Hello miss Linda
I really appreciate you explaning the topic thankyou very much
my question is
Why does stone (concrete) strong under compression ? can you explain me this
and
Why is Steel strong under tension ?
thank a mil
Well, stone is not always stronger under compression. If so rock crushers would not be able to break large hard quartz rocks easily. Laying that aside, metals like steel have great tensil strength. The molecules are bonded together in such an array that they very greatly resist separating, stretching, or breaking.
Concrete is somewhat compression resistant, however modern construction practices enhance this by including reinforcing steel (called re-bar). It act's somewhat like the bones in your body. The compression strength that concrete has derives from the energy of electromagnetic forces that bond cretain chemicals in cement (activated by water)to the agregate (small rocks) and sand in the concrete mixture.
Humm.
Try reading at the following sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel
And:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete
My last attempt:
http://www.cement.org/basics/concretebasics_concretebasics.asp
(Broken Link Removed)
Hello!
I'm glad you found my explanation helpful. Now, let me address your questions:
1. Why is stone (concrete) strong under compression?
Concrete is a composite material made up of cement, water, and aggregates such as sand and gravel. When these components are mixed together, a chemical reaction called hydration occurs, where the cement particles bind with the water and form a paste. As this paste hardens, it creates a solid structure.
When external forces act on concrete, like compression, the applied force is resisted by the tightly packed cement particles. The aggregated particles also help to distribute the force evenly, making the concrete more resistant to compression. The strength of concrete under compression is due to the interlocking nature of the hardened cement paste and the compact arrangement of the aggregates.
Additionally, modern construction methods often include reinforcing steel in concrete structures. The steel, commonly known as rebar, provides additional strength and flexibility, making the concrete even more resistant to compression.
2. Why is steel strong under tension?
Steel is a metal that exhibits high tensile strength, meaning it can resist being pulled apart or stretched. Its strength under tension is attributed to its atomic structure. The atoms in steel are arranged in a crystal lattice structure, which allows for the sharing and transfer of electrons between the atoms.
When a tensile force is applied to steel, the atomic bonds between the atoms prevent them from easily separating. These strong metallic bonds create an interatomic attraction, preventing the material from elongating or breaking.
The properties of steel that contribute to its high tensile strength include the arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice structure and the presence of carbon, which forms hard and strong carbide compounds with iron in the steel alloy. The combination of these factors makes steel ideal for applications that require high strength under tension, such as building structures, bridges, and cables.
If you want more in-depth information, I would suggest checking out the links I provided in my previous response, as they offer comprehensive explanations of the topics. Please note that the last link may be broken, so it is recommended to search for "concrete basics" on the Cement Association of Canada's website (cement.org).
I hope this helps answer your questions. If you have any further inquiries, feel free to ask!