Introduction to Steel Structures: Steel structures are composed of steel materials and are one of the primary types of building structures. They are mainly made up of steel beams, columns, trusses, and other components, which are fabricated from sections and plates, and are treated with processes such as silane coating, pure manganese phosphate conversion, water washing and drying, and galvanizing for rust prevention. The components or parts are typically connected by welds, bolts, or rivets. Due to their light weight and ease of construction, steel structures are widely used in large factories, stadiums, and ultra-high-rise buildings. Steel structures are prone to rust, so they generally require rust removal, galvanizing, or painting, and regular maintenance is necessary.
Features of steel structure:
High material strength, light in weight
High strength and elastic modulus. Compared to concrete and wood, its ratio of density to yield strength is relatively lower, so the cross-sectional area of steel structural members is smaller, their self-weight is lighter, making them easier to transport and install, and suitable for structures with large spans, high heights, and heavy loads.
2. Steel with high toughness, excellent plasticity, even material, and high structural reliability.
Suited for withstanding impact and dynamic loads, it boasts excellent seismic performance. The internal microstructure of the steel is uniform, nearly isotropic and homogeneous. The actual working performance of the steel structure is relatively consistent with the theoretical calculations. Therefore, the reliability of steel structures is high.
3. High degree of mechanization in steel structure manufacturing and installation
Steel structure components are easy to manufacture in factories and assemble on-site. Factory mechanized production of steel structure components ensures high precision, high production efficiency, quick on-site assembly, and short construction period. Steel structures are a type of highly industrialized construction.
4. Excellent sealing performance of steel structure
Due to the ability to achieve complete sealing, welding structures can be made into high-pressure vessels with excellent gas and water tightness, large oil tanks, pressure pipelines, and more.
5. Structural steel is heat-resistant but not fire-resistant.
At temperatures below 150°C, the properties of steel change minimally. Therefore, steel structures are suitable for hot workshops, but insulation boards should be used to protect the surface when exposed to heat radiation around 150°C. At temperatures of 300°C to 400°C, both the strength and elastic modulus of steel significantly decrease, and at around 600°C, the strength of steel approaches zero. In buildings with special fire safety requirements, steel structures must be protected with refractory materials to enhance their fire resistance rating.
6. Poor corrosion resistance of steel structure
Especially in environments with humidity and corrosive media, rusting is prone to occur. General steel structures require rust removal, galvanizing, or coating, and regular maintenance is necessary. For offshore platform structures submerged in seawater, special measures like "zinc block anodic protection" should be employed to prevent corrosion.
7. Low-carbon, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly, the dismantling of reusable steel structure buildings produces almost no construction waste, and the steel can be recycled for reuse.
