Structural steel is a highly versatile material that can me molded into any shape. Structural steel beams are molded or fabricated into long structures called structural steel beams. These beams are supportive structural items that span an area and are designed to support a load. Structural steel beams and channels are the building blocks for various structural steel frameworks. A wide variety of beams, channels, angles, etc. are available in various shapes, sizes, and purposes. Depending on the appearance of structural steel beams, they are named as I-beam, H-beam, C-beam, HSS, angled, etc. This article talks about uses of some structural steel sections that are seen in day-to-day life.
Beams
I-beams are the most commonly seen and widely used beams. As these beams are strong, they are used to create large and spacious rooms with minimal support channels. When a house is redeveloped, these beams are used to replace old structural channels. Apart from supporting commercial and residential constructions, I-beams are also used to construct frames for trolley ways, elevators, trailer and truck beds, etc. H-shaped beams have thicker walls and flanges and are used to construct mezzanines, platforms and bridges, and common building constructions. W-shaped, wide-flange beams are most commonly seen in residential construction. These cross-sectioned beams are inefficient in carrying torsion or twisting load. Hence, they are used for straight vertical or horizontal support only.
Hollow structural section (HSS)
These hollow, thick-walled, tubular beams are commonly found in rectangular, square or circular shapes. These sections are used to load in multiple directions. Hollow sections are widely used in all the fields. They have high aesthetic value, which is why they are used to build beautiful buildings and halls. They work as both, supporting girders and decorative facades for the buildings. Being light weight, environment-friendly, corrosion-free and hollow, circular HSS are used to build tall towers. Many road and railway bridges around the world are made up of one or more of these sections. Flat surfaces of rectangular Hollow Structural Sections make them suitable for use in joining and fabrication. Also, Hollow Structural Sections are often used instead of beams and columns in simple residential constructions.
Structural Channel
Structural channels are also known as the C-shaped beam or parallel flange channel. Structural channels are majorly used in commercial and residential constructions. These channels are not used alone as beams or columns because their bending axis is not centered on the width of the flanges. Hence, they cannot sustain heavy loads. C-beams have low resistance to torsion and can twist if excessive loads are applied to it. Two C-shaped sections are welded together to work effectively like an I-shaped beam.
There are several other structural steel beams, channels, and sections of various width, sizes, and shapes classified under these types. Flat sections, rods, angles, etc. are all examples of this. To know which beams can best suit your construction requirements, book an appointment with our professional structural steel fabricators today.
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