Construction Materials (Wood, Concrete, Steel)

Construction Materials (Wood, Concrete, Steel)

Overview
In ideal environments, most common construction materials are very durable and can last indefinitely. However, design or construction deficiencies or lack of proper maintenance can result in less-than-ideal conditions under which construction materials will degrade. Degradation can take many forms, including chemical reactions, consumption by living organisms, and erosion or mechanical wear. Traditional building materials – steel, concrete, and wood – usually deteriorate and fail via well-known mechanisms. Even innovative materials that appear on construction sites can degrade, either by these well-understood mechanisms or through exotic, sometimes surprising, reactions and processes.

Steel – Corrosion is the most common and expensive form of material degradation for construction steels, including concrete reinforcement. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that the annual direct cost of corrosion in the United States is a staggering $276 billion. Steel corrosion (rusting, or oxidation) is an electrochemical reaction that occurs when iron atoms loose electrons in the presence of oxygen and water. The most effective and common procedure for preventing or slowing corrosion is to prevent contact with water, either by coatings or by protecting it within a viable building envelope.

http://www.exponent.com/construction_materials/