Arch Materials

Stone 

• Advantages 

  • Stone is durable, strong and weather resistant. 
  • Minimal maintenance required after installment. 
  • Non-combustible material. 
  • High load carrying ability and recommended for buildings with high foot traffic. 
  • Low environmental impact. 

• Disadvantages

  • Heavy material. 
  • Low tensile strength and seismic resistance [1]. 
  • Time consuming construction method that requires skilled labour. 

Concrete 

• Advantages 

  • High load carrying ability. 
  • Minimal maintenance required after installment.
  • Non-combustible material. 
  • Concrete is an economical material. The production cost of concrete is low. 
  • The energy required for concrete production is low when compared to materials such as steel. 
  • Concrete can withstand water without serious deterioration. This makes concrete an effective option when encountering a stream or lake. 

• Disadvantages

  • Heavy material. 
  • Long curing time.
  • Relatively low tensile strength.
  • Less ductile.

Steel 

• Advantages 

  • High load carrying ability using minimal material.
  • Steel structures can withstand external pressures from earthquakes.
  • Light weight nature.
  • Scrap value.
  • Water-tight and air tight construction.

• Disadvantages

  • Alloy of iron which makes it susceptible to corrosion [2].
  • High maintenance costs (fireproofing, corrosion control). 
  • Reduced flexibility on site. It's difficult to make field corrections on site. 
  • Buckling.