H-Shaped Steel Structural Components

H-Shaped Steel Structural Components Overview

H-shaped steel, also known as a wide flange beam, is a structural steel component with a distinctive "H" cross-section. Its design, featuring two wide horizontal flanges and a thick vertical web, gives it superior load-bearing capacity and resistance to bending and shear forces. This makes it a crucial element in modern construction and engineering.

Q235B: Suitable for light-duty construction;  

Q355B (equivalent to S355JR): Widely used in medium to heavy-duty structures;  

Q460: Used in structures requiring high strength;  

ASTM A36, A572 Gr.50: Exported to the North American market;  

SS400, SM490: Exported to the Japanese and Korean markets.

Surface treatment:  

Painting (epoxy or polyurethane)  

Hot-dip galvanizing (suitable for long-term outdoor structures)

1. Superior cross-sectional performance: wide flanges, high lateral stiffness, and high bending strength; uniform dimensions across all sections, low internal stress, and excellent structural stability.

2. High load-bearing capacity: under the same weight, H-shaped steel has a 30%–40% higher load-bearing capacity than traditional I-beam steel.

3. Convenient construction: Factory-produced with high standardization;

welding and bolted connections are easy, facilitating lifting and on-site assembly, thereby shortening the construction schedule.

4. Material savings and cost reduction: Compared to concrete or traditional steel structures, it saves materials, labor, and time; its lightweight reduces foundation loads and lowers engineering costs.

5. High versatility: Suitable for various applications such as beams, columns, trusses, and bridge frames, and can be combined into different structural types.

6. High adaptability: Suitable for buildings in areas with high seismic and wind resistance requirements; compatible with various structural forms, such as frame structures, frame-brace structures, and steel-concrete composite structures.

1. Industrial and civil building structures: Steel frame beams and columns for multi-story and high-rise buildings; columns, roof truss beams, and crane beams for heavy-duty factories.

2. Bridge engineering: Main beams for medium and small span bridges; composite bridges (steel-concrete composite beams).

3. Steel structure factories and warehouses: Portal steel frame structures, heavy-duty equipment factories; highly standardized logistics centers and prefabricated buildings.

4. Municipal infrastructure: Support beams and columns for subway stations, elevated bridges, and underground passages; tunnel linings, pile foundation structures.

5. Tower and support structures: power transmission towers, communication towers, wind turbine supports, etc.

6. Precast components and composite structures: steel-concrete composite beams, composite floor systems; peripheral frames of high-rise building cores.

GB/T 11263-2017 “Hot-rolled H-section steel and split T-section steel”

GB/T 33814-2017 “Welded H-section steel” (welding process)

H-Shaped Steel Structural Components Selection Recommendations

1. Span and Load  

Small span (<12m): H200–H300; Medium span (12–24m): H300–H500; Large span or crane beams: H500 and above.  

2. Axial Load vs. Bending Moment Load  

Columns: Select sections with thickened flanges and thinner webs;

Beams: Select sections with higher web thickness to enhance bending resistance.

3. Construction Method

Welded or bolted assembly? If there are many bolted connections, standardized specifications are recommended;

When there are lifting restrictions, sections can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site.

4. Durability Requirements

Outdoor structures: Hot-dip galvanizing or corrosion-resistant coating is recommended;

Coastal, humid, or corrosive environments: use Q355B or Q460 steel with a corrosion-resistant coating.

1. Custom designs available, including bolt holes, connection plates, thickened flanges, and assembly joints;

2. Factory provides one-stop services including cutting, drilling, welding, spraying, and corrosion protection;

3. Export documentation available, including foundation bolts, connection components, installation manuals, and BIM drawings.