Composite construction

Composite construction:
Composite construction is a generic term to describe any building construction involving
multiple dissimilar materials. Composite construction is often used in building aircraft,
watercraft, and building construction. There are several reasons to use composite materials
including increased strength, aesthetics, and environmental sustainability. It is not to be
confused with the Composite order which is a specific order of classical architecture that
combines elements of the Ionic and Corinthian orders.

composite action:
In structural engineering, composite construction exists when two different materials are
bound together so strongly that they act together as a single unit from a structural point of
view. When this occurs, it is called composite action.
One common example involves steel beams supporting concrete floor slabs.[1] If the beam is
not connected firmly to the slab, then the slab transfers all of its weight to the beam and the
slab contributes nothing to the load carrying capability of the beam. However, if the slab is
connected positively to the beam with studs, then a portion of the slab can be assumed to act
compositely with the beam. In effect, this composite creates a larger and stronger beam than
would be provided by the steel beam alone.

Composite materials:
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are
engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with
significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct
within the finished structure.
Plywood is a commonly encountered composite material.

The earliest man-made composite materials were straw and mud combined to form bricks for
building construction.

WHY DO WE USE COMPOSITE MATERIALS?

There are two main benefits of composite action in structural members. First, by rigidly
joining the two parts together, the resulting system is stronger than the sum of its parts.
Second, composite action can better utilize the properties of each constituent material. In
steel-concrete composite beams, for example, the concrete is assumed to take most or all of
the compression while the steel takes all the tension.

 Steel-concrete composite beams have long been recognized as one the most economical
structural systems for both multistory steel buildings and steel bridges.
Concrete is the material of choice for the slab because its mass and stiffness can be used
to reduce deflections and vibrations of the floor system and to provide the required fire
protection.
The supporting system underneath the slab, however, is often steel because it offers
superior strength-weight and stiffness-weight ratio, ease of handling, and rapid
construction cycles.
Since both the steel and concrete are already present in the structures, it is logical to
connect them together to better utilize their strength and stiffness.
They are greatly valued in the construction industry because of their high structural
strength.
They are also light-weight and are resistant to heat, chemical wear and corrosion.
Materials for production of composite building products are cost effective in the overall
construction process.

Composite beam:
A structural member composed of two or more dissimilar materials joined together to act as a
unit in which the resulting system is stronger than the sum of its parts. An example in civil
structures is the steel-concrete composite beam in which a steel wide-flange shape (I or W
shape) is attached to a concrete floor slab.

Composite Materials Used in Construction:

1. Steel-Concrete Composite Material:

Combining aggregate, sharp sand and a cement binder produces concrete

which is used in the construction of roads, bridges and buildings. Though
concrete is weak when under tension, it is a very strong material. Addition of
wires, metal rods and cables makes it able to withstand tension. Casting
cement around these rods produces reinforced concrete. Encasing concrete in a
hot rolled steel section produces a steel-concrete composite material. Steelconcrete composite materials are used to construct high rise residential and
commercial buildings.
2. Plastic Composite Material:
Plastic is an engineered composite material composed of a reinforcement fiber
and a polymer binder. Plastic is durable and can resist corrosion. It is lightweight and maintenance costs are low. Plastic composites are designed to
produce desired characteristics more than the individual ingredient
components. Addition of fillers offers more attributes such as resistance to fire
and ultra violet rays. plastic composites have a wide application in the
commercial and residential construction of walls, roofs, baths and sinks.
3. Wood-Plastic Composite Material:
Wood is one of the common materials used in the construction industry. Wood
contains cellulose fibers which are strengthened by lignin.
Wood-plastic composite can last for a long time due to its resistance to rotting
and decay. Because it provides a lower thermal expansion, it is able to
withstand harsh climatic conditions

Types of Composite Materials:

The purpose of composites is to allow the new material to have strengths from
both materials, often times covering the original materials' weaknesses.

Mud Bricks
A normal mud brick is sturdy and resistant to compression, but can
break if bent. Straw is a material that has excellent tensile strength,
meaning that it resists stretching. By combining both, early humans
were able to create composite mud bricks that could resist weight and
compression as well as stretching.

 Concrete
Concrete is a composite material made of cement, sand, stones and
water. Combined, concrete is stronger than any one of these materials.
Concrete is used heavily in building and road construction
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is a material made of tiny glass shards held together by resin
and other components. Fiberglass can also be a less expensive
alternative to other materials.

The Advantages of Composite Materials :

Cost
Tooling, labor and manufacturing costs are considerably lower for composite
materials. Higher performance than steel and aluminum can also mean lower
service costs and longer-lasting products or components.

Strength and Weight

Composites have a much lower density than metals such as steel and
aluminum, and are therefore considerably lighter. While metals tend to be
equally strong in all directions, composites can be designed to have much
higher strength for any single application, thus providing a much better
strength-to-weight ratio.

Stiffness
Composites often contain strong, stiff fibers running through them which
provide much added stiffness. Glass and carbon fibers are commonly used as
reinforcement.

Bad Things About Composite Decking;

Fading and Stains
Composite decks generally hold up better than wood decks, but they are still
prone to weathering over time. In particular, composite decks are prone to
fading because they are exposed to sunlight year-round.

Plastic-Like Appearance
Composite decking materials are usually designed to simulate the look of real
wood grain. However, in many cases, composite decking has a shiny, plastic-

like appearance that belies the natural look that homeowners are usually trying
to achieve.
Additional Support Required:
Composite decking materials are weaker than natural wood, so they cannot
support their own weight and may begin to sag if they are not properly
supported.