Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 September 2016
Timber, steel, and concrete form the triumvirate of structural materials used in construction. Each material possesses particular attributes, with cost and ease of use often providing the determining factor in selection when structural requirements are equal. This article aims to provide insight into the unique capabilities that steel can offer in construction. Beginning with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, developments in alloy chemistry, impurity control, and thermomechanical processing to produce different geometries have continued to make steel an attractive choice in residential and commercial construction. Changing demographics and the needs of future cities are discussed in terms of steel construction members, construction strategies, and functional coatings.