material proportions
All materials have rational proportions that are dictated by their inherent strengths and weaknesses. Masonry units like brick, for example, are strong in compression and depend on their mass for strength, and are, therefore, volumetric in form. Materials like steel are strong in both compression and tension, and can, therefore, be formed into linear columns and beams as well as planar sheet material. Wood, being a flexible and fairly elastic material, can be used as linear posts and beams, planar boards, and as a volumetric element in log cabin construction. (Ching, 1979)