Materials / Compare

Concrete vs. Steel AISI 4340

Compare Concrete vs. Steel AISI 4340 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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ConcreteCast
Steel AISI 4340Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot sourced1,035MPasourcetypical, transverse
Ultimate tensile strengthnot sourced1,140MPasourcetypical, transverse
Compressive strength27.6MPasourcespecified compressive strength class (f'c), not a measured typicalnot sourced
Elongation at breaknot sourced18%sourcetypical, transverse
Young's modulus (stiffness)not sourced200GPasourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)
Density2,240–2,400kg/m³sourcerange for normalweight concrete7,840kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weightnot sourced132kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weightnot sourced25.5MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.15–0.2sourcegeneral range at normal ambient conditions (overall 0.11-0.32)0.32sourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered)
Shear modulusnot sourced75.7GPa
Bulk modulusnot sourced185GPa
Speed of soundnot sourced5,049m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity0.9W/m·Ksourcetypical (comparative value)37.5W/m·Ksourcetypical
Thermal expansion8–12µm/m·Ksourcetypical range for portland cement concrete (aggregate dependent)11.3µm/m·Ksourcemean, -18 to 93 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing50µm growth13% less56.5µm growth
Specific heat900J/kg·Ksourcetypical (NIST guidance for thermal analysis)448J/kg·Ksourcetypical
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)0.431mm²/s10.7mm²/s24.8x faster
Thermal shock resistancenot sourced11,678W/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 reviewCarpenter (Latrobe) Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC datasheet; mechanical row for 1100 °F temper; physical properties grade-level

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 4340?

Concrete is lighter: 2,320 kg/m³ against 7,840 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 4340.

Which conducts heat better, Concrete or Steel AISI 4340?

Steel AISI 4340 conducts heat better: 37.5 W/m·K against 0.9 W/m·K for Concrete.

Which expands less with temperature?

Concrete expands less: 10 µm/m·K against 11.3 µm/m·K for Steel AISI 4340.

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 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 4340
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 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 4340
Strength against density

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