Structural Materials

Angles – steel members used fro truss members and connection elements; designated by the letter ‘L’
Built-Up Section – steel section formed by welding or bolting various rolled shapes
Cast Iron – a hard, brittle and nonmalleable alloy composed of iron, 2-4.5% carbon, and 1-4% silicon; strong in compression, weak in tension
Cementiferous Spray – a concrete-vermiculite like substance that is sprayed on steel members for fireproofing
Channels – C-shaped steel members mostly used for purlins and structural fascias; designated by the letter ‘C’
Concrete – a mixture of sand, cement, aggregate and water used in construction
Corten (Weathering) Steel – a type of steel that contains high levels of copper and phosphorous that form a thin protective layer of brown rust on the surface that stops further corrosion when exposed to weather
Glu-Laminated Lumber – wood that is composed of an assembly of wood laminations
I-Beams – steel member that has a lower depth to width ratio than wide flanges; designated by the letter ‘S’
Intumescent Coatings – thin film coatings that are sprayed or brushed on metal surfaces to provide fire protection
Posttensioned Concrete – prestressed concrete in which steel tendons are tensioned after the concrete has cured
Prestressed Concrete – concrete in which forces are applied prior to loading that counteract the effect of subsequent loads
Pretensioned Concrete – prestessed concrete in which steel tendons are stretched and tensioned prior to the casting of the concrete
Reinforced Concrete – concrete that is supplemented with steel bars that make it more efficient in resisting tensile forces as well as compressive forces
Reinforcing Steel – steel that is used to add strength to concrete
Sawn Lumber – wood that is cut directly from a log
Stainless Steel – steel that contains 10-30% chromium that provides resistance to rust
Steel – an iron alloy with low carbon that is strong in both compression and tension
Tee Sections – T shaped steel members used for truss chords and structural lintels
Thermal Sprayed Metal Coatings – aluminum or zinc alloys that are melted and sprayed onto a metal surface to prevent corrosion
Wide Flange – steel member that has a high depth to width ratio; designated by the letter ‘W’
Wrought Iron – an alloy of iron that contains carbon and silicon that was used throughout the 19th century in bridge and building construction