Steel vs. Concrete in Construction: Strength, Cost, and Applications

Is Steel Stronger Than Concrete?

1. Steel has more lightweight and higher strength than concrete.
2. And also steel built a heavy strong structure to concrete with less quantity of material.
3. The tensile strength of steel is higher than concrete, so it avoids the risk of collapse of the structure.
4. Concrete is a brittle material, so it easily collapses under tensions, where steel is a ductile material that can resist the tensile load.
5. Steel has more density per unit area than concrete, so we can say it has more durability than concrete.

Steel and Concrete Construction Costs

Steel Construction

The steel construction cost is less than from concrete construction. As compared to concrete to steel construction, the quantity of raw materials needed for steel is a little bit less, so the construction of the steel structure is more economical.

Concrete Construction

Concrete construction cost is more than from steel construction. As compared to steel to concrete construction, the quantity of concrete is needed more, so it is expensive, from steel construction.

Example cost of concrete construction – for M20 (1:2:4).

1. Cement 8 bags 8×300=2400
2. Sand 16 cft  16×40=640
3. Aggregate 32cft 32×60=1920.

Then the price of one cubic meter of concrete is 4960 Rs. For what the construction cost of concrete is more from steel construction.

Steel Vs Concrete

1. Steel is an excellent material under tensile load, but it is not good under compressive load.
2. On the other hand, concrete is a very good material under compressive load but not good under tensile load.
3. The density per unit area of steel is more than from the concrete.
4. Where the density of concrete per unit area is less than from the steel.
5. Compare concrete to steel; steel should be more careful to resist corrosion if steel comes in contact with water; it should be corroded.
6. Where concrete is naturally protected from corrosion because the element that is used to make concrete, are cement, sand, and aggregate that gate naturally, but it should be noted that if the reinforcement inside the concrete is exposed, then it should be easily corroded.
7. The steel used in the structure’s been 100 percent recycling material, where concrete is a non-recycling material.
8. In structural elements, steel is widely used in construction because steel is a flexible material. So with it, we can make endless applications. On the other hand, concrete is a rigid material, but it has little flexibility and makes application; it has certain boundaries.
9. The density of steel is 7850 cubic meters, and the thickness of concrete is 2800 to 3300 cubic meters.
10. Concrete is a naturally fired resisted material because it is prepared by cement, sand, gravel, and water that all are a natural material. Where steel is a fire-resistant material, but up to a certain limit of temperature, it tends to deform. So some ingredients should be added manually to prevent this property of steel.
11. Steel is a ductile element where concrete is a brittle element.
12. Steel is a good conductor of electricity, but concrete does not conduct electricity.

How Strong Is Concrete?

How strong is concrete, it depends upon the strength of cement paste. The strength increased with cement content and reduced with air and water content. It’s called the water-cement ratio.

There are three types of concrete

1. Ordinary Concrete
2. Standard Concrete
3. High strength Concrete

The strength of concrete depends on the group of concrete. As like:

Ordinary Concrete

The compressive strength of 150 mm cube at 28 days in N/mm²

1. M10- 10
2. M15- 15
3. M20- 20

Standard Concrete

The compressive strength of 150 mm cube at 28 days in N/mm²

1. M25- 25
2. M30- 30
3. M35- 35
4. M40- 40
5. M45- 45

High Strength Concrete

The compressive strength of 150 mm cube at 28 days in N/mm²

1. M65- 65
2. M70- 70
3. M75- 75
4. M95- 95
5. M100- 100

For the upper statements, we can say that the strength of concrete depends on the grade of concrete.

1. The strength of the concrete depends upon the size of the aggregate. The large size of aggregate makes lower the total surface area for which the water requirements for the concrete have been lower, and the workability of the concrete should be increased.
2. The concrete is so much stronger when a compressive load working on it but when a tensile load is acting upon it, that’s should be a collapse.
3. Some time few admixtures are added to increase the workability and strength of the concrete.
4. At the end of the point, it is clear that concrete is slightly less strong than steel.

Concrete and Steel

Concrete

The mixture of cement, sand, aggregate, and water in a proper ratio to make a structure is called concrete. There are various types of grades of concrete – M20, M30, M40, etc.

Where ‘ M ‘ is a mixture, and 20 is the compressive strength after 28 days.

1. Many different types of tests should be done in concrete. That’s are –
   1. Slump tests
   2. Compressive strength tests
   3. Water permeability tests
   4. Rapid Chloride ion penetration tests
   5. Initial surface absorption tests
   6. Water absorption tests.
2. Slump test- This test is to determine the workability of concrete.
3. Compressive strength test- This test is to determine the compressive strength of concrete.
4. Water permeability test- This test is done to determine the durability of concrete.
5. Rapid chloride ion penetration test- This test is also done to determine the durability of concrete.
6. Initial surface absorption test-to determining the resisting power from weathering action and chemical attack this test is also done.
7. Water absorption test- this test is also done to determine the durability of concrete by curing after 28 days or 24 hours. In this test, the size of the cube sample is 150 mm.

Steel

1. Steel is an alloy of iron, carbon, magnesium, and silicon.
2. Nowadays, steel is widely used in construction engineering.
3. Different types of steel are mild steel, structural steel, and rebar steel.
4. Different steel grades are Fe-450, Fe-500, Fe-550, and Fe-600 TMT grade of steel are generally available for construction.
5. Fe-600 is the toughest and takes more tensile load.
6. The density of steel is 7850 cubic meters.
7. For the long structural construction, Fe-600 TMT is generally used.

Steel and Concrete Construction

In civil engineering construction steel and concrete, both are used in the same structure and named as a composite structure. The main advantage of using both components in a single structure is we can get a total capacity of both materials instead of using a separate one.

We generally use concrete and steel in a single structure because concrete is perfect in compression, but steel is decent in tension and as well as compression also. So, we use this.

Some examples of concrete-steel construction are-

1. Composite Slab
2. Composite Beam
3. Composite Column etc.

Concrete Vs Steel Building Cost

The price of concrete is almost reliable because those industries are stable. That’s why concrete ingredients are not so much expensive and easily available in any part of our country.

Steel is an extremely powerful material among all of the building material. The strength-to-weight ratio of steel is much more than any other material, that’s why the amount of steel is less than others. For this reason, the building cost is lower than concrete.

Concrete construction requires skilled labours and responsible contractors & concrete needs curing process. So, it’s also a lengthy process this the construction cost of concrete is higher. In steel construction, all the building components are almost prefabricated, so, it requires less time and less labour. That’s why the construction cost is lower.

In concrete building, it easily maintains temperature problems, but it requires every year maintenance cost. On the other hand, steel building has not such problems, and maintenance cost is also lower.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) that could be included in your article:

What Are the Key Differences Between Steel and Concrete in Construction?

Steel is known for its high strength-to-weight ratio and flexibility, making it ideal for structures requiring tensile strength. Concrete, on the other hand, excels in compression but lacks tensile strength.

Which Material Is More Cost-Effective: Steel or Concrete?

Generally, steel construction can be more economical due to lower material quantities and faster construction times compared to concrete, which requires more raw materials and labor-intensive processes like curing.

What Are the Primary Applications of Steel and Concrete in Construction?

Steel is commonly used in beams, columns, and structural frameworks where strength and flexibility are crucial. Concrete is used for foundations, slabs, and structures requiring high compressive strength.

How Does Each Material Perform in Terms of Durability and Maintenance?

Steel requires protection against corrosion, whereas concrete is naturally resistant to weathering but may require maintenance to prevent cracks and degradation over time.

What Factors Should Be Considered When Choosing Between Steel and Concrete for a Construction Project?

Factors include structural requirements (tensile vs. compressive strength), project timeline, budget constraints, environmental considerations (such as recycling and sustainability), and maintenance needs.

What Are Some Common Examples of Composite Structures Using Both Steel and Concrete?

Composite slabs, beams, and columns are popular examples where the strengths of both materials are combined to optimize structural performance and efficiency.

How Does the Choice Between Steel and Concrete Affect Environmental Impact?

Steel production typically has a higher carbon footprint than concrete, but advancements in recycling and sustainable practices are reducing environmental impacts for both materials.

What Are the Typical Testing Methods Used to Assess the Strength and Durability of Steel and Concrete?

Tests such as slump tests and compressive strength tests are common for concrete, while steel undergoes evaluations for tensile strength and corrosion resistance.

How Does Fire Resistance Differ Between Steel and Concrete Structures?

Concrete offers inherent fire resistance due to its composition, while steel structures may require fireproofing treatments to maintain structural integrity under high temperatures.

What Are Some Emerging Trends in Steel and Concrete Construction Technologies?

Advancements include the use of high-strength concrete mixes, prefabricated steel components for rapid assembly, and innovative designs combining both materials for enhanced structural performance.