Reynolds Metals

Structural Steel?

can anyone give me some information on structural steel for low rise and medium rise structures? all the sites on the net are advertising their products rather than telling me what it does

Public Comments

1. Structural steel is steel construction material, a profile, formed with a specific shape and certain standards of chemical composition and strength. Structural steel shape, size, composition, strength, storage, etc, is regulated in most industrialised countries.
2. Structural steel is a mild steel that contains from 0.2 to 0.4% carbon . (Structural must not be too hard in case it fractures or too soft in case it bends). Less than this it becomes soft steel as used in tin plate etc and increasing to 0.6% it becomes hard steel as used in axles, rails etc.
3. Medium carbon manganese steel in the hot rolled or hot rolled and normalised condition(normalise= heat to about 850degCand air cool).this kind of steel is used in the form of large girders with 'H' or 'T' sections so that they are structurally rigid so the beams can take the huge weight of the brickwork and concrete in a high-risebuilding or skyscraper without buckling; and will stand all the stresses and strains caused by storms,earhquakes and so on.
4. The steels you are interested in are covered by standard BS EN 10025. There are many grades based on the minimum yield stress and toughness properties. They are carbon-manganese steels, hot rolled and are weldable. The selection of the grade will be down to building design codes - try looking at the Steel Construction Institute website for info (they also have a telephone helpline)