In the United States, local building inspectors ensure that construction follows state regulations set forth in the building code. Site visits and approval processes at specific stages of construction ensure that buildings are safe for the public.
The specific guidelines contained in the building code are based on materials tests, conducted decades ago by engineers on standard building supplies. A sample materials test demonstrated on hobby supplies is shown in the following graph, excerpted from The Science of Home Construction from Schottenbauer Publishing.
- What is the maximum force leading to breakage?
- Over what time is the force applied?
Additional graphs such as the one above can be found in the book series The Science of Home Construction from Schottenbauer Publishing.
Schottenbauer Publishing offers over 8,000 graphs on real-life topics for student learning, collected into topic areas including sports, transportation, construction, environment, music, entertainment/toys, and general physics.
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