Building Stronger: The Advantages of Steel Beam Construction

28 Jul.,2025

 

Building Stronger: The Advantages of Steel Beam Construction

In the world of construction, few materials have stood the test of time quite like steel. From towering skyscrapers to sturdy bridges, steel beam construction has proven its worth as the backbone of modern infrastructure. But what makes steel such a standout choice for builders and architects? Let’s explore why steel beams are the unsung heroes of construction and why they continue to dominate the industry.

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1. Strength and Durability

Steel is synonymous with strength. Its high tensile strength means it can bear enormous loads without bending or breaking. This makes it the perfect material for constructing buildings that need to withstand natural forces like wind, earthquakes, and even the passage of time.

Unlike wood or concrete, steel doesn’t warp, crack, or shrink when exposed to varying weather conditions. Its resistance to pests and moisture further enhances its durability, making it an excellent long-term investment for structural integrity.

2. Versatility in Design

Steel beams provide architects and engineers with unparalleled flexibility in design. The material can be moulded into various shapes and sizes to suit complex architectural requirements. Whether it’s creating wide-open spaces without the need for intrusive columns or designing intricate, modern aesthetics, steel makes it possible.

This versatility also extends to its use across different industries. From residential homes and commercial buildings to industrial warehouses and bridges, steel beams adapt to a variety of construction needs.

3. Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness

In today’s environmentally conscious world, steel shines as a sustainable choice. Steel is 100% recyclable, meaning it can be repurposed multiple times without losing its properties. Many steel beams used in construction today are made from recycled materials, reducing the need for raw resource extraction.

Additionally, the lightweight nature of steel reduces transportation costs and emissions, while its efficiency in construction minimises waste. Choosing steel isn’t just a smart decision for your building; it’s also a step towards a greener planet.

4. Speed of Construction

Steel beam construction significantly accelerates building timelines. Pre-engineered steel components can be manufactured off-site and assembled on-site with precision, reducing labour time and associated costs. This makes steel an ideal choice for projects with tight deadlines or those in areas where labour availability is limited.

5. Cost-Effectiveness

Although steel may seem like a pricier option upfront, its long-term benefits outweigh the initial costs. Steel structures require minimal maintenance and repairs, and their durability ensures they stand the test of time. Coupled with faster construction timelines and reduced material wastage, steel proves to be a cost-effective solution for modern construction projects.

The Future of Steel Beam Construction

As technology continues to advance, so too does the potential of steel. Innovations like high-strength steel alloys and enhanced manufacturing techniques are pushing the boundaries of what steel can achieve. With its strength, sustainability, and adaptability, steel beam construction is not just a pillar of the past but a cornerstone of the future.

In Conclusion The strength of steel is more than just physical—it’s a testament to its reliability, versatility, and enduring value. From skyscrapers scraping the clouds to homes built to last for generations, steel beams remain a towering example of what modern construction can achieve. Whether you’re an architect, engineer, or homeowner, steel’s legacy of strength and innovation makes it a choice that truly stands tall.

What is a steel beam? Classification and benefits in construction

A steel beam is an indispensable component in construction structures, playing a crucial role in bearing loads, enhancing the stability of buildings. In this article, BMB Steel will introduce you to what steel beams are, their structure, common types and the benefits they bring to steel structure projects.

1. What is a steel beam?

A beam is a fundamental component in construction, serving as a supportive structure to bear loads and transfer them to columns and foundations.

In steel structures, a steel beam is a load-bearing element designed to support heavy vertical loads across long spans. Steel beams can withstand greater bending moments compared to conventional rolled beams.

2. Structure of steel beams

2.1. Beam’s web

The beam's web is the vertical plate between the two flanges, maintaining the necessary spacing between them. It is responsible for resisting shear forces that arise when the steel beam is under load.

2.2. Flange

The flanges are the horizontal components of a steel beam, consisting of an upper flange and a lower flange, separated by the web. Specifically:

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  • The upper flange resists bending moments caused by compressive forces (positive moment)
  • The lower flange resists tension forces induced by bending moments (positive moment)

2.3. Stiffeners

Stiffeners enhance the load-bearing capacity and prevent local instability in the steel beam structure. They help distribute the applied loads evenly across the beam before transferring them to other components. Stiffeners are categorized into 2 main types: vertical stiffeners and horizontal stiffeners.

2.4. Connections between flange and web

When the beam length is shorter than the required span, connections join beam sections together. These connections must withstand both bending moments and shear forces to ensure a strong and secure link between the components.

2.5. End connections

In continuous beam structures, connection details must be precisely installed to ensure load-bearing capacity. However, in most cases, steel beams are supported only at the end points. In such situations, stiffeners play an effective role in securely connecting the beam ends, ensuring safety and durability.

3. Classification of steel beams

3.1. Shaped steel beams

Shaped steel beams are a type of beam manufactured from structural steel, with cross-sections that are typically symmetrical or asymmetrical. The two most common cross-section shapes are the I-shape and the [-shape.

  • I-shaped steel beam: is a structural component designed with an I-shaped cross-section, consisting of 2 narrow flanges symmetrically positioned along the horizontal X-X axis, with a large web in between. I-shaped beams are widely used in residential construction, bridge spans, and structures requiring high load-bearing capacity. Additionally, I-shaped beams are specifically applied in cases requiring elasticity and a certain level of strength.
  • [-shaped steel beam: resembles the I-shape but is asymmetrical along the vertical Y-Y axis. [-shaped beams are typically used for flat bending in structures that require stability.

3.2. Composite steel beams

Composite steel beams are the most common type of steel beams today, formed by combining steel sections and plates. There are 2 main types:

  • Composite beams with riveted connections (riveted beams): utilize mechanical methods to connect components. Steel plates and rivets are fixed together to create a complete structure, where the web typically bears about 90% of the shear force acting on the beam. The corners of the web are firmly attached to the flanges to ensure stability in the connection between the web and the flanges. Rivets play a crucial role in resisting transverse shear forces and vertical loads, efficiently transferring forces from the flanges to the web.
  • Composite beams with welded connections (welded beams): are widely used in construction due to their ease of fabrication. Welded beams are primarily applied in bridge construction, especially railway bridges, because of their ability to bear heavy loads, resist lateral movements. Welded steel plates are also used to create box-shaped beams. Modern engineering allows the determination of parameters such as overall height, flange size and web thickness through experimental methods or calculations based on technical standards.

4. What is a steel beam system?

4.1. Definition of a steel beam system

A steel beam system is a load-bearing structural network composed of primary beams and secondary beams arranged perpendicular to each other, forming a spatial structural grid. The main function of the steel beam system is to support floors and transfer loads to columns, walls, foundations,...

4.2. Types of steel beam systems

4.2.1. Simple steel beam system

A simple steel beam system consists of parallel beams placed along the shorter span of the floor, working together with the slab to act as a two-edge supported structure. This type of system has limited load-bearing capacity and is suitable for structures with small spans, light loads.

4.2.2. Conventional steel beam system

The conventional steel beam system is designed for structures with floors spanning large distances and bearing heavy loads. This is a three-tier beam system consisting of columns and 2 sets of beams arranged perpendicular to each other to share the load. The secondary beams rest on the primary beams, which rest on the columns.

The conventional steel beam system can be arranged in 2 ways:

  • Secondary beams placed on primary beams: In this arrangement, the floor slab rests solely on the secondary beams, functioning as a two-edge supported structure. The overall architectural height of the system will be greater.
  • Secondary and primary beams on the same plane: When both secondary and primary beams are arranged on the same plane, the floor slab functions as a four-edge supported structure.

4.2.3. Complex steel beam system

The complex steel beam system is a type of beam system that includes primary beams, secondary horizontal beams, and floor beams. In this system, the floor beams are placed on the secondary beams, which are connected at a lower level to the primary beams, forming two perpendicular secondary beam systems. The floor slab in this system typically rests on the floor beams, functioning as a two-edge supported structure. The complex steel beam system is commonly used in projects that bear extremely high loads.

5. Design of beams in steel structures

When designing beams in steel structures, the following basic assumptions need to be applied:

  • Shear forces are entirely borne by the web, the shear strength is distributed evenly across the entire depth of the beam.
  • The stress on the flange plates and corners of the beam is uniform. Meanwhile, the stress in the web varies, reaching a maximum at the junction with the flanges and decreasing to 0 at the neutral axis.

5.1. Minimum thickness

The dimensions of the beam web plate must meet the following: maximum 270t, minimum: 180t.
Where t is the thickness of the web (measured in mm).

5.2. Weight

The weight of the beam is determined by the following formula:

  • For plate beams with rivets: W/300 for each pipe segment
  • For welded plate beams: W/400 for each pipe segment

Where W is the total load multiplied by the factor.

5.3. Minimum depth

The minimum depth of the plate beam is determined by:

  • For plate beams: 1.1?/?t
  • For plate beams with rivets, angle depth: 5.53?/?
  • For welded plate beams, overall depth: 53?/?

Where:

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  • M is the bending moment (N-mm).
  • f is the allowable stress (MPa).
  • t is the thickness of the plate (mm).

6. Benefits of steel beams

  • Steel beams are designed to bear loads from construction projects such as buildings, bridges, factories, warehouses, etc. With their exceptional load-bearing capacity, steel beams can transfer large loads to columns and foundations, keeping the structure stable.
  • Steel beams increase the rigidity of the structure by supporting the loads and distributing them evenly through the column and foundation system. This reduces bending and deformation of the structure during operation, while enhancing its resistance to external environmental impacts like wind, earthquakes, etc.
  • Using steel beams can help reduce construction costs compared to many other materials. Steel beams not only have the ability to bear heavy loads but are also lighter than concrete beams, thus reducing the overall load on the structure.
  • Steel beams can be manufactured in various shapes to meet the design requirements of each project. This flexibility allows for the execution of unique, modern, complex architectural designs.
  • Steel beams are typically produced in the form of plates or long bars, which are easy to connect and install at the construction site. Their quick installation process not only saves time but also reduces labor costs. Moreover, steel beam maintenance is simpler due to the ease of inspection and replacement.