ABSTRACT
Wrought iron does have reasonable tensile strength and was a major building material until the costs of making low carbon steel were lowered. Doubts were raised over its material quality in the catastrophic Tay Bridge disaster of 1979 when the bridge, a mixture of wrought and cast iron components, was subjected to great stresses. Although actual material failure was found in the cast iron elements, steel was then chosen in preference for its greater strength in subsequent civil engineering structures. One of the last major engineering projects was the Tower for the 1889 Paris exhibition by Gustave Eiffel which used 7300 tons of wrought iron. Wrought iron is still used for the complex shaping of decorative ironwork and because of its durability is ideal for external work.
