Future Steel Buildings/Construction

Steel in Construction Industry

Using steel as construction material is not only limited to industrial buildings or temporary shelters. Steel has established itself as one of the most versatile construction materials available for use. It has become a popular choice due to its durability, strength and resilience.

Steel is also called as a green product. Concrete and wood cannot be reused, steel can be recycled thus is more cost effective.

Advantages of Using Steel

Steel buildings can be produced and engineered faster than conventional buildings. Pre-engineered steel has cut down the cost and labor. Construction does not require long times. The material can be shipped to the location and joined together to make a strong structure.

Steel buildings are able to withstand the natural disasters. Earthquakes, cyclones, hurricanes, sudden climatic changes can strike anytime. Use of concrete can cause a number of causalities. Also damages caused to the concrete structure need a lot of money to be repaired. Steel is cost effective and resilient.In addition, Termites, rodents and insects cannot house in steel. This will reduce the sufferings of many people who spend loads of money on fumigations.

Since steel is lighter but has more tensile strength, it can be used with other construction materials if needed. These steel structures have more flexibility as compared to other building materials. Components can be shifted from one place to the other without difficulties. You can even add space by extending the structure.

Grades of Steel

Classification of steel in different grades is based on their chemical composition and physical properties. It has been developed by many standard organizations.

• Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) steel grades.
• British Standards.
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ASTM International
• Japanese steel grades JIS standard
• Germany steel grades DIN standard
• China steel grades GB standard

Structural Steel

Structural steel is made from high strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel. HSLA steels are different from other steels in the way that they are made according to specific mechanical properties not chemical composition. This type of steel is used to produce shapes, structural bars and plates which are used for building and bridge construction. Structural steel has high strength and is flexible.

Typical carbon content of HSLA steel is 0.05-0.25%. Carbon is included for steel to retain its weld ability. Other alloy elements include up to 2% Manganese and small quantities of copper, nickel, calcium, chromium, vanadium and titanium. These elements are added to strengthen steel and increase resistance to corrosion. Structural steel is formed using heat analysis.

Structural steel shape, composition, size, strength and storage are regulated in most industrialized countries. Steels used for building construction in the US are identified and specified by ASTM International.