What is an H-Beam?

H-beams are shaped like an H. H-beam is a structural beam made of rolled steel. It is incredibly strong. It gets its name because it looks like a capital H over its cross section.

What is an I-Beam?

An l -beam is shaped like an I. The I beam consists of two horizontal planes, known as flanges, connected by one vertical component, or the web. I-beam has tapered edges and it gets its name from the fact that it looks like a capital I when you see it from its cross section. With an I-beam, the height of the cross section is higher than the width of its flange.

Weight

H-beam: The H-beam is often a lot heavier than the I-beam, which means it can take more force.

I-beam: With some buildings where weight and force on a wall may pose a structural issue, the I-beam may be better since it is often lighter.

Center Web

H-beam: An H-beam has a thicker center web, which means it is often stronger.

I-beam: An I-beam often has a thinner center web, which means it is often not able to take as much force as an h-beam.

Built-Up

H-beam: An H-beam can possibly be built up which means it can be built up to any size or height.

I-beam: An I-beam can only be built up as much as the manufacturer’s milling equipment allows.

Spans

H-beam: H-beams can be used for spans up to 330 feet.

I-beam: An I-beam may be used for spans of between 33 and 100 feet.

Flanges

H-beam: H-beams have top and bottom flanges that stick out further from the web than the flanges on I-beams.

I-beam: I-beams have top and bottom flanges, and they are shorter and are not as wide as H-beams.

Number of Pieces

H-beam: The H-beam looks like one piece of metal but it has a bevel where three pieces of metal come together.

I-beam: An I-beam is not made by welding or riveting sheets of metal together and is only one piece of metal throughout.

What Are I-Beams Used For?

I-beams have a variety of important uses in the structural steel construction industry. They are often used as critical support trusses, or the main framework, in buildings. Steel I-beams ensure a structure’s integrity with relentless strength and support. The immense power of I beams reduces the need to include numerous support structures, saving time and money, as well as making the structure more stable. The versatility and dependability of I-beams make them a coveted resource to every builder.

Commonly termed an “I” beam because of its shape, beams provide great load bearing support when used horizontally or standing as columns. I-beams are the choice shape for structural steel builds because the I-beam makes it uniquely capable of handling a variety of loads. The shape of I-beams makes them excellent for unidirectional bending parallel to the web. The horizontal flanges resist the bending movement, while the web resists the shear stress.

Understanding the I-beam is a basic necessity for the modern civil engineer or construction worker. Engineers use I-beams widely in construction, forming columns and beams of many different lengths, sizes, and specifications.

An I-beam is made by rolling or milling steel which means the I-beam is often limited by the capacity or size of the milling equipment.

I-beams come in a variety of weights, section depths, flange widths, web thicknesses, and other specifications for different purposes. When ordering I-beams, buyers classify them by their material and dimensions. For example, an 11×20 I-beam would have an 11-inch depth and a weight of 20 pounds per foot. Builders choose specific sizes of I-beams according to the needs of the particular building. A builder has to take many factors into account, such as:

The builder chooses an I-beam with a web thickness that won’t fail, buckle, or ripple under tension.

The flanges are chosen to prevent buckling locally, sideways, or torsionally.

The builder will choose a thickness to minimize the deformation of the beam.

A certain mass and stiffness are selected to prevent vibrations in the building.

The strength of the I-beam’s cross-section should accommodate yield stress.