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Concrete is a conventionally used material for construction while steel is now gaining momentum for
its flexibility and reduced construction time. Both concrete and steel framedstructures have environmental
issues associated with their use, including a high embodied energy in their manufacture.

Concrete has some advantages; waste materials can be included within the mix, such as GGBS (Ground
Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag) and PFA (Pulverised Fuel Ash). In addition, moves are being made to
assess the potential of using recycled concrete, however, issues such as moisture content and material
variability dictate that it is economically unviable.

Steel, while having a high lead time, is known for its fast erection on site.
However, steel needs fire protection whereas within concrete this is inherent. Prefabrication of steel can
allow thin film intumescent coatings to be applied offsite.

Efficiency within concrete construction is being improved by the adoption of hybrid solutions and
innovations in formwork such as self-climbing forms. The use of precast concreteconstruction can also
help to significantly reduce build time particularly where vertical elements are considered to be the main
limitation.

Sacrificial probes can be integrated within concrete to provide strength determination at an early age and
this is likely to help further improve construction methodologies.

Steel, being fast to erect, can allow the building to be occupied sooner. In addition, reduced
labour costs are possible through dryness of form in comparison with concrete.

The construction of a steel framework is comparatively lightweight, as much as sixty percent lighter than a
comparable reinforced concrete frame solution which might allow for a less expensive foundation system.
In addition, modification to the building can sometimes be facilitated by simple removal of a structural
steel member.

https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concrete_vs._steel
 Advantage Of Steel Structure Over Concrete Structure

Compared with other steel structures, the use of function, design, construction, and integrated
economy has advantages in the application advantages of steel structure in residential construction is
mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1.Flexible architectural style Much larger space design, indoor space can plan more segmentation, meet
the different needs of users, and by reducing the cross section of the column area and the use of
lightweight wallboard, increase the area of utilization, effectively use area by about 3——6％.
2.Energy saving effect is good, standardized prefabricated panel wall using light energy to replace
clay bricks, insulation performance is good, energy saving 65%, household can cut down the cost of
heating shade of 3 dollar per square metre.
3.Steel structure system for residential building can give full play to the good ductility of Plastic
deformation ability and excellent seismic wind resistance.Concrete steel pillars fully rational use of
material properties of steel and concrete, by increasing the intensity of the corresponding narrow
cross-section, its compressive strength, resistance to lateral bending strength, 1.5 times higher than
the concrete columns, greatly increasing the ability to resist earthquakes, improve the safety and
reliability of residence. In particular, in the event of an earthquake, typhoon disaster case, to
avoid the collapse of the buildings destroyed. If 95 years of the Great Hanshin earthquake in Japan,
the earthquake in Taiwan 99 years not collapsed almost entirely built of steel H-beam building.
4.Light Weight ,steel structure residential system using lightweight materials,Composed of high-
strength fire waterproof insulation sound insulation energy-saving composite wall to replace the
traditional clay brick and other heavy masonry materials.Using light steel structure, concrete dosage
can reduce 50%, 75% drop in overall weight than the concrete building.
5.The construction speed quickly,light steel structure building system, don’t need the tie bar, do not
need to make a template, cast-in-site concrete floor, do not need to temporary support, in this way,
can greatly speed up the construction site of the assembled. Therefore the construction cycle of Light
steel structure system, can shorten 50% ~ 75% than the traditional structure mode, can greatly
shorten the occupied period of investment funds, increasing the service efficiency of funds.
6.Environmental protection effects are better,Steel structure residential construction has greatly
reduced the amount of Lime, Sand and Stone ,material is mainly used in the green recycling or
degradation of the material,When building demolition, most of the material can regenerate or
degradation, won’t produce a lot of rubbish.
7.Cost performance is high,due to the interaction and complementary advantages of ladle concrete,the
beam cross section could shrink by more than 50%. Therefore, light steel structure house with steel
quantity with steel decreased about 15% than that of concrete structures ,Concrete reduced by 50%,
manpower costs fell by 75%, freight rates fell by 75%, foundation cost fell 20% ~ 30%.
8.In line with the requirements of housing industrialization and sustainable development.Steel
structure is suitable for mass production in factory,high degree of industrialization,and is capable
of saving, waterproof, heat insulation, windows and doors, and other advanced finished in one
collection, complete the application, design, production, construction integration, improve the level
of the housing industry.
In conclusion,Steel structure is suitable to the innovative residential structure system ,steel
structure can be as people of different aesthetic view,using different functional requirements, design
a variety of shapes, the new room type scale space, manufacturers can precision, high-quality, high-
speed completed, the building is beautiful and the economy to achieve the effect.

https://www.havitsteelstructure.com/steel-structure-news-7.html
In order to create an environmentally-conscious building, the environmental impacts
of the entire service life must be known. Life-cycle assessment (LCA), which
evaluates the impacts from all life-cycle phases, from “cradle to grave,” is the best
method to achieve this goal. In this paper, LCA is used to quantify the energy use and
the environmental emissions during the construction phase of two typical office
buildings, one with a structural steel frame and one with a cast-in-place concrete
frame, and then these are put in the perspective of the overall service life of each
building. The concrete structural-frame construction has more associated energy
use, CO2CO2, CO, NO2NO2, particulate matter, SO2SO2, and hydrocarbon
emissions due to more formwork used, larger transportation impacts due to a larger
mass of materials, and longer equipment use due to the longer installation process.
In contrast, the steel-frame construction has more volatile organic compound (VOC)
and heavy metal (Cr, Ni, Mn) emissions due to the painting, torch cutting, and
welding of the steel members. The energy use and the environmental emissions of
the two buildings are comparable if the total impacts from materials’ manufacturing,
construction, transportation, use, maintenance, and demolition are considered.
Energy use and environmental emissions from office buildings can be reduced
through a careful selection of embedded and temporary materials and construction
equipment.

https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/%28ASCE%291076-0342%282005%2911%3A2%2893%29
Concrete
Concrete has been used since ancient times, and today it’s often chosen for its durability, versatility,
thermal mass, and low maintenance. For high-rise buildings or long-span bridges, structural concrete
provides maximum strength, durability, and the ability to withstand a high level of tensile stress.
Concrete is environmentally friendly because it is made from readily available materials – sand and
limestone – and it’s also fire and weather resistant. Choosing a concrete structure also provides a
wealth of aesthetic possibilities. Concrete can be easily incorporated with other materials to create
colours or patterns, and it can be moulded into any number of shapes, because it starts in liquid
form. Compared to steel, concrete requires less skill to erect. However, because of the many steps
involved in erecting reinforced concrete, the final strength can sometimes be affected if there has
been poor workmanship. Another risk with concrete is that shrinkage can cause cracks or loss of
strength.

Steel
Steel has a high strength to weight ratio, making it a better structural material for high-rise buildings,
long-span bridges, or buildings on soft ground. Steel is often used in major construction to speed up
development, reduce onsite risks, and minimise waste. Computer modeling can be used to ensure
components are manufactured correctly the first time, minimising rework. Buildings with steel
structures are often lighter and have smaller foundations because steel is structurally efficient. Steel
structures can be erected quickly and with fewer workers needed onsite, reducing labour costs.
Compared to concrete, erecting a steel structure creates less noise and dust on a worksite and
surrounding areas. Steel is fire resistant, termite free, and a large portion of steel can be recycled.
However, there can be disadvantages to choosing steel: it can be more expensive, could be
susceptible to corrosion and may need to be repainted regularly. Steel also conducts and transmits
heat, so steel structures needs to be fireproofed correctly.

https://www.wasteel.com.au/should-you-choose-a-concrete-timber-or-steel-
structure/#.Wn5asOhuYdU
Concrete vs Steel
High-rise buildings dominate the skylines of our cities, and in the race to have the
highest or the most modern, the boundaries of architectural engineering are pushed
even further.
The materials that make this possible – concrete and steel, each have their strengths
and weaknesses. So, which is the better material?

Safety Considerations
Concrete
The concrete industry has always maintained that concrete is safer than steel. It
requires no additional fireproofing to meet fire codes and has performed well during
natural disasters.
Buildings made of cast-in-place reinforced concrete can withstand winds of more than
200 miles an hour and can withstand flying debris.
Cast-in-place concrete provides very good resistance to impacts and explosions.
It can resist extreme temperatures from fires without losing its structural integrity.

Steel
Reports issued recently by the National Institute of Standards and Technology show the
reduced structural integrity of steel was to blame for the collapse of the twin towers in
NYC. The fierceness of the jet-fuelled fires contributed to the collapse. With measures
such as spray-on fireproofing, buildings made of structural steel are capable of
withstanding greater temperatures.
The strength of steel, and its ductility, along with design and engineering, make it a good
choice in areas of seismic activity. It can bend without breaking in high winds.

Design
Concrete
You can create and shape anything out of concrete, making advanced design
possibilities a reality.
Concrete has the advantage of offering extra space possibilities. Cast-in-place reinforced
concrete can give more rentable space, due to the lower floor-to-floor heights. Donald
Trump’s architects switched from steel to concrete so they could add two extra stories
to the new building at the former Chicago Sun-Times site.

Steel
Steel remains the popular choice for office and multifamily developers. Use of girder
slab, castellated beam construction, and staggered truss enables much lower floor-to-
floor heights than expected in structural steel buildings.
Steel has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any construction material.

Cost Considerations
Concrete
Prices of construction material have increased, but the cost of ready-mix concrete has
remained stable.
Insurance companies look favorably on cast-in-place reinforced concrete buildings
because the safety and structural integrity reduce liability on their part. Owners and
developers of such buildings can save nearly 25% annually on the costs of property
insurance.
Steel
Structural steel represents less than 20% of all the steel used in building construction.
The increase in costs of the structural framing system represents less than 2% of the
10% increase in project costs.

Costs for concrete framing systems have gone up equivalently to the costs of a steel
framing system, despite what concrete experts say, according to John P. Cross, vice
president of the American Institute of Steel Construction in Chicago.

Environmental Impact
Concrete
Concrete is often locally sourced and needs less energy to transport to construction
sites.
Rebar for concrete is often made from recycled steel.
At the end of its life, concrete can be crushed and recycled, but it can’t be used for new
building concrete, whereas steel can.
Steel
85% of steel is recycled, according to the British publication Building.
New steel made from scrap uses about one-third of the energy necessary to make steel
from virgin materials.
Steel fabrication is often completed at a significant distance from the construction site,
which increases the use of energy needed to transport it.

Construction Scheduling
Concrete
Buildings with concrete can almost always be constructed faster – sometimes twice as
fast, according to Alfred G. Gerosa, president of the Concrete Alliance Inc, in New York
City.
On a 2-day cycle, workers can pour up to 20,000 square feet of floor space every two
days.
Steel
While steel can’t beat concrete’s 2-day turnaround; it does provide benefits of its own.
John P. Cross says he believes structural steel framing systems are the way of the future,
and they result in a faster construction schedule.
CAD programs can pass their information straight through a database as a 3-D model,
and send it to detailing and shop floor fabrication programs. These productivity
increases help to ensure the future of steel as a viable construction material.

https://www.merloconstructionmi.com/concrete-vs-steel-2/
Concrete

"Concrete has been used for structures since Ancient Greece and Rome,”
said Marianne Fourie of the International Federation for Structural
Concrete. “Technological improvements and innovations over the
centuries have refined its use. Structural concrete today allows engineers
and architects to design and achieve striking edifices that are as robust as
they can be aesthetic. Advances have also led to the more widespread
use of precast concrete, which offers great benefits of cost and speed of
construction.”

When it comes to larger edifices, such as tall buildings and bridges,

Fourie argues that nothing comes close to structural concrete for sheer
strength and durability.

Part of its attraction, she says, is also its versatility.

“There is no reason to limit design to one material only,” said

Fourie. “Assimilating other materials into concrete structure design is
simple. However, structural concrete is not only used in conjunction
with other materials but also incorporates them, for example, with fibre-
reinforced concrete.”

Fourie says although other materials have become ‘trendier’ for their
perceived environmental friendliness, structural concrete has made great
strides in sustainability. It also has inherent ecological benefits since it is
made from the most commonly available minerals (sand and limestone),
and has excellent durability, thermal mass and minimal waste.
She cites two projects, which both won an ‘Award for Outstanding
Concrete Structures,’ as shining examples. The Centro Ovale concrete
shell (Chiasso, Switzerland), illustrates the versatility of the material,
while the Bella Sky Hotel (Copenhagen, Denmark) is an example of the
innovative use of precast concrete.

Centro Ovale

Bella Sky Hotel

“The aesthetic possibilities of structural concrete are limitless,” said

Fourie. “One innovation is the use of pigmented admixtures that allow
designers to create facades in a great variety of colours. A recent trend is
the use of white concrete, which lends a pristine quality to edifices. The
reinforcement of concrete also continuously advances, with all matter of
material being incorporated to enhance strength and increase the
architectural possibilities.”

Steel

“Steelwork in major construction is on the rise as builders become more

attuned to the advantages of using the material in easing onsite risks,
speeding development for earlier returns and environmental benefits,”
said Alan Marshall, communications manager at the Australian Steel
Institute.

The US-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat recently

reported the number of composite multi-level projects over 200 metres
that typically comprise a steel frame with metal decking, rose 54 per
cent worldwide in 2014.

“Australia has experienced a similar resurgence,” said Marshall. “This is

particularly the case along the eastern seaboard where, during the same
period, about 20 composite multi-level projects are underway, such as at
480 Queen Street, which is the first steel framed building of its size in
Brisbane. It utilises a parallel beam flooring system to achieve five-day
floor cycle times, along with many other benefits gained from composite
design and build programs.”

480 Queen Street, Brisbane

Marshall argues the case for steel under three key criteria: speed and
efficiency; the reduction of on-site risks; and sustainability and waste
reduction.

Speed and efficiency

 Computer modelling before fabrication on computer

numerically controlled (CNC) equipment means the
components are produced right first time and there is minimal
rework
 Earlier construction provides faster completion and payback
commencement
 Faster construction means the builder’s staff can be released
earlier to start the next project
  Steel is a structurally efficient building material and so
buildings are lighter and often foundations can be smaller as a
result
 Steel is fabricated in controlled conditions driven by 3D
modelling and CNC equipment increasing safety and reducing
MTIs and LTIs
 A test certificate is available for all steel used and this can be
made traceable through to the finished product
 Design for standardised bolted connections and repetitive floor
plates can increase speed of construction

Reducing onsite risks

 Steel use reduces the number of workers onsite

(approximately 10 to 20 per cent of the labour needed for
concrete construction), reducing accident liability for builders
 Preassembled steel packages can be lifted straight from the
truck in sequence
 Offsite fabrication relieves congested and hard to access sites
 Reduced noise and dust and construction times ease disruption
to current occupants and neighbourhoods
 For domestic housing, steel framing, roofing and cladding offer
more termite-free and fire resistant abodes than with other
commonly used building materials

Sustainability and waste reduction

 Waste removal is significantly less than for a concrete building

  More than 95 per cent of all structural steel is recovered and
reused or recycled
 Steel buildings inherently lend themselves to structural
addition and modification easily
 Independently certified steel fabricator members of the ASI’s
Environmental Sustainability Charter attract an extra Green
Star point for projects
 Savings in freight and materials through not having to use and
remove temporary formwork
 The design can be future proofed for longer life such as
provision of large beam penetrations to accommodate future
services

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/timber-vs-steel-concrete-structures-gstarcad-uae
Advantages of Reinforced Concrete

1. Reinforced concrete has a high compressive strength

compared to other building materials.
2. Due to the provided reinforcement, reinforced concrete can
also withstand a good amount tensile stress.
3. Fire and weather resistance of reinforced concrete is fair.
4. The reinforced concrete building system is more durable than
any other building system.
5. Reinforced concrete, as a fluid material, in the beginning, can
be economically molded into a nearly limitless range of shapes.
6. The maintenance cost of reinforced concrete is very low.
7. In the structure like footings, dams, piers etc. reinforced
concrete is the most economical construction material.
8. It acts like a rigid member with minimum deflection.
9. As reinforced concrete can be molded to any shape required, it
is widely used in precast structural components. It yields rigid
members with minimum apparent deflection.
10. Compared to the use of steel in structure, reinforced
concrete requires less skilled labor for the erection of the
structure.

Disadvantages of Reinforced Concrete

 1. The tensile strength of reinforced concrete is about one-tenth
of its compressive strength.
2. The main steps of using reinforced concrete are mixing,
casting, and curing. All of this affect the final strength.
3. The cost of the forms used for casting is relatively higher.
4. For multi-storied building the RCC column section for is larger
than steel section as the compressive strength is lower in the
case of .
5. Shrinkage causes crack development and strength loss
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/advantages-disadvantages-reinforced-concrete-reza-din
http://slideplayer.com/slide/4986452/
 Stability
Reinforced concrete is safer than steel and can resist explosions and high impact. Concrete
can also handle high temperatures for a longer time than steel. Steel needs fireproofing to
protect it from fires, or else the fire can weaken the steel structure and cause it to collapse.
Because of this, some building codes do not let owners build steel structures without
adequate concrete support, especially in densely populated areas. The weight of concrete
allows it to resist high winds better than steel. However, concrete buildings are only as
sturdy as their designs allow. A steel building can be sturdier than a concrete building if
designed correctly. Steel structures designed with redundancy -- more support beams than
required -- can remain standing if a portion of the building's support has weakened. Steel
also can resist high winds because the material can bend.

Costs
While cast-in-place concrete can be very expensive, owners will often save money because
insurance companies lower premiums, knowing that this kind of concrete offers greater
safety. Insurance premiums for steel structures are higher because steel resists fire less
effectively. Structural steel prices have remained stable because of low demand for steel in
both the EU and the US (as of February 2011), though raw-material prices might drive the
steel prices up, according to Steel On the Net. If the Chinese economic bubble bursts, steel
prices could drop more. However, regular steel and concrete support systems cost roughly
the same.

Designs
Steel buildings offer greater design flexibility than concrete buildings because the weight
and strength of the steel allow the contractors to form different shapes, while the concrete
has little flexibility and a lot of weight. However, concrete and steel are often used together
to make the structure more sturdy. Builders can also create steel with longer spans than
with concrete, which expands the construction possibilities.

https://www.ehow.com/info_7978744_steel-vs-concrete-buildings.html

References
 Buildings: Concrete Vs. Steel; Jana J. Madsen; 2005
 Sorell: Steel Vs. Concrete; 2006
 Steel On the Net: 12 Month GFMS Price Forecasts
 REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMED STRUCTURE
 Basically material used for taking load is Reinforced
Cement Concrete.
 In reinforced concrete framed structure, the cross
Section areas of structural elements are large.
 Reinforced concrete framed structure is less resistant
to Earthquake and Wind.
 In reinforced cement concrete framed structure, the
tensile strength of RCC structural elements is less as
compared to Steel structural elements.
 Reinforced concrete framed structure is more labour
intensive.
 Speed of construction is less.
 Reinforced concrete framed structure is less prone to
corrosion, but if concrete is not properly done, it is
equally prone to corrosion and not only that repairs are
also very costly, sometimes more than original cost.
 Cost of repair is more and repair are cumbersome.
 Technique of construction is not as important while
determining life of structure.
 Skilled as well as non-skilled workers are needed for
its construction.
 Construction is simple.
 Weight of structural elements is more.
 Reinforced concrete framed structure is fire resistant.
 Concreting needs care while constructing.
 Quality control is difficult.
 Economical where formwork and labour are easily
available.
STEEL FRAMED STRUCTURE
 Basically material used for taking
load is Steel.
 In Steel framed structure, the
Cross Section areas of structural
elements are small.
 Steel framed structure is more
resistant to Earthquake and Wind.
 In Steel framed structure, the
tensile strength of Steel structural
elements is more as compared to
RCC structural elements.
 Steel framed structure is less
labour intensive and much work
can be done in workshop.
 Speed of construction is more.
 Steel framed structure is prone to
corrosion.
 Cost of repair is less and repair are
comparatively easy.
 Technique of construction is most
important while determining life of
structure.
 Only Skilled worker are needed for
its construction.
 Construction is cumbersome.
 Weight of structural elements is
less.
 Steel framed structure is not fire
resistant.
 Joint needs care while
constructing.
 Better quality control.
 Costly form of construction.
 It is brittle as compared to steel structure. Hence,  It is ductile. Hence, failure is not
failure is sudden and hazardous. sudden.
 In reinforced concrete framed structure, the cross  In steel framed structure, the Cross
section of elements are square, rectangle, circular, L section of elements are I shaped, L
shaped, T shaped etc. shaped, C shaped, T shaped etc.
https://gharpedia.com/difference-between-reinforced-concrete-and-steel-framed-structure/
One of the early decisions that needs to be taken for any structural frame is the use of steel
or reinforced concrete. This has a long-term effect on the project, including cost and
durability. Your choice has an overall impact on different aspects of building design, and its
performance. Many businesses comparing structural steel vs reinforced concrete find that
steel is a more cost-effective solution compared to concrete. But is cost the only factor
when working on construction or civil engineering projects? The answer is definitely “No”.
We cannot simply make a decision on the basis of cost only. So in this article, we will try to
compare them in terms of different aspects of construction with a focus on safety and
strength.

Cost
When it comes to cost then structural steel has a slight edge over reinforced concrete.
Structural steelwork represents only 20% of overall steelwork used in construction, and this
is the main reason why steelwork is much cheaper compared to reinforced concrete. The
price of construction material has grown overall but the impact of this growth is more on
concrete (by mass) than steel.

Availability Of Material
There has recently been an issue with the availability of concreate materials, especially
cement. The reason for this is shipping delays and higher rates of transport for raw material
imports. Steel has not so far been affected by this trend, with a reliable supply of steel
available at low prices from Chinese manufacturers.

Project Schedule
When we talk about structural steel vs reinforced concrete in terms of construction timing,
concrete has a slight edge. It is said that building with concrete can be double the speed
compared to a steel structure. But there are different views in support of structural steel as
well. Many businesses prefer working with steel due to its versatility, strength and ease of
construction.

Which Is Stronger?
The most important questions that need to be answered are which is stronger, and which is
safer. Until recently, industry consensus said that concrete is safer. There are some
reasons for this. In concrete construction, the core parts of the building are encased by 2-
foot thick concrete. This is done to protect the building against fire or any potential attack.
The core part of the building contains the elevator, stairs, emergency escape and power
systems.

In case of fire or explosion, there is a possibility that the steel might melt after some point.
This is one drawback that experts point out in case of structural steelwork. However, the
 use of fire protection insulation, and spray treatment with flame retardant coatings might
safeguard steel against fire or explosion.

There is strong evidence in favour of steel in terms of strength. When used in conjunction
with good engineering principles, structural steel can be used to create buildings that easily
equal any raised in concrete.

Here is a summary of the comparative advantages and disadvantages of structural steel

and reinforced concrete.

Reinforced Concrete Pros

 Better fire-proof quality than steel, wood or brick.
 Can take any shape with the right moulding.
 Cost effective construction material when it comes to certain structures like dams, footings,
and piers.

Cons
 Comparatively expensive.
 When compared to steel it has low compressive strength.
 Requires mixing, casting and curing. This might result in a change in the final strength of the
concrete.

Pros Of Structural Steel

 Cost effective in terms of materials and labour.
 They are considered as the future of construction, with many innovations improving the
quality and versatility of steel year on year.
 Useful for construction of offices and commercial buildings.
 Easily available at competitive prices.
 Space can be optimised

Cons
 Not all builders are used to this material and it requires special tools to operate.
 Structural steel components are prone to fire damage compared to concrete.
 During winter the steel structures get cold easily and this might affect people working or
living inside it. (This negative can be counteracted with the appropriate coatings and
insulation.)

As experienced structural and architectural steel fabricators, we are well placed to advise
you on whether steel or reinforced concrete is the best decision for your application.
Discuss your project with one of our team by calling 01945 464637. For more information
about materials engineering, compliance and other factors surrounding steel fabrication,
please download our free e-book: How To Ensure Quality, Compliance & Lead Time When
Working With Steel Fabrication Companies. Click here to claim your copy.

https://blog.glwengineering.co.uk/structural-steel-vs-reinforced-concrete-which-is-stronger