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Steel is used everywhere, particularly in the construction industry. There are different types of steel, and they come in different shapes. Each class is designed to serve a unique purpose. This article will take you through everything to know about structural steel.
What is Structural Steel?
Structural steel is the metal that is applied to construction materials. Basically, structural steel is optimised to be applied in building construction. It differs from steel grades used in engineering tools or stainless steel, mainly applied on kitchen appliances and surfaces.
Structural steel is carbon steel, meaning its main composition includes carbon and iron. It is a category of steel with carbon making up to 2.1% of its weight. Higher carbon content generally implies higher steel strength. This means that the material is less likely to warp or bend with the application of pressure, and it is less malleable.
The shape of structural steel is also an important thing to know. Structural steel is designed for use in building construction, and its shape is made with a specific cross-section. Common structural steel shapes include rod, bar, tee, angle, z-shape, and I-beam.
The unique flexibility of structural steel makes it easy to customise the different shapes, sizes, and thicknesses to meet various building requirements.
Effects of carbon content on steel
For construction purposes, it's crucial for the steel used to have a high carbon content. This is because it is likely to bend if subjected to intense pressure. Steel with low carbon content is considered mild steel, and it is the most common type that is applied to building materials.
The carbon content in low-carbon steel is between 0.04% to 0.3% carbon, which is sufficient to make it strong but pliable. Steel buildings need to be strong, especially tall steel buildings. However, it's also essential for it to be flexible as well. Another thing to note is that rigid buildings don't accommodate the earth's natural shift, especially those arising from neighbouring constructions or even an earthquake.
Therefore, mid-to-high-carbon steels with 0.31 to 1.5% carbon content are the options that are generally considered to be structural steel. These are the options that are reserved for toolmaking and mechanical engineering purposes. There are many other structural steel grades, and in most cases, they contain other alloying elements, like nickel, cobalt, zirconium, and tungsten.
Different Steel Grades
Various steel grades are applied in the construction industry. These grades of steel include the following:
Carbon steel
Structural steel is considered carbon steel when it does not contain any alloying elements. Basically, the copper content in this steel grade lies between 0.4 to 0.6%; silicone does not go beyond 0.6%, while manganese does not have more than 1.6%. This type of steel is used in structural tubing and piping.
High-strength, low-alloy steel
This steel grade is used to optimise corrosion resistance and other mechanical properties. Unlike carbon steel, they are rich in manganese, which is up to 2%. They also contain a trace amount of titanium, niobium, vanadium, nitrogen, molybdenum, nickel, and chromium. High-strength, low-alloy steel is primarily applied in steel plates and structural shapes.
Forged steel
The process of forging steel involves shaping metal when it is in a solid state. This involves the application of heat or force to billets or steel ingots. The process helps produce a uniform grain structure that further upgrades the integrity of the steel. This is achieved by removing gas bubbles and voids, thereby increasing the strength of steel.
Quenched and tempered alloy steel
This process also seeks to add more strength to structural steel, achieved by simultaneously heating and cooling the steel in oil, water, nitrogen, or forced air. Doing this helps to create less brittle yet tougher and stronger structural steel.
Shapes of Structural Steel
As mentioned earlier, structural steel has different shapes that are primarily applied in the construction industry, and this includes the following:
Angled sections
L-shaped right-angled steel sections are typical, and they come in different lengths. They are primarily applied in providing support to other steel structures. This includes steel bars, as well as providing support to steel bed frames.
Tubular hollow sections
These are circular and pipe-like sections that are made with high torsional resistance. This means they are not likely to bend when subjected to increased weight and are the best option for load-bearing structures.
Parallel flange channels
Parallel flange channels are U-shaped steel sections that feature a right-angled corner. The strength-to-weight ratio of the steel is high, making it light compared to the load it bears.
Flat sections
Flat sections are also known as plates and can easily be attached to reinforce the strength of different structural sections.
Square hollow sections
These are not commonly used because their shapes are incompatible with fusion with other structural steel shapes available. They are primarily used in posts or columns of different structures.
Rectangular hollow sections
Rectangular hollow sections are like tubular hollow sections; the only difference is their rectangular shape. The unique thing about rectangular hollow sections is their high torsional resistance.
Universal beams
Most people know this type of structural steel as H-beams, and this is because they look like the capital letter H or the wide flange beams. They also share a similar function and shape to tapered flange beams.
Tapered flange beams
These are also called I-beams because they resemble the letter I. Tapered flange beams are primarily used in cross-sections for girders. A significant characteristic of this type of structural steel shape is its high resistance ratio. However, they do not have a high resistance to torsion ratio.
Universal columns
Universal columns share some similarities with universal beams, but they are primarily used in the columns of vertical buildings because of their load-bearing capabilities.
Advantages of Building with Steel
Steel has many excellent qualities. Let's look at some of these in detail.
Cheap and durable
The first benefit to note is that structural steel is a cost-effective option, and it is designed to last long, unlike other materials that are used in the construction industry today.
Strong
Another fantastic quality of structural steel is that it is strong, and this is because it has a high-strength-to-weight ratio. This means that steel is generally lightweight when compared to the materials it carries.
Basically, a 40 by 40 square centimetre structural steel carrier can carry a load of a 100 by 100 square centimetre carrier made of reinforced concrete. This is the fundamental reason why structural steel has gained widespread application in the construction industry today.
Ductile
Another amazing advantage of structural steel is its impressive durability and elasticity. Structural steel has an elastic nature, and this makes it possible for it to yield slightly in case of sudden failure, which does not always happen. It has an impressive level of toughness, and it can easily absorb energy. This means that it can carry a heavier load with much ease.
Versatile
Structural steel offers an impressive level of tensile strength. It is easy to modify, mould, and form, unlike other materials used in the construction industry. Despite these amazing advantages, structural steel has its own disadvantages to keep in mind. The first thing to note is that it is highlighted as susceptible to corrosion.
Also, making structural steel resistant to corrosion is an expensive process that not everyone is willing to try. Another thing to note is that it is susceptible to buckling and fatigue. Structural steel is also likely to decrease in strength, especially when it is subjected to high temperatures.
Structured Steel Fabrication Services
Structural steel comes in different forms and shapes and is helpful for various applications in the construction industry. If you need structural steel fabrication, contacting a professional steel solutions provider is a great idea; working with structured steel is not a DIY task you should handle.
