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Concrete vs. Drywall

Compare Concrete vs. Drywall strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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ConcreteCast
DrywallNatural
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourcednot given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced1–2MPasourceambient range reported in review (Australian studies)
Compressive strength27.6MPasourcespecified compressive strength class (f'c), not a measured typical2.4MPasourcetypical, 70 F / 50% RH
Elongation at breaknot sourcednot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourced1–2GPasourceambient range reported in review (Australian studies)
Density2,240–2,400kg/m³sourcerange for normalweight concretenot sourced
Strength to weightnot sourcednot sourced
Stiffness to weightnot sourcednot sourced
Poisson's ratio0.15–0.2sourcegeneral range at normal ambient conditions (overall 0.11-0.32)not sourced
Shear modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Bulk modulusnot sourcednot sourced
Speed of soundnot sourcednot sourced
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (comparative value)not sourced
Thermal expansion8–12µm/m·Ksourcetypical range for portland cement concrete (aggregate dependent)16.7µm/m·Ksourcetypical, unrestrained, 3.3-32 C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing50µm growth1.67x less83.5µm growth
Specific heat900J/kg·Ksourcetypical (NIST guidance for thermal analysis)1,090J/kg·Ksourcetypical (from ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, per GA)
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.431mm²/snot sourced
Thermal shock resistancenot sourcednot sourced
Max service temperature65°Csourcecode long-term temperature limit (ASME Code, concrete containments)52°Csourcemanufacturer sustained-exposure limit
Values forNormal-weight portland cement concrete, strength class f'c = 4000 psi (28 MPa) per NRMCA CIP 35; density NRMCA CIP 36; thermal conductivity USDA FPL Wood Handbook; service temperature ORNL/NRC review1/2 in. (12.7 mm) regular gypsum board (ASTM C1396), Gypsum Association GA-235-2019 typical/minimum properties; tensile and E from USDA FPL-co-authored review; service limit from USG Sheetrock 1/2 in. submittal

Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Which expands less with temperature?

Concrete expands less: 10 µm/m·K against 16.7 µm/m·K for Drywall.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless Steel
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrick
Strength against density

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