What are the Different Types of Steel Beams?

When getting to know the different types of steel beams, what’s important to look out for?

Beams are a structural steel shape designed to carry heavy loads with supports at two points or more. However, even seemingly slight geometric differences impact how well beams will bear weight and resist bending or buckling.

So, it’s good to have an idea of the different types of steel beams to better understand when and why a structural engineer will choose one beam type over another. First, let’s take a look at how steel beams are made. 

How are steel beams made?

There are two primary ways to fabricate steel beams: welding and hot rolling.

Hot rolled steel beams

Beams are a hot rolled structural steel product. Steel resists shaping when it’s cold. So, the first step in making steel beams is to heat the steel. To do this, steel goes through a furnace with automatic burner control systems to maintain target temperatures, utilizing complex computer programs.

The actual rolling is a process made possible with profile mill stands that form the intended cross section. Through a combination of motors and mounted bearings, the steel is passed through large rollers configured in such a way as to form the desired beam shape. These forces regularly exceed thousands of tons, and because the steel is so hot, it easily passes through. The steel is then closely monitored as it cools to ensure that the integrity of the microstructures is maintained. Additional processes, like hot dip galvanizing, can be applied to further protect the steel.

Welding steel beams

Beams can also be assembled by welding separate structural steel plates together. In this way, each flange is attached to the web separately. Welding can decrease the weight of the beam, and add strength. This is how plate girders are made. They are welded, bolted or riveted to form unique dimensions. For instance, plate girders might have a deep vertical web and narrower flanges.

Structural steel fabricators can bend, cut, weld, and assemble the metal to precise sizes and dimensions. Steel beam sizes and thicknesses will depend both on the type of steel beam being manufactured, and the exact requirements for the specific building application.

What’s needed for steel beam fabrication?

The basic materials for steel beam fabrication include high-quality structural steel made from metal grades that satisfy structural steel standards set by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the appropriate equipment, tools, and techniques to properly execute engineering diagrams.

Metal fabricators must be experienced enough to follow engineering diagrams and blueprints and have a working knowledge of the latest fabrication software, equipment, and safety standards in order to produce quality beam fabrication. Click to read more about structural steel fabrication.

What are the sizes of the different types of steel beams?

Types of steel beams have different sizes. Generally, beams have a width, height, and length and are measured by their weight in pounds per foot. And, to account for a variety of building needs, many metal fabricators offer custom cut-to-length fabrication services.

When getting to know the different types of beam sizes keep an eye out for their starting widths.

• S beams 3” x 5.7# to 24” x 121#
• W beams 4” x 13# to 44” x 335#
• M beams 6″ x 4.4# – 12.5″ x 12.4#
• H beams 3” x 3” (small), 9 to 27” (medium), greater than 27” (large)

What are the common steel beam metal grades?

A992

• Have a building project requiring good corrosion resistance, ductility, and weldability? A992 is quickly becoming the go to choice for structural steel, especially wide flange beams. Why? A992 is an economical structural steel with improved strength to weight ratio.
• Available in S beams and W beams

A572-50:

• A572 – 50 shows an ideal combination of high strength, high notch toughness, good weldability, and great value.
• Available in S beams and W beams

A36:

• A36 is versatile, heat treatable low-carbon structural steel product grade that is commonly utilized in general construction. It’s easily machined, welded, and formed.
• Available in S beams

A709-50:

• A709 shows good corrosion resistance and high strength. It is almost exclusively used for building bridges.
• Available in W beams

A529-50:

• A529 is a high strength carbon manganese structural steel with a minimum yield strength of 50 ksi.
• Available in M beams

Are beams available in other metals?

In addition to structural steel, beams can be formed out of aluminum through the process of extrusion. Kloeckner supplies aluminum beam in 6061 aluminum. Unlike carbon steel beams, 6061 aluminum beam is often seen in the automotive industry.

What are the key characteristics and advantages of each beam type?

This chart lays out some of the different types of beams, including I-beams, S-beams, W-beams, H-beams, M-beams, T- beams, and plate girders. It’s possible you may have heard the I-beam referred to as the universal beam, so we’ve included some other common names these beams go by as well.

This is truly just the beginning of getting to know the different types of steel beams. Please reach out to our team with any questions you have about beam fabrication processes, or if you need help determining which beam type or metal grade is best suited for your desired application.