Structural steel is very important around us. Because of its excellent hardness, durability, corrosion resistance and low cost, you can find steel structures anywhere. Around the world, there are record high buildings, bridges across the widest river, and sculptures that unite the country. However, we sometimes forget that many landmark buildings in the world, such as the four famous steel structures listed here, are inseparable from steel.
Definition of steel structure?
Steel structure is a metal structure made of structural steel members, which are connected to each other to carry loads and provide rigidity. Due to the high strength of steel, these structures are more reliable than other types of structures (such as concrete) and require less raw materials.
In modern buildings, steel structures are used for almost all types of structures, including heavy industrial buildings, high-rise buildings, equipment support systems, infrastructure, bridges, towers, heavy industrial plants, etc.
According to the specifications of each project, the section steel can have various shapes, sizes and specifications, which are made by hot rolling or cold rolling, and other sections are made by welded flat plates or bent plates. Common shapes include I-beam, high-speed steel, channel steel, angle steel, steel plate, etc.
Advantages of steel structure
- Control management: the steel structure is manufactured in the factory, quickly installed by skilled personnel on site, and safely constructed. Industry surveys consistently show that steel structures may be the best solution.
- Creativity: steel has natural beauty. Steel structure allows long columnless span and natural light in any shape of structure.
- Durability: It can withstand extreme external forces or severe weather conditions, such as strong winds, earthquakes, hurricanes and heavy snow. It is not easy to rust. Unlike wood frames, they are not affected by termites, worms, molds, molds and fungi.
- Cost saving: steel structure is the cost leader of most materials and design projects. Compared with other traditional construction methods, its manufacturing and installation costs are relatively low and requires less maintenance.
Top 4 brilliant steel structure
At present, it holds the record of the largest all-steel structure building in China. The building of Shunxing Square has four floors every nine days, and the speed is amazing.
The Willis Tower in Chicago, formerly known as Sears Tower, is a remarkable building worth seeing. It is like fixing several unique buildings of different heights together with bolts to enhance their ability to resist the famous strong wind in Chicago. Steel plays an important role in the structure of Willis Tower, because the steel frame connects all parts of the building together.
The Taipei 101 building, half a kilometer high, is enough to prove the durability of steel. It has 61 elevators and has been rated as one of the seven wonders of the project by Discovery Channel.
At present, the tallest man-made building in the world, Halifa Tower, is 829.8 meters high. The building is designed with bundled pipes to reduce the amount of steel required. It has 163 floors, an 11-hour long park and a 275-meter long fountain, which can spray 150 meters of water into the air. Interestingly, the number of steel bars used is 31400 metric tons, which will increase by a quarter worldwide.