construction may more than offset（足以抵消）increased material costs. Any measures designer can take to standardize the design and forming（加工）will generally pay off（使人得益）in reduced overall costs.
经济性 最重要的考虑常常是该结构的总费用。当然，这是一个建造结构而必需的材料和劳动力费用的函数。但是，总费用经常同样地或更多地受总的建造时间的影响，因为承包商和业主必须分配资金来进行建造，并直到建筑物可以使用才能收回投资。因快速施工而使财务的节约可足以抵消增加的材料费用。设计者为使设计和加工标准化所采取的任何措施通常都将在降低的总费用中得益。 In many cases the long-term economy（长期的经济性）of the structure may be more important than the first cost. As a result, maintenance（维护）and durability（耐久性）are important considerations.
在很多情况下，结构长期的经济性可能比初始费用更重要。因此，维护和耐久性是重要的考虑因素。
Suitability of Material for Architectural and Structural Function A reinforced concrete system frequently allows the designer to combine the architectural and structural functions（功能）. Concrete has the advantage that it is placed in a plastic condition（塑性状态）and is given the desired shape and texture（密度）by means of the forms and the finishing techniques（加工技术）. This allows such elements（构件）as flat plates or other types of slabs to serve as load-bearing elements while providing the finished floor and ceiling surface（楼面和顶棚面）. Similarly, reinforced concrete walls can provide architecturally attractive surfaces in addition to having the ability to resist gravity, wind, or seismic loads. Finally, the choice of size or shape is governed（决定）by the designer and not by the availability of standard manufactured members.
材料对建筑和结构功能的适应性 钢筋混凝土系统常常允许设计者将建筑和结构的功能结合起来。混凝土的优势是能以塑性的状态放置，并通过模板和加工技术给出需要的形状和密度。当楼面和顶棚面完成时，允许这些构件诸如平面板或其他类型的板充当受力构件。类似地，钢筋混凝土墙除了能抵抗重力、风或地震荷载外，还能提供建筑上吸引人的外观。最后，尺寸和形状的选择由设计者来决定，而不是由标准制造构件的可得性来决定。
Fire Resistance The structure in a building must withstand the effects of a fire and remain standing（直立）while the building is evacuated（撤空）and the fire is extinguished（熄灭）. A concrete building inherently（固有地）has a 1- to 3-hour fire rating（耐火等级）without special fireproofing （防火）or other details（说明）. Structural steel or timber（钢结构或木结构） buildings must be fireproofed to attain similar fire ratings.
抗火性 当房屋被撤空、火被熄灭时，建筑中的结构必须经得起火的影响，并仍能保持直立。混凝土房屋在没有采取特殊的防火措施或其他说明的情况下本来就有1-3小时的耐火等级。钢结构或木结构的房屋必须采取防火措施，以得到相似的耐火等级。
Rigidity The occupants of a building may be disturbed （干扰）if their building oscillates（摇动）in the wind or the floors vibrate as people walk by（走过）. Due to the greater stiffness and mass（刚度和质量）of a concrete structure, vibrations are seldom a problem.
刚性 如果房屋在风中摇动，或者人们走过时底板振动，则房屋的居住者可能会被干扰。由于混凝土结构具有较大的刚度和质量，振动很少成为问题。
Low Maintenance Concrete members inherently require less maintenance than do structural steel or timber members （结构钢构件或结构木构件）. This is particularly true（尤其正确）if dense, air-entrained concrete has been used for surfaces exposed to the atmosphere, and if care has been taken in the design to provide adequate drainage off and away （使水排出） from the structure.
低维护性 混凝土构件比结构钢构件或结构木构件需要的维护本来就少。特别是当暴露在空气中的表面混凝土采用密实的加气混凝土，并在设计中小心地让水分充分地排出结构时更是如此。
Availability of Materials Sand, gravel, cement, and concrete mixing facilities（搅拌设施） are very widely available, and reinforcing steel（钢筋）can be transported to most job sites（施工现场）more easily than can structural steel（结构钢）. As a result, reinforced concrete is frequently used in remote areas.
材料的可得性 砂、碎石（砾石）、水泥以及混凝土的搅拌设施可以非常广泛的得到，且钢筋比结构钢更容易地运至多数施工现场。因此，钢筋混凝土经常用在偏远的区域。
On the other hand, there are a number of factors that may cause one to select a material other than (..除外，不是..）reinforced concrete. These include：