Chapter 1: Fundamentals of materials

The long and still visible history of civil engineering shows how materials influence construction practice and design. Modern materials are diverse in composition and in internal microstructure. Broadly, we recognise three major families: metals, ceramics and polymers. Scientifically, material properties are controlled by the atomic, molecular and microstructural organisation, including pore structure. There is increasing emphasis on sustainability in the selection and performance of materials, not least because of the prodigious quantities consumed in civil engineering and building throughout the world.