Structural steel, also known as shape steel, is a familiar material in the construction industry, yet not everyone fully understands its characteristics, classifications, and applications. This article provides detailed information about structural steel to help you gain a clearer understanding of this important material.
What is Structural Steel?
Structural steel, also called “shape steel,” is a construction material with cross-sections shaped like letters (I, U, V, H, etc.). Made from an alloy of iron, carbon, and other chemical elements, structural steel offers high hardness, strength, and load-bearing capacity. It is widely used in construction, shipbuilding, bridges, roads, and factories.
📌 Note: The correct English term is “shape steel” or “structural steel,” not simply “steel profile” as translated by Google.
Structural steel is manufactured from high-quality steel using advanced technology and international standards such as JIS (Japan), ASTM (USA), EN (Europe), and GB (China). Thanks to this, it has several outstanding advantages:
- High durability: Withstands heavy loads and strong impacts.
- Good workability: Easy to bend, cut, stretch, or twist.
- Corrosion resistance: Suitable for harsh environments.
Types of Structural Steel
Currently, there are six popular types of structural steel on the market:
I-Beam (I-Shaped Steel)
- Cross-section resembles the capital letter “I”.
- Known for vertical load-bearing capacity and good bending resistance.
- Often confused with H-beam.
- Difference: I-beam flanges are shorter than the web height, while H-beam flanges are nearly equal in size to the web.
- Applications: Used for beams, columns, and purlins in construction projects.
H-Beam (H-Shaped Steel)
- Cross-section resembles the capital letter “H”.
- Flange width is almost equal to the web height.
- Classified into wide-flange, narrow-flange, and medium-flange beams.
- Applications: Structural frameworks for large-scale projects, bridges, and factories.
U-Channel (U-Shaped Steel)
- Cross-section resembles the letter “C”.
- Applications: Purlins, roofing structures, machinery, and household equipment.
C-Channel (C-Shaped Steel)
- Cross-section resembles the letter “C”.
- Widely used in large-scale construction projects.
- Main material for manufacturing machinery, household appliances, and furniture.
L-Angle (L-Shaped Steel)
- Cross-section shaped like the letter “L”.
- Two perpendicular sides with different lengths.
- Weight per meter is calculated based on nominal size and steel density (7.85 kg/dm³).
V-Angle (V-Shaped Steel)
- Also called V-angle steel.
- Two equal legs form a “V”-shaped cross-section.
- Applications: Reinforcement, structural frameworks, and corner strengthening.
Manufacturing Process of Structural Steel
The production of structural steel goes through the following stages:
- Ore processing: Selection of iron ore, coke, and limestone.
- Molten steel production: Heating raw materials in a blast furnace.
- Casting: Producing billets, slabs, or blooms.
- Hot rolling: Rolling billets through rollers to achieve the desired shape.
- Finishing: Cutting, punching, or grooving as required.
- Quality inspection: Ensuring compliance with standards before delivery.
Applications of Structural Steel
In construction
- Beams, columns, and purlins for warehouses and factories.
- Structural frameworks for bridges, culverts, and guardrails.
- High-rise buildings: load-bearing frames, partitions.
In industry and agriculture
- Machinery frames and casings.
- Beams and frameworks for ports and greenhouses.
- Shipbuilding applications.
In household use
- Door and gate frames.
- Railings, shelves, and racks.
Conclusion
This overview has provided insights into structural steel. Understanding its characteristics, classifications, and applications will help you choose and use this essential material more effectively.
