Ladder

Material index — the ladder

One essay so far against this idea. A ladder is the distinct arguments that stand against one idea, and this one has room to grow.
  1. 2.62.833.23.43.63.811.522.5density log₁₀(kg/m³)modulus log₁₀(GPa)mild steelhigh-strength steelaluminiumconcretetimbercast ironcarbon fibreglassE/ρ — a tieE^½/ρ — a beamE^⅓/ρ — a plate

    The ranking belongs to the load case

    Every table of material properties ever printed ranks by strength, and every one of them answers a question nobody asked. What a structure wants is the least mass for a stated performance, and the combination of properties that gives it changes with the shape of the member — so timber beats steel four to one as a beam and loses to it as a tie, without either material changing.

    rung 1 · materials

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