professional English-2 - 学生.pptVIP

The two principle advantages of concrete as a construction material are its relative cheapness and the ease with which it can be handled and placed while it is in the plastic state. The principle structural advantages of concrete are its great compressive strength and its durability. Concrete can withstand very high compressive load. This is what makes concrete so suitable for the foundations, walls and columns of buildings, and for driveways and walks as well. 天津城建大学土木工程学院 The principle structural disadvantage of concrete is its poor tensile strength. That is, it can not withstand pulling or bending loads without cracking or breaking. For this reason, steel rods, or reinforcement steel, are often embedded in concrete, the reinforcement steel embedded in it is reinforced concrete. 天津城建大学土木工程学院 In addition to its poor tensile strength, concrete, like most construction materials, expands in hot weather and when wet and contracts in cold weather and as it dries out. Unless these movements are allowed for during construction, the concrete will crack. 天津城建大学土木工程学院 And, contrary to common belief, solid concrete is not impervious to water. Some moisture will migrate into the best-made concrete. But if the concrete should be excessively porous, which can happen if too much water has been used in mixing it, moisture can easily enter the concrete after it has cured. If this moisture should be present within the concrete when cold weather comes, the moisture may freeze, which result in serious frost damage to the structure. 天津城建大学土木工程学院 EXERCISE A building is composed of many elements. For example, it includes foundations, walls or columns, floors, roofs, staircases, doors, windows, balconies, apron, etc. they can be classified into two parts: enclosing structures and load-bearing structures. 天津城建大学土木工程学院 The function of a building is achieved by means of enclosing structures that make the building enclosed and stop wind, rain and snow in, but let sunlight and fresh air in