The truth is corrugated iron is a super material composed of a zinc-dipped — or galvanized — mild steel sheet. The sheet is then passed through gear-shaped rollers to create a repeating, almost sinusoidal, pattern.

The materials, pattern and manufacturing process make the sheet strong, light, affordable, biodegradable and even bioavailable. So, it’s an excellent choice for engineers looking to utilize eco-friendly structural components.

The pattern gives the sheet bending stiffness about the axis normal to the corrugations. This means that the material can be used for self-supporting wall panels.

Alternatively, the sheet could be given an additional curvature about its second axis to create a shell that is stiff and strong about any axis of bending.

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Credit: Pinterest