5 Common Types of Structural Steel

Structural steel has helped accomplish seemingly impossible tasks, like building expansive bridges or massive skyscrapers that last for centuries. This capability is due to structural steel being one of the most versatile and flexible building material on the planet. It also comes in numerous shapes and sizes and knowing the right type of structural steel to use will help you unleash its full potential.

American Standard Beam/ S-Beam

Also known as the S-Beam, the American standard beam has a rolled section coupled with a pair of parallel flanges which are connected by a web. The flanges are narrow and the beam's designation provides information on the unit's weight and width. For instance, S12x50 means the beam is 12” deep and weighs 50 pounds per foot.

Bearing Pile/ H-Shape

Bearing piles are often used to create a deep foundation system. Bearing piles have an H-shaped design in order to effectively transfer loads from the pile towards the tip. This type of beam is best used in dense soil as it provides the most resistance at the top.

Channel Beam/ C Beams

C-beams are so named because of their C-shaped cross section. The channels have top and bottom flanges, along with a connecting web. This type of structural steel provides a cost-effective answer for structures with a short to medium-sized span. These beams were initially designed to be used in bridges but are also commonly used in marine piers and other buildings.

Hollow Steel Section/ HSS

This steel component has a tubular and hollow cross-section. It can come in circular, elliptical, rectangular, and square shapes. Hollow steel sections are typically used in welded structural steel frames where units have loading in various directions.

Tee/ T-Beam

A tee or T-Beam is a load-bearing beam with a clearly defined T-shaped cross section. The top of the cross section is the flange and below it is the vertical web. This type of structural steel beam can withstand heavy loads. However, it lacks the bottom flange seen in the I-beam, which gives it certain disadvantages.