Advances in materials applied in civil engineering

This paper outlines the problems of the construction materials being used in civil engineering at the end of the 20th century and also of the construction materials of the future. The progress that have been made in the domain of basic construction materials such as steel and concrete over the 19th and 20th centuries is analysed. It is described how new materials such as carbon fibre reinforced polymer, high-strength concrete and high-performance concrete, create the possibilities of a further development. New opportunities for modem glued-timber structures are also presented. The limitations of the application of glass and plastics as construction materials are indicated. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.