Steel beams are a common element in all the construction projects ranging from bridges to multi-storeyed buildings. The steel beams come in several shapes and sizes and the one which fulfils all the requirements for your application has to be chosen. Each type has specific properties to offer and hence it is crucial that you choose the right one.
The different kinds of steel beams are known by the names like I-beam, W-beam, H-beam, Channels etc. The ‘I-beams’ normally go into industrial applications while the W-beams are largely used in residential construction projects. The Channels are used to bear lighter loads as they are not as sturdy and robust as the other types. You need to choose the type depending upon the needs of your construction project. There are three factors that have to be ascertained before you decide the adequacy of the steel beam and they are:
- Determination of loads
- Calculation of the stresses
- Ascertaining the allowable vs. the actual stresses
While doing the structural analysis of the steel beam it is essential to know how much weight or load the beam will be able to support. Loads can be either live loads or dead loads. Live loads are basically loads which the steel beam has to bear for a temporary period whereas dead loads refer to weights that will have to be borne by the beam on a permanent basis like building materials etc. The next step is to calculate the stress involved. Stress, again can be of two types; shear stress or bending stress and in order to know this figure, the maximum shear and maximum bending moment that ensues in the steel beam has to be ascertained.
Additionally, you also need to ascertain the cross sectional area and section modulus of the beam and this can be obtained from the ‘safe load tables’. For comparison of actuals against the allowable stresses, it is essential to refer to the allowable stresses from the design manuals. Once this is done, the next step is to check out the allowable stresses with the actual stresses that will be incurred by the steel beam. However, a mention has to be made of the deflection factor which can affect the beam’s actual performance and this factor also has to be discounted for while deciding the beam design. Nowadays, a lot of software packages elucidating the engineering designs for w section beams, universal beams, columns etc are available in the market.
Normally, today, steel beams are preferred over wooden beams as they are more robust and long lasting and do not sag due to pressure like in the wooden beams. Once, you have your foundation built using steel beams you can rest assured that your home will go strong for many years to come. Wooden beams give no such assurance and you need to rebuild your home after a period of few years. Steel beams come in a lot of varieties and can be customized depending upon your requirements. It is however, essential that you deal with a reputed manufacturer at all times. If you buy all your needs of v belts, w section beams and universal beams from a reputed manufacturer then only you can get tailor made items of top notch quality.