The world of civil engineering deals with alot of materials that we are encounter on daily basis. The importance of the material stem from its availability, ease of use, strength, durability, and sustainbility. Regarding these aspects, what is the most important civil engineering material?
This is a great question, but one which is impossible to answer. There is not just one material which could satisfy all of humanity's needs, but rather the civil engineer must appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of a wide palette of materials, be aware of their properties and know how to use them effectively and efficiently.
But, if pushed to give an answer, I'd say water. Without this we wouldn't be able to make concrete, steel could not be quenched and tempered and the trees which give us timber would not grow.
Thank you for your answer. I know it sounds too difficult to specify one material as we deal with really wide spectrum of materials which can also be as composites. However, the civil engineer should know what material is important and what is not to satisfy the structural and nonstructural needs. In your case, I think you are right.
I think it is rock
Look at ancient monuments, most of them are made from rock.
Your question, what is the most important civil engineering materials. I feel soil and rock is the most important material for all civil engineers. Because, soil is the ultimate structure that can support the entire load in terms of various civil engineering structures. So, I strongly believe soil (in general ground it consists of soil, rock and water) is the important material.
I think this depend on the purpose of use, there is no clear winier yet Ill go for concrete!
I think it is a tricky one. Almost all materials considered under civil engineering are important, both the widely known and the lesser known ones. However in an order of priority I will rate cement as the most important. The reason being that without it the second largest consumed material, concrete cannot be produced. Without it there will be no load on the soil...
Civilization has been divided into ages according to materials used.
Stone age
Iron age
Bronze age
Let us go to the Romans using concrete
And now we are in the multi materials age
This is really a very interesting and even tricky question, but fun. I think in a slightly different way from the previous answers. I agree with Tanvir Qureshi that the importance of the material depends on the purpose of the application. Nobody would use rock or concrete to make electricity come to our refrigerator (which is very important), for example. However, another important aspect is availability. The natives of the Amazon do not have rocks or other material other than clay and wood. So these are the most important materials for them. Likewise, Eskimos may consider ice as the most important material because it makes igloos possible. In this sense, cement materials (concrete and mortars) are perhaps the most important materials because of the wide availability that makes them widely used. Obviously, with water (agreeing with Leon Black) which is the essential input for cementitious materials to be viable.
Composed types Concrete and steel or other fibers are indispensable materials😊.
REGARDS
Civil Engineering is for construction which covers areas of building ,roads, railway , bridge & such other areas of the development for construction line In this line of course sand, cement , bricks , & hardware material are basic need for the construction .
This is my personal opinion
here you can take a look at this site
https://www.slideshare.net/costmer/civil-engineering-materials-43984932
It depends on the application. Most civil engineering works (buildings, roads, water works) need Portland cement (natural and artificial) and aggregates which utilizes biomass raw materials ( rocks, soils) as well as damped wastes (mining wastes, solid wastes in construction sites).
Well, as others also indicated, the question is tricky. One can not pick just one material as the "most important material" in Civil Engineering. The use of materials for building has been widely diverse and relative to regions, through out the history from primitive house building techniques to modern engineered construction. Rock, soil, steel (also other applicable metals), wood, water, cement, etc. has each been used and is being used widely along one or more materials. However, if pushed for just one answer, then in modern era, the most important civil engineering material is "Steel", because without it the construction/production of diverse, gigantic, and unusual structures could not be possible.
This is a tricky question which immediately makes all civil engineers and also normal man to think which is the important material, I feel all materials are equally important. Without soil it is impossible, without water it is impossible, without wind it is impossible (wind is equally important in construction process), without electricity modern construction is impossible, stones and rock are important. For ex: limestone is raw material for cement, these are some of the main resources we require for construction.
I personally feel there is no particular answer for this question because all the resources are interlinked to each other, we cannot say any one material as "important material".
Regards...
Abhijeet Baikerikar
Ah! the variety of materials used in civil Engineering all seem to be important. I wouldn't want to be pushed to say is best because they all compliment each other. Thanks.
The futuristic civil engineering materials must have a high or highest strength-to-density ratio. Because the modern construction industry requires SLDS materials i.e.., Strong, Lightweight, Durable, and Sustainable materials.
Thank you
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