Steel is a popular building material because of its strength and durability. Structural and civil engineers prefer steel because of its low price and great tensile strength.
Depending on the nature of the project, several types of steel are frequently utilised in construction. Do you want to know more about the primary steel types used in industrial and commercial construction projects? Continue reading as we go over all you need to know about the various types of steel.
Structural Steel
Steel that is made with a certain shape or cross-section, chemical makeup, and strength values is known as structural steel. Structural steel’s composition, strength, size, and shapes are typically regulated in most industrialised nations. High-rise buildings rely heavily on structural steel and are perfect for massive commercial and industrial constructions, but it also makes a great option for light construction work.
Rebar Steel
A rebar is a steel bar or a mesh of steel wires that is also referred to as reinforcing steel. This type of steel is utilised in reinforced concrete and masonry structures to add additional strength to bear load pressure. The surface of the rebar is frequently patterned to improve the strength of the connection formed with concrete. Rebar is frequently used in construction to give concrete favourable qualities.
Alloy Steel
Carbon steel is blended with one or more alloying elements such as manganese, nickel, copper, titanium, aluminium, and chromium to create alloy steels. Usually, alloying components are added to carbon steel to give it advantageous features that raise its value for the building. Alloy steels are mostly favoured for commercial and industrial building constructions due to their increased corrosion resistance and hardenability. Additionally, alloy steels have almost no problem maintaining their overall toughness and strength over time.
Carbon Steel
As its name implies, carbon steel is a form of steel that contains more carbon than other types of steel. This type of steel has a maximum carbon concentration of 2.5%, which greatly boosts its strength and makes it perfect for large and heavy constructions.
Light Gauge Steel
As its name implies, this kind of steel is unique for being lightweight. Light gauge steel is created when thin gauge materials are cold-formed into specific section profiles. Although section sizes and profile forms vary, they are typically robust enough to prevent premature failure and localised buckling.
Stainless Steel
Compared to alloy steel or carbon steel, stainless steel is a steel alloy with greater resistance to rust and weathering. Chromium, molybdenum, and nickel are a few of the often-used components in stainless steel. The outstanding corrosion resistance of stainless steel is due to the high chromium content. This is so because chromium promotes the production of chromium oxide, a rough layer that improves steel’s ability to resist corrosion.
Tool Steel
Another type of steel used in a building is tool steel. However, most of this type of steel is used for making tools, which is still important in the construction industry. Tool steel is exceptional because of its hardness, abrasion resistance, and capacity to maintain shape at high temperatures.
Weathering Steel
Small levels of phosphorus, copper, nickel, silicon, and chromium are present in this special form of steel. The components above enable the weathered steel to produce a protective rust layer when exposed to the elements, eliminating the need for paint.