Today, practically all industries have major applications of structural steel. From industry equipment to finished products, structural steel is used everywhere. Buildings, bridges, high-rise buildings, and warehouses are made using structural steel sections. Industry experts prefer the use of structural steel over any other building material for construction. This is mainly because of the innumerable benefits structural steel provides. But as with everything else in the world, there are certain downsides to using structural steel in building structures. Here we are going to focus on the advantages and disadvantages of structural steel structures.
Advantages of Structural Steel Structures
Steel is tensile. It has a high strength-to-weight ratio, so it has high strength per unit mass. So no matter how large the overall structure is, the steel sections will be small and lightweight, unlike other building materials.
Steel can be easily fabricated and produced massively. Steel sections can be produced off-site at shop floors and then assembled onsite. This saves time and increases the efficiency of the overall construction process.
Structural steel is very flexible. You can mold it into any shape without changing its properties. You can convert it into sheets or turn it into wires as per the design.
Structural steel is relatively cheap compared to other building materials.
It is very durable. Structural steel structures can withstand external pressures such as earthquakes, thunderstorms, and cyclones. A well-built steel structure can last up to 30 years if maintained well.
Disadvantages of Structural Steel Structures
Steel is an alloy of iron. This makes it susceptible to corrosion. This problem can be solved to some extent using anti-corrosion applications.
It has high maintenance costs as it has to be painted to make it corrosion-resistant
There are extensive fireproofing costs involved as steel is not fireproof. In high temperatures, steel loses its properties.
Buckling is an issue with steel structures. As the length of the steel column increases, the chances of buckling also increase.
Steel has a high expansion rate with changing temperatures. This can be detrimental to the overall structure.
If you are looking for structural steel fabricators, contact us as soon as possible. At Northern Weldarc, we are a team of highly experienced structural steel fabricators. We specialize in oil and gas, commercial, pulp and paper, and petrochemical industries.
