Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
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Sources10 documents: Daiki Aluminium Industry, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, S.S. Aluminum, Federal Highway Administration, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Aluminum ADC12
JIS ADC12 (Al-Si-Cu, about A383 / EN AC-46100) high-pressure die-casting alloy, as cast; physical properties from Daiki Aluminium Industry (ADC12 ingot producer) measured values; modulus from S.S.Aluminum (ADC12 ingot producer) standard values.
Concrete
Normal-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 review
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NA Alloys Product DataDaiki Aluminium IndustryAluminum ADC12 · Yield strength: one test result, 0.2% proof stress, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Ultimate tensile strength: one test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Elongation at break: one test result, as cast, ASTM tensile bar (Daiki)
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CIP 35: Testing Compressive Strength of ConcreteNational Ready Mixed Concrete Associationarchived copyConcrete · Compressive strength: specified compressive strength class (f'c), not a measured typical
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Die-Casting Alloys (ダイカスト用合金)S.S. AluminumAluminum ADC12 · Young's modulus (stiffness): standard value (S.S.Aluminum)
DIK365 Product DataDaiki Aluminium IndustryAluminum ADC12 · Density: measured (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Thermal conductivity: measured on specimens cut from a 50 x 100 x 5 mm flat die casting (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Thermal expansion: measured, temperature range not stated (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Specific heat: measured (Daiki)Aluminum ADC12 · Melting point: solidus-liquidus (Daiki)
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CIP 36: Structural Lightweight ConcreteNational Ready Mixed Concrete Associationarchived copyConcrete · Density: range for normalweight concrete
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The Effect of Elevated Temperature on Concrete Materials and Structures: A Literature Review (ORNL/TM-2005/553)Oak Ridge National Laboratoryarchived copyConcrete · Poisson's ratio: general range at normal ambient conditions (overall 0.11-0.32)Concrete · Max service temperature: code long-term temperature limit (ASME Code, concrete containments)
Thermal Coefficient of Portland Cement ConcreteFederal Highway AdministrationConcrete · Thermal expansion: typical range for portland cement concrete (aggregate dependent)
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Best Practice Guidelines for Structural Fire Resistance Design of Concrete and Steel Buildings (TN 1681)National Institute of Standards and Technologyarchived copyConcrete · Specific heat: typical (NIST guidance for thermal analysis)
Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Mechanical
Which is lighter, Aluminum ADC12 or Concrete?
Concrete is lighter: 2,320 kg/m³ against 2,680 kg/m³ for Aluminum ADC12.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum ADC12 or Concrete?
Aluminum ADC12 is stiffer: Young's modulus 79.8 GPa against 25.1 GPa for Concrete, so the same part in Aluminum ADC12 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum ADC12 or Concrete?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum ADC12 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum ADC12
Concrete
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
2.75x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
1.54x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
27% heavier
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Thermal
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum ADC12 or Concrete?
Aluminum ADC12 conducts heat better: 125 W/m·K against 0.9 W/m·K for Concrete.
Which expands less with temperature?
Concrete expands less: 10 µm/m·K against 21 µm/m·K for Aluminum ADC12.