Steel BeamsSteel beams, used in the construction and engineering industries, are key players in the construction of large structures such as buildings and bridges because they are able to hold up great force and weight without bending. They are used for support, and spread the load of the building laterally, in order to evenly distribute weight so it won’t buckle or sag. In addition to structural applications, steel beams are frequently used aesthetically in the interior of a building. Structural steel is used because of its high strength. It is very important that steel beams have a high temperature resistance so they don’t melt during fires, which would lead to a total building collapse. Because they are so heavy, transportation proves to be quite challenging.
Steel beams are produced in many different standardized shapes, including I beams, which are the most popular type, T beams, W beams, channels, angles and pilings. Each of these comes in different sizes and lengths. For unique building designs, steel beams are sometimes custom made to fit unusual specifications. They are made in steel service centers a couple of different ways. Various steel shapes may be welded together to make a beam, steel may be heat treated and molded into the desired shape, or steel beams are made via extruding, in which a solid block of steel is heated and shoved through a beam shaped die.
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