Steel Allied Products » Stuctural Steel » Beams

Steel Beams is considered to be a structural element which mainly carries load in flexure meaning bending. Usually beams carry vertical gravitational force but is also capable of carrying horizontal loads generally in the case of an earthquake. The mechanism of carrying load in a beam is very unique, like, the load carried by a beam is transferred to walls, columns or girders which in turn transfers the force to the adjacent structural compression members. The joists rest on the beam in light frame constructions.

The beams are known by their profile meaning:

• The length of the beam
• The shape of the cross section
• The material used

The most commonly found steel beam is the I beam or the wide flanged beam also known by the name of universal beam or stouter sections as the universal column. Such beams are commonly used in the construction of bridges and steel frame buildings.


Types of beams
The most commonly found types of steel beams are varied and they are mentioned below:

• I beams
• Wide flange beams
• HP shape beams
• Special shape non-standard beams
• H beams
• Junior beams

Typical characteristics of beams
Beams experience tensile, sheer and compressive stresses internally due to the loads applied to them. Generally under gravity loads there is a slight reduction in the original length of the beam. This results in a smaller radius arc enclosure at the top of the beam thus showing compression. While the same beam at the bottom is slightly stretched enclosing a larger radius arc due to tension. The length of the beam midway and at the bends is the same as it is not under tension or compression and is defined as the neutral axis. The beam is completely exposed to shear stress above the support. There are some reinforced concrete beams that are completely under compression, these beams are called prestressed concrete beams and are built in such a manner to produce a compression more than the expected tension under loading conditions.

The prestressed concrete steel beams has the manufacturing process like, first the high strength steel tendons are stretched and then the beam is cast over them. Then as the concrete begins to cure the tendons are released thus the beam is immediately under eccentric axial loads. An internal moment is created due to the eccentric axial load which in turn increases the moment carrying capacity of the beam. Such beams are generally used in highway and bridges.

Materials Used
In todays modern construction the beams are generally made up of materials like:

• Steel
• Wood
• Reinforced concrete