What is a steel structure? A steel structure is a load-bearing structure constructed by welding or bolting basic components to meet specific requirements.
Steel structures are widely used in various construction projects, such as steel bridges, steel factory buildings, steel gates, various large pipelines and containers, public buildings, and high-rise buildings.
I. Advantages of Steel Structures
1. Significantly reduces construction time and is not affected by seasonal factors.
2. High strength and light weight provide high component safety margins, reducing construction costs.
3. Fireproof; steel is a non-flammable building material.
4. Excellent earthquake resistance, easy modification, flexibility, and comfort.
5. Increases residential space, reduces construction waste and environmental pollution.
6. Reusable building materials drive the development of other new building materials industries.
7. Complies with the national sustainable development strategy. Low-carbon, green, environmentally friendly, and energy-saving industries are key nationally supported industries.
II. Classification of Steel Structures
Steel structures can be broadly classified into portal frame structures, space truss structures, beam-string structures, suspend-dome structures, space truss structures, and multi-story structures based on their structural load-bearing characteristics.
1. Portal Frame Structure:
The portal frame is a traditional structural system. The upper main structure of this type of structure includes frame diagonal beams, frame columns, braces, purlins, tie rods, and gable frames.
Portal frame lightweight steel structures feature simple load-bearing systems, clear force transmission paths, rapid component fabrication, ease of factory processing, and short construction periods. Therefore, they are widely used in industrial and civil buildings, including industrial, commercial, and cultural and entertainment facilities. Originating in the United States, portal frame lightweight steel structures have undergone nearly a century of development and have become a structural system with relatively comprehensive design, fabrication, and construction standards.
2. Space Truss Structure
A space truss, also known as a ball-joint truss, is a lightweight, rigid structural structure composed of a geometric pattern. Ball-joint trusses typically utilize a multi-directional spacing and are composed of tension and compression rods. The structure is subjected to three-dimensional stresses. Regardless of the type of truss, it can withstand loads from all directions, making it particularly effective in earthquake-resistant buildings with large collapse distances. It is often used in public buildings.
3. Beam-string Structure
The beam-string structure is a new hybrid roof system that differs from traditional structures. It is a hybrid structure composed of a rigid upper chord, flexible cables, and intermediate struts. Its structure is a novel self-balancing system, a long-span prestressed spatial structure, and a relatively successful innovation in the development of hybrid structural systems. The beam-string structure offers simplicity, well-defined loads, and diverse structural forms. It fully leverages the advantages of both rigid and flexible materials, and is easy to manufacture, transport, and construct, thus holding it for promising applications.
4. Suspended Dome Structure
Suspended dome structures are similar to beam-string structures in that they both utilize cable tension to generate a supporting force on the beam, thereby reducing the stress on the beam. However, there are significant differences between the two: beam-string cables are linearly tensioned, while suspend-dome cables are circularly tensioned.
Because of the circular tension of suspend-dome cables, this structural system is suitable for circular roofs, such as those at the Beijing Velodrome and Anhui University Gymnasium.
5. Grid Structure
Grid structures are spatial bar structures in which load-bearing members are connected by nodes in a regular pattern. These nodes are generally hinged, and the members primarily bear axial forces, resulting in relatively small cross-sectional dimensions. These spatially intersecting members support each other, organically integrating the load-bearing members with the support system, resulting in economical material usage. Due to the regular structural arrangement, many of the members and nodes have the same shape and size, facilitating factory production and on-site installation.
(1) Frame structure
The frame is composed of columns and beams, which bear vertical and lateral forces;
The rigid frame has poor lateral force resistance and large lateral deformation, and is generally suitable for structures below 20 stories;
Columns are generally box-type steel columns or steel tube concrete columns;
Steel tube concrete columns are concrete poured into circular tube columns or box-type columns, which not only have the advantages of steel structures but also make full use of the good compressive properties of concrete.
(2) Frame shear wall structure
Similar to the frame support structure, except that the support is replaced by a shear wall to resist lateral forces;
Shear walls are generally concrete slabs or steel slabs, or steel-concrete composite structures. They have better lateral stiffness than supports and are more flexible in layout, making them suitable for higher building structures.
(3) Tube-in-tube structure
It is composed of a core tube, a frame tube and a truss tube. Generally, the core tube is inside and the frame tube or truss tube is outside. The inner and outer tubes jointly resist horizontal forces. A tube surrounded by shear walls is called a solid tube, an open tube formed by regularly arranged window openings on the solid tube wall is called a frame tube, and a tube with four walls composed of trusses formed by vertical bars and diagonal bars is called a truss tube. (4) Bundled tube structure Bundled tube structure is a combined tube structure. When the building plane is large, in order to reduce the deformation of the exterior wall under the action of lateral force, the building plane is arranged according to a modular grid, so that the external frame tube and the internal longitudinal and transverse shear walls (or closely spaced columns) become a combined tube group. This greatly enhances the rigidity and ability to resist lateral force of the building. The bundled tube structure can form any building shape and can adapt to the needs of different heights and body combinations, enriching the appearance of the building.
III. Applications of Steel Structures:
1. Construction:
Large public buildings such as stadiums, convention centers, airports, and train stations often utilize steel structures to accommodate large spans and large exhibition areas. Furthermore, the rapid construction of steel structures can shorten construction periods. According to the Architecture Network, this is particularly important for large public construction projects.
2. Industrial Plants:
Steel structures, with their high strength, light weight, and rapid construction, are well-suited for large-span, large-space industrial plants such as steel mills and chemical plants.
3. Multi-story Buildings:
Steel structures are also widely used in multi-story buildings, particularly high-rise residential buildings and office buildings. The lightweight nature of steel structures provides them with improved seismic resistance in the event of natural disasters such as earthquakes. Xuanrui Education believes that steel structures can reduce the impact of earthquake forces on buildings and improve overall structural safety.
4. Residential Buildings:
Steel-structured housing is already quite popular in some developed countries and is also gaining popularity in China. Steel-structured housing offers advantages such as rapid construction, high plasticity, and recyclability, aligning with the principles of environmental protection and sustainable development. 5. Special Structures:Steel structures are also the preferred material for specialized structures such as bridges, towers, and large lifting equipment. Steel structures offer high strength and toughness, meeting the demands of a variety of complex structures.
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