Final answer:
Concrete is used to form load-bearing walls due to its compressive strength and can also be used for veneer walls. It has been utilized in construction for centuries and is preferred for being long-lasting, providing excellent thermal protection, and permitting faster building rates when used in its lightweight form.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of material that is often used to form load-bearing walls because of its high compressive strength is concrete. This durable material has been utilized in construction for centuries due to its robust nature, enabling it to withstand significant pressure, making it suitable for supporting the weight of stone vaulting, and roofs. In load-bearing architecture, the walls need to be strong enough to support not only their own weight but also that of the roof and any additional floors. Concrete's reliability and predictability have improved significantly over the last 100 years, making it a preferred choice for both load-bearing walls and veneer walls.
When used as a light-weight building material, lightweight concrete incorporates materials like shale, clay, or slate. These fine aggregates are mixed with lightweight coarse aggregate to produce a material that is not only long-lasting but also provides excellent thermal protection. Moreover, the reduced load of lightweight concrete allows for quicker construction speeds. This makes concrete a versatile construction material, suitable for various architectural techniques such as pier-and-beam construction, post-in-ground, and for filling wall cavities in method like bousillage or wattle and daub. Despite its poor performance against shear forces, reinforced with steel, concrete becomes essential in modern building design to form durable and stable structures capable of withstanding heavy loads and seismic activities.