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Concrete vs. Steel AISI 1045

Compare Concrete vs. Steel AISI 1045 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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ConcreteCast
Steel AISI 1045Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourced531MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced627MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn
Compressive strength27.6MPasourcespecified compressive strength class (f'c), not a measured typicalnot sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourced12%sourcein 2 in (50.8 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourced210GPasourcetypical
Density2,240–2,400kg/m³sourcerange for normalweight concrete7,800kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced68.1kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weightnot sourced26.9MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.15–0.2sourcegeneral range at normal ambient conditions (overall 0.11-0.32)0.3sourcetypical
Shear modulusnot sourced80.8GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced175GPa
Speed of soundnot sourced5,189m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (comparative value)40–45W/m·Ksourcetypical range, ambient
Thermal expansion8–12µm/m·Ksourcetypical range for portland cement concrete (aggregate dependent)12µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing50µm growth20% less60µm growth
Specific heat900J/kg·Ksourcetypical (NIST guidance for thermal analysis)460–480J/kg·Ksourcetypical range, 50/100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.431mm²/s11.6mm²/s26.9x faster
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced6,269W/m
Max service temperature65°Csourcecode long-term temperature limit (ASME Code, concrete containments)not sourced
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 reviewAISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants

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 is lighter, Concrete or Steel AISI 1045?

Concrete is lighter: 2,320 kg/m³ against 7,800 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 1045.

Which conducts heat better, Concrete or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 conducts heat better: 42.5 W/m·K against 0.9 W/m·K for Concrete.

Which expands less with temperature?

Concrete expands less: 10 µm/m·K against 12 µm/m·K for Steel AISI 1045.

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 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 SteelSteel AISI 1045
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 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 SteelBrickSteel AISI 1045
Strength against density

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