What are the advantages and disadvantages of concrete as a building/construction material?

Question

Please prefer posting answer from Civil Engineering or Architectural point of view?

Other answer are also welcome.

Answer 1

concrete is the most suitable material for construction, since it can withstand whatever compression forces, moreover it is workable and durable material, can be formed to any shape you like, also it is some how cheap materials,

as disadvantages , i would say that it require special care and precutions during casting otherwise it could cause cracks and failure

Answer 2

As a construction material Concrete has the following advantages:

1. Concrete can handle the compression stresses 10 times more than the tension and the most of loads in our life is compression.

2. Concrete is a britile material which gives the advantage to make a rigid structure.

3. Easy to handle over specially now there is plants that give you ready mix concrete.

The disadvantages:

1. Concrete is weak in handling tension.

2. Because concrete is a britile material the strength upon shear (specially at 45 degress) must be checked.

3. Needs another material to reinforce it against excessive shear and tension,

In my openion these are the major things for concrete.