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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Sources9 documents: Kaiser Aluminum, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Defense, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Aluminum
6061-T6/T651, Kaiser Aluminum typical properties (sheet, coil & plate datasheet); Poisson from MIL-HDBK-5J
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
1
Alloy 6061 Sheet, Coil & Plate Technical DataKaiser Aluminumarchived copyAluminum · Yield strength: typical, 0.2% offset, .500 in dia specimenAluminum · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalAluminum · Elongation at break: typical, in 4D, 0.500 in dia specimenAluminum · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalAluminum · Density: nominalAluminum · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CAluminum · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CAluminum · Specific heat: typical, at 100 °CAluminum · Melting point: solidus-liquidus
2
CIP 35: Testing Compressive Strength of ConcreteNational Ready Mixed Concrete Associationarchived copyConcrete · Compressive strength: specified compressive strength class (f'c), not a measured typical
CIP 36: Structural Lightweight ConcreteNational Ready Mixed Concrete Associationarchived copyConcrete · Density: range for normalweight concrete
5
MIL-HDBK-5J, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (2003)U.S. Department of DefenseAluminum · Poisson's ratio: typical (handbook physical constant)
6
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)
9
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 or Concrete?
Concrete is lighter: 2,320 kg/m³ against 2,700 kg/m³ for Aluminum.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum or Concrete?
Aluminum is stiffer: Young's modulus 68.3 GPa against 25.1 GPa for Concrete, so the same part in Aluminum deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum or Concrete?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum
Concrete
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
2.34x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
42% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
20% 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 or Concrete?
Aluminum conducts heat better: 167 W/m·K against 0.9 W/m·K for Concrete.
Which expands less with temperature?
Concrete expands less: 10 µm/m·K against 23.6 µm/m·K for Aluminum.