Different Types of Steel Used in Construction Industry

Read through this article different types of steel used in construction industry and also the role of steel in construction industry.

Steel is one of the most widely used construction materials by builders. It is 100% recyclable and so is less expensive. It is classified on the basis of various factors including chemical contents, alloy metal contents, shape, microstructure, heat treatment process, etc. Different types of steel used in construction industry have different chemical composition and mechanical and physical properties. That make them ideal for using in the various construction projects.

What is the Role of Steel in Construction Industry?

Steel is one of the most important building materials used in construction industry. Steel is the backbone of construction projects. The strength and durability of a structure significantly depend upon the steel used.

There are various types of steel that are widely used in construction projects such as: mild steel, TMT steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, etc.

Steel is used in the construction industry in the form of various products. Some of these products include flanges, angle, bars, steel doors and windows, steel sheets, pipes, channels, corrugated roofing, sheet piles, masonry tools, etc.

Different Types of Steel Used in Construction Industry

The different types of steel used in construction industry are:

1. Rebar Steel
2. Structural Steel
3. Mild Steel
4. Alloy Steel
5. Stainless Steel
6. Tool Steel
7. Light Gauge Steel

1. Rebar Steel

The rebar steel is a type of steel which is used in construction field to reinforce concrete structures that can withstand greater tension. It appears in rods and is available in various sizes (diameter) and variety of grades with different yield strength, tensile strength, ductility, chemical composition and elongation percentage parameters. Rebar steel offers durability and aesthetic appeal. Rebars have the ability to be recycled.

The use of bare concrete (without steel rebar) for the construction of foundations, bridges or any concrete-based structure can cause the structure to crack, especially under high pressure and high temperature. For this reason, steel rebars are used as reinforcement material in concrete structures. That structures include building foundations, columns, beams, roof, wall paneling, concrete bridge decks, etc. Steel bars improve the ductility of concrete structures and also reduce the need for large quantities of concrete. TMT bars, mild steel bar, deformed bars, TMX bars, etc. are the most common types of rebar steel.

2. Structural Steel

Structural steel is a type of steel primarily used to manufacture a number of steel products required by the construction industry. It is ductile, sturdy and durable. It can be molded into almost any shape depending on the constructional need. Structural steel can be categorized into shapes, each with their own compositional properties which make them ideal for certain uses in construction.

Structural steel is used in construction field in different shapes including Parallel Flange Channels, Tapered Flange Beams, Universal Beam, Universal Column, Angled Sections, Circular Hollow Sections, Rectangular Hollow Sections, Square Hollow Sections And Flat Sections.

3. Mild Steel

Mild steel (also known as MS) is a low carbon steel with a carbon content of 0.05% to 0.25%. Mild steel is strong, long-lasting, and extremely flexible and malleable. It has excellent level of bendability and plasticity, and can withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes without generating cracks in the steel.

Mild Steel is the most prevalent type of steel used in construction field in the form of plain steel such as: MS Angles, MS Pipe, MS Tube, Barbed Wire, Binding Wire, HB Wire, Hollow Section Pipes, MS Flat Bars, MS Channel, Wire Nails, etc. It also used in manufacturing of different types rebars like TMT bars, Deformed bars, TMX bars, etc.

4. Alloy Steel

As the name suggests, alloy steel is the steel that contains alloy metals like manganese, silicon, nickel, copper, molybdenum, chromium and aluminum in varying proportion. These metals improve the properties of the steel by increasing hardiness, tensile strength, malleability, ductility, weldability and corrosion-resistance. Yet, these properties might vary according to the proportion of metals present.

Alloy steel is categorized into High Alloy Steel and Low Alloy Steel. Both types are used in construction field for functional and decorative purposes, alongside other steel materials.

High alloy steel is used in tools, buildings, infrastructure, machines, etc. Low alloy steel is suitable for various applications, including seamless rolling ring forging pipes, automotive and aerospace bodies, railway lines, offshore and onshore structural engineering plates and studying outlets.

5. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a type of alloy steel (high alloy steel) that contains chromium (10% to 20%) as the main alloying metal. The chromium content improves the corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance at excellent level which make the steel suitable for a wide range of uses. It can be used as the better alternative to materials like wood.

Stainless steel is used for atriums, canopies, staircases, railings, window casements, gates, security barriers, roofing material and swimming pool sheds for aesthetic appeal. It is also used in bridges, port steel structures, river structures and water supply system.

6. Tool Steel

Tool steel is a type of carbon and alloy steel that contains hard metals like tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt and vanadium in varying quantities. It has very high durability and resistance against abrasion, deformation, and extreme temperatures which allows it to be shaped into any shape.

Tool steel are mostly used for manufacturing tools such as: cutters, reamers, bits and others.

7. Light Gauge Steel

Light-gauge steel (LSG) is a cold-formed material and so also known as as cold-formed steel and cold-rolled steel. It is used to make construction processes smoother and products stronger.

Light gauge steel is used to construct a steel frame system that provides a number of important benefits. Cold-formed steel is used in a modern construction technology called Light Gauge Framing System (LGFS) or Light Gauge Steel Framing (LGSF). This technology can be utilized for roofing systems, flooring systems, wall systems, roof panels, decks, or the entire buildings. Light Steel Frame members can be used as individual framing members such as studs, joists, headers and truss members. They can also serve as both primary structures and secondary structures.

Conclusion

In this short guide, we have tried to explain about 7 different types of steel used in construction industry. These are rebar steel, structural steel, mild steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, tool steel and light-gauge steel. Apart from properties and uses, there are significant differences in their prices.

Hope you now have enough knowledge about the different types of steel used in construction industry. If you have any questions about the same, let us know in the comment section.

Most Common Type of Steel Used in Construction

Mild Steel aka MS Steel is the most common type of steel used in construction. Mild steel is very popular in construction industry due to it's low price, incomparable properties combination and great versatility across a number of applications. Mild Steel is very flexible and doesn't crack when bent, which makes them easy to work. Their high ductility prevents the structure from seismic disaster.

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