STEEL AND TIMBER 2

Steel Construction

Construction that uses STEEL as a major STRUCTURAL MATERIAL.

Timber Construction

Construction that uses WOOD/TIMBER as a major STRUCTURAL MATERIAL.

Coalbrookdale Bridge

The FIRST CAST IRON BRIDGE, built in 1779 with a span of about 30 m.

Bessemer Process

A 1855 process that made STEEL PRODUCTION faster and more practical.

Eads Bridge

The FIRST MAJOR STEEL BRIDGE, completed in 1874.

Steel in Building Construction

Steel became widely used in the LATE 19TH CENTURY and gradually replaced CAST IRON.

Welded Steel Joints

Welding became increasingly important in the 20TH CENTURY for connecting steel members.

San Sebastian Basilica

The FIRST AND ONLY ALL-STEEL CHURCH IN ASIA, located in Manila.

San Sebastian Basilica Steel

About 52 TONNES of PREFABRICATED STEEL were brought from Belgium between 1888–1890.

Eiffel Company in the Philippines

The company had a Saigon branch in the 1890s that PREFABRICATED BRIDGES in Laguna and Batangas.

NASSCO

The NATIONAL SHIPYARDS AND STEEL CORPORATION, created in 1950.

Cathay Pacific Steel Corporation

Established in 1973 as a REBAR MANUFACTURER.

Steel Strength-to-Weight

Steel has HIGH STRENGTH compared with its WEIGHT.

Steel Uniformity

Steel has more CONSISTENT PROPERTIES than natural materials like timber.

Steel Ductility

Steel can DEFORM before failure, giving warning before sudden collapse.

Steel Elasticity

Steel can RETURN TOWARD ITS ORIGINAL SHAPE after the load is removed, within its elastic range.

Steel Construction Speed

Steel members can be PREFABRICATED and assembled quickly.

Steel Fracture Toughness

Steel can RESIST CRACK GROWTH and sudden fracture.

Steel Recyclability

Steel can be RECYCLED and reused as a material.

Steel Shape Flexibility

Steel can be manufactured into MANY STRUCTURAL SHAPES.

Steel Corrosion

A major disadvantage where steel can RUST when exposed to MOISTURE and oxygen.

Steel Fire Susceptibility

Steel loses significant STRENGTH when exposed to HIGH TEMPERATURES.

Steel at 800°F / 427°C

Steel can lose approximately HALF OF ITS STRENGTH at this temperature.

Steel Buckling

A failure where a slender steel member BENDS SIDEWAYS under compression.

Steel Fatigue

Repeated or CYCLIC LOADING can cause steel to develop fatigue damage.

Steel Initial Cost

Steel may have a HIGHER INITIAL COST compared with some other materials.

Timber History

Timber has been used as a STRUCTURAL MATERIAL since ancient times.

Roman Timber Bridges

Roman timber bridges existed as early as about 600 BC.

Scandinavian Stave Churches

Timber churches developed in SCANDINAVIA during the 11TH–14TH CENTURIES.

European Sawmills

Sawmills were established in CENTRAL EUROPE around the 1200s.

Half-Timbered Buildings

Half-timbered construction became common in EUROPE during the 17TH CENTURY.

Modern Mass Timber

Modern timber construction includes CLT and GLULAM.

Bahay Kubo

A traditional Philippine timber house commonly raised on STILTS.

Philippine Timber Houses

Traditional houses commonly used TIMBER and LOCAL MATERIALS.

Philippine Logging Industry

Logging expanded significantly from about 1904–1940.

Philippine Sawmills

By 1940, there were about 163 SAWMILLS in the Philippines.

Philippine Indigenous Timber

There are many INDIGENOUS TIMBER SPECIES in the Philippines.

Timber Renewable

Wood is a RENEWABLE material when forests are responsibly managed.

Timber Environmental Benefit

Timber generally has a LOWER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT than many conventional materials.

Timber Strength-to-Weight

Timber has a HIGH STRENGTH-TO-WEIGHT RATIO, especially along the grain.

Timber Thermal Insulation

Timber has LOW THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY, helping provide thermal insulation.

Timber Workability

Timber is relatively EASY TO CUT, SHAPE, and WORK WITH.

Timber Aesthetic

Timber provides a NATURAL and WARM APPEARANCE.

Timber Cost

Timber can be COST-EFFECTIVE for small to medium-sized structures.

Timber Decay

Moisture can cause timber to DECAY or ROT.

Timber Insects

Some insects can DAMAGE TIMBER and reduce its strength.

Timber Fire Risk

Timber is COMBUSTIBLE and can burn when exposed to fire.

Timber Moisture Sensitivity

Timber can CHANGE SIZE AND STRENGTH when its moisture content changes.

Timber Quality Variability

Timber properties can vary because of NATURAL DEFECTS and GRAIN DIFFERENCES.

Timber Member Size

Timber may require LARGER MEMBERS than steel for the same load.

H/WF Steel Shape

A steel section commonly used as a STRUCTURAL BEAM OR COLUMN.

I-Section

A steel section with FLANGES and a WEB, commonly used for structural members.

Channel (C-Section)

A steel section shaped like the letter C.

Angle (L-Section)

A steel section shaped like the letter L, often used for BRACING and connections.

HSS

HOLLOW STRUCTURAL SECTION, a hollow steel structural member.

Douglas Fir

A commonly used STRUCTURAL TIMBER SPECIES.

Southern Yellow Pine

A commonly used STRUCTURAL TIMBER SPECIES.

SPF

SPRuce-Pine-Fir, a group of commonly used timber species.

Oak

A HARDWOOD commonly used in construction and other applications.

Steel vs Timber

STEEL is more UNIFORM and DUCTILE, while TIMBER is NATURAL, RENEWABLE, and VARIABLE.

Main Steel Advantage

HIGH STRENGTH-TO-WEIGHT and CONSISTENT STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES.

Main Steel Disadvantages

CORROSION, FIRE, BUCKLING, FATIGUE, and HIGHER INITIAL COST.

Main Timber Advantages

RENEWABLE, GOOD STRENGTH-TO-WEIGHT, THERMAL INSULATION, WORKABILITY, and NATURAL APPEARANCE.

Main Timber Disadvantages

DECAY, INSECTS, FIRE, MOISTURE, QUALITY VARIABILITY, and LARGER MEMBER SIZE.