Reading Technical English for Academic Purposes, Marela Hercezi - Skalicki

6B THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL FOR METALS

p. 134
QUESTIONS

1. Why was wood replaced by metal?

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2. Which are the superior properties of metal?

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3. Which revolution is about to take place?

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4. Have limitations been reached in the design life of many metals?

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5. What constrains engineering designs?

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6. Which composites have experimenters turned to?

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7. Do metals have an ideal ratio of tensile strength to flexural modulus?

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8. What are composites?

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 Reading Technical English for Academic Purposes, Marela Hercezi - Skalicki

6B THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL FOR METALS

p. 134
QUESTIONS

1. Why was wood replaced by metal?

1. Metallurgical knowledge blossomed rapidly: engineers gained confidence in their ability to
use metal and develop ways of overcoming its drawbacks, such as its lack of compressive
strength.

2. Which are the superior properties of metal?

2. Metal’s superior properties are: high tensile strength, reliably homogeneous nature, and the
ease with which it could be manufactured to fine tolerances.

3. Which revolution is about to take place?

3. Metals themselves are about to be supplanted by composites.

4. Have limitations been reached in the design life of many metals?

4. Many conventional engineering alloys are reaching the limit of their design life.

5. What constrains engineering designs?

5. Relatively poor fatigue strength and resistance to chemical attacks severely constrain
engineering designs.

6. Which composites have experimenters turned to?

6. In many cases, experimenters have already turned to non-metallic or semi-metallic
composites.

7. Do metals have an ideal ratio of tensile strength to flexural modulus?

7. No, metals don’t have an ideal ratio of tensile strength to flexural modulus.

8. What are composites?

8. A composite is any material formed of two or more dissimilar components and depending
on physical or surface – chemistry action between those components for its overall properties.