Typical concrete comprises cement, water, gravel and sand. While this mixture makes the substance hard and strong, it does not promote flexibility. Thus concrete is brittle and prone to cracks if too much weight is applied. What if it could be more bendable?
The volume of natural resources used in buildings and transport infrastructure increased 23-fold between 1900 and 2010. Globally, there are now 800 billion tonnes of natural resource “stock” tied up in these constructions, two-thirds of it in industrialised nations alone.
Building successful UK sectors in smart cities, cyber and physical security and realising the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) is at the heart of the Digital Built Britain initiative. But what is the IoT and how can construction make the most of the opportunities it affords?
08 February 2017
What is the difference between an ordinary door and a fire door? This article provides some insight into the use of fire doors in passive fire protection, how they should be specified correctly and who is responsible for their maintenance.
Windows are one of the most important elements of a building’s thermal envelope; providing aesthetics, letting in light, helping control sound, and serving as a means of natural ventilation. The history of windows is enmeshed in the history of architecture, and their evolving design is a tribute to not only architectural advancement, but to the progression of framing materials and glass manufacturing.
Does your Medium daily digest need a boost? Check out these posts with a construction connection and load up on essential reading from the blogosphere.
Most of a building’s problems can be traced to moisture. It causes wood to decay, concrete to crack, fungus to grow, metals to corrode, pipes to burst (from the cycle of freezing and thawing), and it damages and discolours interior finishes. Understand moisture and you can prevent damp occuring.
Cavity wall insulation can be a great way of improving the thermal performance of a building, making it both warmer and cheaper to heat, but it's not always a suitable solution. We explore the pros and cons.
How can we put bacterial ‘builders’ to work on a new generation of construction materials? Martyn Dade-Robertson explores the potential of synthetic biology and its role in building the cities of the future…
Shih-Ho Chao, Associate Professor of Structural Engineering and Applied Mechanics at University of Texas Arlington, explores how building design has responded to the threat of progressive collapse...
We take a sneaky peek at 10 construction material innovations with amazing potential to change the world we live in. Enter the materials that save lives, repel germs, heal themselves and even 'sweat'...
What do you need to consider when specifying seats for stadia? Our guide explores the role of the humble seat in providing a suitable ‘safe zone’ for audiences and where to look for advice on seating systems and layouts.
