Construction Materials Science

Every structure is only as good as the materials it is made from. A building's safety, durability, energy efficiency, and maintenance costs are all determined by the materials chosen and how they are used. This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the major construction materials — their properties, composition, behavior, testing, and selection. You will learn how concrete hardens, why steel comes in different grades, what makes one wood species better than another for a given application, and how to read a material specification. This knowledge is foundational to every technical module that follows.