Types Of Steel Used In Construction


What Is Steel?

Steel is one of the most important building materials used in construction. Steel is the backbone of a structure. The strength and durability of a structure significantly depend upon the steel used. With technological advancement, various types of steel have been introduced like mild steel, TMT, steel, alloy steel, etc. This article demonstrates different types of steel used in construction works.

In today’s world, earthquake-resistant structures are given top priority by builders. This will be accomplished primarily through the use of EQR Steel in the construction of buildings.

By boosting protected coastal areas and wind resistance, steel can answer infrastructure and construction needs in emerging countries and climate-flexible metropolitan areas. 

While structures currently account for around 20% of global ozone-depleting substance discharges, they also provide numerous options for decreasing emissions and slowing environmental change.

Aside from the fact that steel is less expensive, more readily available, and more secure, its inherent properties, such as quality, adaptability, strength, and 100 percent recyclability, are taken into account for improved environmental performance across the entire life cycle of structures.

Types Of Steel Used In Construction

Some of the steel types used in construction are –

1. Rebar Steel

Steel rebar, often known as reinforcing or fortifying steel, is used as a strain device in reinforced concrete or masonry structures. It is made of carbon steel and has edges for mechanically fastening it down in a superior path in the solid.

It holds the solid under pressure and is available in various grades with different yield strengths, necessary elasticity, chemical composition, and elongation percentage parameters.

Rebar steel offers durability and aesthetic appeal, as well as local resistance and stiffness that extend across a large area where other types of steel aren’t often prepared.

It has a large extension potential and comes in various sizes according to the country and level of development. Rebar is valuable due to its ability to be recycled. Rebar comes in a variety of grades and specifications, including

  • Plain steel wire for concrete reinforcement,
  • Epoxy-coated steel bars for welded deformed steel,
  • Plain bars and rail steel deformed bars,
  • TMT steel bars,
  • Stainless steel,
  • Low-alloy steel,
  • Axel steel, and
  • Low carbon steel bars.
Types of steel rebar
Rebars
Courtesy: Concrete Reinforcing Mesh

2. Structural Steel

This type of steel is used to make structural steel shapes because it is made from a detailed cross-section while adhering to strict mechanical and chemical composition norms.

Varying countries have different requirements for standard structural steel. Structural steel is ductile, sturdy, and durable, and it can be molded into almost any shape depending on the construction; it may be built almost immediately after arriving at the construction site.

Structural steel is fire-resistant in and of itself, but fire protection should be supplied if it becomes overheated to the degree that it begins to lose strength.

Corrosion must be avoided when employing structural steel, although towering buildings can withstand various disasters when constructed with structural steel.

Some of the structural steel is as follows:

  • I-beam,
  • Z-beam,
  • HSS-beam,
  • L-beam (angle),
  • T-beam,
  • Rail profile,
  • Bars, rods, plates,
  • Structural channel (C-beam, cross-section),
  • Open joist of the web, and so on.
Structural Steel Bars
Structural Steel Bars
Courtesy: Stainless Tubular Products

3. Mild Steel

Mild steel commonly known as MS is the most prevalent type of steel used in building construction. It’s incalculably strong and long-lasting, and it makes a solid foundation. Mild steel is very useful in buildings because of its strength, and it has proven to be beneficial.

It does not break when bent, is extremely flexible and malleable, has high plasticity, and can withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes without generating cracks in the steel.

Mild steel’s most useful feature is this. A steel structure is seldom prone to collapsing or destruction. It can resist any disaster and is sturdy enough not to fracture, allowing its occupants to be saved.

Other building materials may readily collapse or break down, but steel does not, and mild steel is extremely strong, allowing it to withstand serious issues. Low carbon steel has a carbon content of 0.05 percent to 0.25 percent.

There are two yield points in this type of steel. Low carbon steel is easier to work with since it may be handled by two yield points, which are slightly higher than the second, lower yield point.

Plain-carbon steel has better strength than any other steel due to its weldability. On the other hand, fire protection is critical in a steel structure and carefully considered. Except for it, there are no difficulties with the steel structure.

mild steel
Mild Steel Round Bars
Courtesy: Deepak Steel India

4. Alloy Steel

Manganese, silicon, nickel, copper, chromium, and aluminum are among the metals found in them. Properties including ductility, corrosion resistance, and weldability might vary according to the proportion of metals present.

Components of alloy steel are superior to those of carbon steel. The advantages are greater hardenability, robust material, less deformation and cracking, reduced grain growth, excellent temperature resistance, and a cheaper steel building alternative.

Alloy steel is divided into High Alloy Steel and Low Alloy Steel. High alloy steel is utilized during construction to hold liquids, mining materials, chemicals, and pharmaceutical equipment. Low alloy steel is suitable for various applications, including seamless rolling ring forging and studying outlets.

Alloy Steel Bars
Alloy Steel Bars
Courtesy: TradeIndia

5. Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is composed of carbon, manganese, silicon, and impurities of sulphur and phosphorus. Carbon steel’s strength and elasticity are determined by the amount of carbon present in the alloy.

As a result, as the carbon concentration increases, the alloy gets harder and stronger. It has benefits such as being available in a variety of forms to meet the needs of each client, having a high resistance to corrosion, scaling, heat, and fire,

It also has superior durability and strength, being tougher and more elastic than mild steel, and is widely used for water-related applications such as plumbing.

Because carbon is the principal alloying component, there are four basic varieties of carbon steel based on the amount of carbon constituted.

Carbon Steel Bars
Carbon Steel Bars
Courtesy: Yieh Corp

Types Of Carbon Steel

➔ Low Carbon Steel

It is less expensive than other steel materials. Deep drawing components, chains, pipes, wires, nails, and other machine parts are all made from it.

➔ Medium Carbon Steel

It is a tough steel that is resistant to everyday wear and tear. Axles, screws, cylinders, crankshafts, and heat-treated machine parts are all made from it.

➔ High Carbon Steel

This material is excellent for making high-strength springs, rope wires, screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches, and edge tools.

➔ Very High Carbon Steel

This is a highly hard substance used in constructing punches, shear blades, springs, milling cutters, razors, axles, and other equipment.

6. Light Gauge Steel

It is constructed from thin sheets that adhere to strict specifications. Cold deformed steel can be used to construct a steel frame system easily.

Light gauge steel joists and studs are widely accessible in hardware stores, and they are both flexible and safe. It is often used in flooring.

However, it should be emphasized that the use of light gauge steel in facades, composite panels, and various cladding solutions is noteworthy. In addition to purlins and side-rails, they can be utilized for load-bearing walls.

Light Gauge Steel Bars
Courtesy: Loom Crafts

Conclusion

Steel, a viable and cost-effective alternative to other construction materials, is the only material that can provide the quality required for construction.

From all these, we can learn how to use these basic building materials, which are successfully used in a variety of construction processes.

Many of the world’s greatest architectural wonders have been built with steel, whether structural, carbon, or rebar—in addition to all of the various types of steel available for building construction.

Most importantly, the use of steel assures greater environmental friendliness than other types of building, and for this reason alone, it is preferred.

Steel has proven to be pretty advantageous in terms of the rate of magnificent buildings. With the increased use of steel in construction, there is no question that it will eventually take over the whole construction field.

So there were the types of steel used in construction. Hope you now have enough knowledge about it. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments.

Also Read

Types Of Rebar Used In Construction
Why TMT Bar Is Better Than HYSD Bar
Difference Between Stainless Steel & Mild Steel

How To Calculate Weight Of Mild Steel Plates


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