In the use of modern day construction techniques there are a number of different types of steel beams that are commonly in use. Steel is the material most commonly used in modern construction due to its strength, durability and availability. What form the steel beam takes depends largely on the type of project, the needs of the designer and the needs of the engineers.
I Beams
The most commonly used type of steel beam is the I beam. Named after its shape, a cross section of the beam resembles the letter I. This type of beam is most commonly used in the construction of large commercial project and residential buildings, that said, it is also occasionally used in the construction of smaller buildings including single family homes. These types of beams are also easily modified through cutting, drilling and welding by Steel Fabricators and Steel Suppliers.
Channel Beams and Box Girders
A channel beam is a beam with a u-shaped cross section that resembles a channel, hence the name. The purpose of the channel shape is that it allows the beam to support a much greater load and a flat beam of the same weight and dimensions, making it very efficient.
Box girders are either square or rectangular in shape and have hollow cores. Box girders are often used in the construction of bridges due to their exceptional strength and weight in compression to solid steel of the same dimensions.
Flitch Beams
This is a beam made from a steel core sandwiched between two sheets of wood. This layering effect makes the beam lighter than regular steel beams of the same size, yet stronger and more durable than wooden beams. Flitch beams are a lower-cost option than the steel alternative. Another advantage of the flitch beam is that it can be nailed to a wooden wall, making a flitch beam much easier to work with in many occasions. In addition to this flitch beams can be made with architectural grade lumber that is meant to be exposed when the structure is finished to provide a more visually appealing finish.
I Beams
The most commonly used type of steel beam is the I beam. Named after its shape, a cross section of the beam resembles the letter I. This type of beam is most commonly used in the construction of large commercial project and residential buildings, that said, it is also occasionally used in the construction of smaller buildings including single family homes. These types of beams are also easily modified through cutting, drilling and welding by Steel Fabricators and Steel Suppliers.
Channel Beams and Box Girders
A channel beam is a beam with a u-shaped cross section that resembles a channel, hence the name. The purpose of the channel shape is that it allows the beam to support a much greater load and a flat beam of the same weight and dimensions, making it very efficient.
Box girders are either square or rectangular in shape and have hollow cores. Box girders are often used in the construction of bridges due to their exceptional strength and weight in compression to solid steel of the same dimensions.
Flitch Beams
This is a beam made from a steel core sandwiched between two sheets of wood. This layering effect makes the beam lighter than regular steel beams of the same size, yet stronger and more durable than wooden beams. Flitch beams are a lower-cost option than the steel alternative. Another advantage of the flitch beam is that it can be nailed to a wooden wall, making a flitch beam much easier to work with in many occasions. In addition to this flitch beams can be made with architectural grade lumber that is meant to be exposed when the structure is finished to provide a more visually appealing finish.
The Different Types And Uses Of Steel Beams