Introduction to the main components of steel frame structures-steel beams and steel columns

In the field of modern construction, steel frame structures have become the first choice for many large-scale projects due to their unique advantages. Among them, steel beams and steel columns, as important components of the steel frame structure, not only carry the weight of the entire building, but also bring infinite charm to the building with its excellent mechanical properties and beautiful appearance. 

1. Steel beam

Steel beams are usually manufactured using a hot-rolled process, such as I-beams or channels. In the lightweight beam structure of multi-story buildings, such as floor beams, purlins, etc., cold-formed Z-shaped steel and channel steel can also be used. Because profiled steel beams are easy to process and low in cost, they are widely used. However, its cross-sectional dimensions are limited by established specifications. When faced with larger loads and spans, if it is difficult to meet the strength, stiffness or stability requirements by simply using section steel, composite beams need to be considered.

Composite beams are usually made of steel plates or steel sections through welding or riveting processes. Given that the riveting process is relatively cumbersome and consumes a large amount of material, welding has become a more common choice in practical applications. Common welded composite beams mainly have I-shaped sections and box-shaped sections, which are composed of upper and lower flange plates and webs respectively.

2. Steel column

There are many types of steel columns, the most well-known of which are factory steel columns and high-rise building steel columns, which play an important role in supporting the core of the entire steel frame structure. In high-rise buildings, our common types of steel columns include box columns, cross columns and cylindrical columns.

It is worth mentioning that the steel-column steel-concrete structure of high-rise buildings arranges steel bars and pours concrete around the Steel structure columns and beams, so that the steel support post and concrete are closely combined to form a structure that can bear joint forces. The structure cleverly combines the dual advantages of steel structure and reinforced concrete structure, taking advantage of the excellent compression properties of concrete and the tensile characteristics of steel. More importantly, this structural method effectively reduces the cross-sectional area of beams and columns, greatly increases the available space of the building, and brings more possibilities to modern architectural design.