those in which a state of magnetization can be induced. Such materials create a magnetic field in the surrounding space. Some of the important magnetic properties are as follows: Permeability is the ratio of the flux density in a material to the magnetizing force producing that flux density. Coercive force is the…

It is the phenomenon of abrupt drop of resistivity of some metals at a temperature called superconductivity transition temperature.

Dielectric strength is the insulating capacity of a material against high voltage. Hence, a material having high dielectric strength can withstand sufficient high voltage before it will break down and conduct.

Electrical conductivity is that property of a material due to which the electric current flows easily through the material. It is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity.

It is the property of the material to resist the flow of electricity through it. It is a useful property of a conductor.

Physical properties and mechanical properties are important for solid materials, which are used as building construction materials. However, knowledge of electrical, magnetic and chemical properties is also needed to deal with construction activities of buildings under different environments. Electrical properties of materials are discussed briefly below.

Stability is the overall property of a member to maintain the overall equilibrium preventing complete collapse. For example, a component member made out of a particular material is just long enough to prevent buckling when subjected to a force acting along its axis.

When a material is subjected to repetitive fluctuating stress, it will fail at a stress well below than that required to cause a fracture under steady loads. This property is known as fatigue.

Stiffness is the property that enables a material to withstand high stress without large deformation. Stiffness of a material depends on its elastic property. For example, in a structural element, large deformations are undesirable, and the material should be stiff enough to withstand the load.