STEEL STRUCTURE
Steel, alloy of iron and carbon in
which the carbon content ranges up to 2
percent (with a higher carbon content, the
material is defined as cast iron).
By far the most widely used material
for building the world’s infrastructure and
industries, it is used to fabricate everything
from sewing needles to oil tankers. In
addition, the tools required to build and
manufacture such articles are also made of
steel.
As an indication of the relative importance of this material, in 2013 the world’s raw
steel production was about 1.6 billion tons, while production of the next most important
engineering metal, aluminum, was about 47 million tons. The main reasons for the
popularity of steel are the relatively low cost of making, forming, and processing it, the
abundance of its two raw materials (iron ore and scrap), and its unparalleled range of
mechanical properties.
For more than 200 years, steel has been used in a wide variety of ways to frame all kinds
of buildings. From old flax mills to huts and skyscrapers, and everything in between,
structural steel can be used to build nearly any building imaginable. Steel is used to
construct airplane hangars, roller coasters, automobiles, and so much more.
Changing technology impacts every industry, including steel fabrication. Decades ago,
buildings were fairly simplistic and limited in design. Today, with advances in
technology, steel framed structures can serve a wide variety of functions and have truly
become works of art.
CASE STUDY
Steel structure house in Dragomiresti Deal
WHY STEEL STRUCTURE?
1. Cost-Effectiveness- Building with steel saves you money. When compared to other
traditional building materials, the price of steel typically remains relatively low. Steel
parts can often be pre-engineered, decreasing constructions times and saving you
money. Because of steel’s durability and high life expectancy, insurance costs associated
with commercial or industrial building are often lower when compared to other
materials.
2. Proven Durability Over Time- For more than 200 years, steel has been standing
strong as a reliable structural material. Steel is resistant to rot, mold and shrinkage;
steel is not vulnerable to termites of other insects; and, steel will not crack, split or knot
like wood. Impressively, steel is resistant to fire, earthquakes, hurricanes and other
severe natural weather conditions.
3. Eco-Friendly Material- One of the most impressive characteristics of steel is that
fact that it is an environmentally friendly material that is easily recycled or reused for
other purposes. Prefab steel frame buildings are both thermal efficient and energy
efficient, helping to decrease your carbon footprint on the earth with every structure
built.
4.More usable space, less
material- Steel’s ability to
maximise space and internal
width with the thinnest shell
possible means thinner, smaller
structural elements are
achievable. Steel beam depths
are around half that of timber
beams, offering greater usable
space, less materials and lower
costs compared with other
materials. Wall thicknesses can be thinner because steel’s strength and excellent
spanning capacity means there’s no need to build solid, space-consuming brick walls.
4. Ease of Assembly- One of the great benefits of steel is that it is assembly is usually
rather simple. Parts are often fabricated in the factory and then brought on-site for
assembly. When the right ironworkers are hired for installation or assembly, this part of
the construction process can happen rather seamlessly.
5. Guarantees to Count On- Simply stated, steel framed buildings are meant to last a
lifetime. Although warranties and guarantees may vary between suppliers, most have
such confidence in their products that at least a 20-year limited lifetime warranty on
steel-framed kits.
6. Adaptability- Steel framed buildings are perfect because they allow for physical
expansion without too much difficulty. Modification of end walls and construction of
new framework can be completed relatively pain-free, both quick and inexpensive.
WHY NOT?
1.Susceptibility to buckling-Buckling is an issue with steel structures. As the length
of the steel segment builds the chances of buckling also increases.
2.Transportation costs- Steel is available only at the steel plants where it is produced
and should be transported for long distances to the site of construction, not at all like
concrete or different materials that might be accessible right at the site of development.
3.High Maintenance- Due to the activity of rust in steel, costly paints are required to
reestablish from time to time. So that resistance against serious conditions increments.
4. Fabrication error- Despite the fact that steel is a flexible material, it is difficult to
make field corrections if one or more components do not fit appropriately. A large
portion of the metal structure makes perform adhere to strict quality assurance
procedure guarantee all pieces of a structure fit accurately. But in actual it is not
possible. One can't form it or cut it in the ideal shape on-site once it is fabricated.
5.Fix shape- Steel can't mold in any path
you required. It must be utilized in
structures in which areas initially exist.
6.Fire damage- Steel is a good conductor
of heat, touches off materials in contact
and often causes fires, which quickly
spread to different segments of a structure.
Hence, steel structures may require extra
fireproofing treatment.
7.Fatihue and fracture- If steel loses its great property of ductility and then there are
more chances to increase the fractures.
STEEL STRUCTURE IN BRIDGES
Steel bridges represent a design solution, able to handle all the
necessary span alternatives.
Advantages of this solution relate to:
the smallest foundations;
the industrialization of the construction process;
an easy dismantling and reuse procedure;
greater control of members, substructures, and connections;
a rapid construction phase;
lighter solution if compared to reinforced concrete classical bridges;
Girder bridge
Flexure or bending between vertical supports is the
main Structural action in this type. Plate girder bridges
are adopted for simply supported spans less than 50 m
and box girders for continuous spans up to 250 m.
Truss bridges are suitable for the span range of 30 m
to 375 m. Cantilever bridges have been built with
success with main spans of 300 m to 550 m.
Rigid frame bridges
In this type, the longitudinal girders are made
structurally continuous with the vertical or
inclined supporting member by means of moment
carrying joints. Flexure with some axial force is
the main forces in the members in this type. Rigid
frame bridges are suitable in the span range of 25
m to 200 m.
Arch bridges
The loads are transferred to the foundations by
arches acting as the main structural element.
Axial compression in arch rib is the main force,
combined with some bending. Arch bridges are
competitive in span range of 200 m to 500 m.
Cable stayed bridges
Cables in the vertical or near vertical planes
support the main longitudinal girders. These
cables are hung from one or more tall towers,
and are usually anchored at the bottom to the
girders. Cable stayed bridges are economical
when the span is about 150 m to 700 m.
Suspension Bridges
The bridge deck is suspended from cables
stretched over the gap to be bridged,
anchored to the ground at two ends and
passing over tall towers erected at or near
the two edges of the gap. Currently, the
suspension bridge is best solution for long
span bridges.
