Structural Steel

Structural Steel

Structural steel, also referred to as plate steel, is low carbon steel containing manganese, which is commonly used in engineering and construction for the assembly of buildings, bridges and transportation equipment. Structural steel is also used to build oil rigs, ships and pipelines. The construction, automotive, electronics, shipbuilding and aerospace industries are some of the most common industries that utilize structural steel. It is often used for steel beams, and is formed through the process of hot rolling with a specific shape and particular standards of chemical composition and strength. This type of steel features a rough surface texture. It can also be produced by cold rolling or welding parts of different shapes together.  

Structural steel is made by a variety of plate forming processes, which includes plate sawing, heat treating, stress relieving, annealing and normalizing, flame cutting, special testing, milling, deburring, straightening, and shot and/or sand blasting. Structural steel can be produced in almost any size or shape required. Common forms of structural steel include H beams, I beams, round stock, and structural steel tubes and pipes. In many industrialized countries, structural steel shape, size, composition, strength, and storage are regulated. Concrete is a popular alternative to using steel for structural building, but they are often used together because concrete without the help of steel tends to crumble easily under heavy loads.