Materials+review

Chat

chicaalterego: hi alejandromam: hello! alvaradogabriela22: hey!! You know that from all the materials studied in class only stone is the one used in its natural state? alejandromam: Well it is used principally, in its natural state, since the stones are a very rough and resistant material chicaalterego: Well I think that stone can be used in its primitive state because its strong but, I find it a bit boring alvaradogabriela22: It’s not boring, how can you say that? It’s very elegant, and one time was the most important construction material known to man, structures made of it, are still standing. alejandromam: the stone is the maximum! It’s strong, attractive, and elegant! chicaalterego: yes but still you can’t shake the fact that it’s very old fashioned alvaradogabriela22: well it might give a primitive feeling being so heavy and hard to move chicaalterego: it was very important for the stone age though alvaradogabriela22: Don’t make fun of rocks, they caused a huge impact on the cultural and technological development of the human race!!!! Also, its not like you can just stick rocks together! alejandromam: Rocks have been used by humans and other hominids for more than 2 million years!!!!!!!!! alvaradogabriela22: welll alejandro, tell us about uses of stones chicaalterego: i want to know more about it too, i had the impression that all stones are the same, what can you say about that? alejandromam: Although the stone age has ended virtually everywhere, rocks continue to be used to construct buildings and infrastructure. Besides there is also various types of rocks, and there is sometimes the need of using small stones in mortar to support structures… well, rocks alone are better nevertheless. They are more resistant, simply put one over another since the stones have a lower deformation rate, and are more rigid. alvaradogabriela22: and what about the uses?? alejandromam: they were used in fortes, catenary arches, castles… and many other medieval constructions, like the pyramids chicaalterego: I like the pyramids, ok I’ll admit that stone is not boring alejandromam: finally! chicaalterego: anyway stones still have many disadvantages to them, they are heavy and way too expensive, they are also hard to move, and stuff alvaradogabriela22: well it’s no wonder, nothing is perfect, and that’s why we have other materials, like…bricks! alejandromam: what about them? Stone are way better alvaradogabriela22: well I like brick because it can be used in different forms, its easy to carry, they can be shaped, they are good to work with, easy to carry and way cheaper chicaalterego: I also really like the brick alejandromam: So you are making trouble only for me? That’s, not, fair, explain it to me and show me, how great it is chicaalterego: sorry sweety, but that’s Gabriela’s area of expertice alejandromam: Hmp! alvaradogabriela22: well, since you asked about it, bricks are composed by clay and mixtures available in the soil… brick is the cheapest material chicaalterego: i wouldn’t say cheapest, but is way cheaper than stones alvaradogabriela22: Also, on a side note the famous architects’ like Salmona used this material for making moderns concepts. It’s very interesting alejandromam: Now that I think of it, most buildings in Colombia are made of brick, since it’s a given that there is abundance of clay in equatorial countries like this one. chicaalterego: wow that’s interesting alvaradogabriela22: yeah!! It’s very nice alejandromam: that aside, I still don’t get what advantages bricks have alvaradogabriela22: well aside being cheap, versatile, they are good for building facades chicaalterego: because they look great, right? do you know that they look different depending on the ways the bricks are put one over another? alvaradogabriela22: ah do you mean bricklaying? alejandromam: what’s that? alvaradogabriela22: Bricklaying are techniques of putting a brick over another, there are many of them, you can simply put, one next to another, or one on the middle of the next one and continuing from that… chicaalterego: not to forget that those techniques are good not only in looks but they also provide different resistances and support against the environmental changes alejandromam: I didn’t know that! It sounds fairly important, but I get, what you mean alvaradogabriela22: well enough of bricks, how about iron and steel? chicaalterego: they are strong materials that are used for skyscrapers alejandromam: and, bridges alvaradogabriela22: I know that they have many advantages to them chicaalterego: yes they have many, such as being resistant to tension and compression, they are very useful alejandromam: they don’t have much abrasion resistance though alvaradogabriela22: but they are still the best option for big constructions, iron is used in small parts because it’s more rigid chicaalterego: and steel is used in bigger ones because it is more flexible alejandromam: they also, have a modern feeling to them chicaalterego: yes they are essential for structures, but not anything can be built by them, as the different constructions have different needs alvaradogabriela22: like the streets, and walls, right? alejandromam: yes, like those, they are made of concrete chicaalterego: but its not as simple as just putting the concrete there you know? alejandromam: how so? chicaalterego:don’t you know that depending on the weather the technique that is required changes a lot? The best one is only usable in cold weather, and others are always used on hot weathers alejandromam: you sure know a lot! alvaradogabriela22: did you know what they, are made with? They are made by small pieces of stone and other components! Did you know that concrete gets stronger with rain? alejandromam: I didn’t!! alvaradogabriela22: in the latter years most of constructions are made basically by concrete iron and steel chicaalterego: I don’t think like that, in other countries the wood is used a lot, and many houses are still built with bricks… alejandromam: and the stones are used in a lot of things too! Not as much as before, but still... alvaradogabriela22: sorry I dint think of that chicaalterego: hahaha don’t worry alejandromam: it was nice talking with you girls, I learnt a lot chicaalterego: me too alvaradogabriela22: well its time to leave chicaalterego: ill be on my way too alvaradogabriela22: bye alejandromam: bye chicaalterego: till next week

[|Recording]