Types of Structural Steel

Did you know that construction accounts for more than 50% of the world’s steel? It’s no wonder therefore that despite declines in certain manufacturing industries, steel stays strong in the construction industry.

But if there are too many Impurities in the steel, it won’t be as strong. That’s why we need to test the quality of our steel before using it for any project. So here is a list of the most common types of structural steel available today

I-Beam

One of the most popular types of steel, I-Beam, often gets used in bridges because it can carry heavy loads. It has high tensile strength and low yield strength. I-beams come from hot-rolled or cold-rolled steels.

These steels are also known as HSLA steels. They are available in different grades depending on their carbon content.

Hollow Section

The hollow section is a common sectional steel type in construction projects. Hollow sections are popular for columns, beams, girders, or trusses.

They come in various shapes such as round, square, rectangular, and flat. Hollow sections are also available in hot rolled, and cold rolled forms.

H-Beam

Like an I-beam, except the H-Beam has a wider flange on each side. H-beams are generally stronger than I-beams. They are also less expensive than I-beams, so they are often used when extra strength is needed.

T-Beam

T-beams are very versatile due to their structural properties. T-beams come in different sizes, shapes, and thicknesses.

They’re mostly used for beams, columns, girders, and trusses and are molded from hot or cold-rolled steel.

Z-Beam

A Z-beam is a special kind of T-beam. Z-beams are useful where a large span’s required. Z-beams are made using hot-rolled steel.

That’s because its cross-sectional area is larger than a T-beam. In doing so, hot steel allows for malleability.

Flat Bar

Flat bars are excellent for forming shapes like angles, channels, or plates. They are often made from hot-rolled or hot-dipped galvanized steel and are one of the more common types. Flat bars, in most cases, come in sheet form.

Round Bars

Other popular bar shapes, such as round bars, have use cases in making angle iron, channel, and plate. Round bars come from hot-rolled steel by companies such as Intselsteelwest.com.

Reinforcing Bars

These reinforced concrete structures when used as structural steel beams. Reinforcing bars come in different sizes and thicknesses. These depend on the load-bearings required from structural steel products.

Sheet Metal

Sheet metal is a popular choice for roofing and siding. It comes in various thicknesses and widths. It’s one of the most common steel products available since it’s easy to transport and has a variety of use cases.

Find an Honest Structural Steel Supplier

Suppose you want to buy structural steel products online. You should always find an honest supplier who sells only top-quality materials.

You don’t want to end up buying cheap steel products that may break down after a few years of use. So make sure you do solid research, and it won’t leave you out in the cold!

Keep reading for more advice that’s well-built!