H Beam, also known as H-section steel, is a type of hot-rolled structural steel with a cross-section shaped like the capital letter “H”. Compared with conventional I-beams, H beams have a more optimized cross-sectional distribution and a higher strength-to-weight ratio, making them an efficient and economical structural material.
Due to the perpendicular arrangement of the web and flanges, H beams provide excellent bending resistance in both the strong and weak axes. They feature wide flanges, high sectional stability, easy connection, and efficient construction, which makes them widely used in modern steel structures.
Wide Flange H Beam (HW)
Designed for columns and main load-bearing members with high stability requirements.
Medium Flange H Beam (HM)
Suitable for beams and frame structures with balanced strength and economy.
Narrow Flange H Beam (HN)
Mainly used for secondary beams and bending-dominated members.
Thin-Walled H Beam (HT)
Lightweight type used in light steel structures.
H Beam Pile (HU)
Specifically used for foundation engineering, such as piling and retaining structures.
Height (H) × Flange Width (B) × Web Thickness (t₁) × Flange Thickness (t₂)
Example:
H Beam Q235B / SS400 200 × 200 × 8 × 12
This indicates a wide flange H beam with a height of 200 mm, flange width of 200 mm, web thickness of 8 mm, flange thickness of 12 mm, made of Q235B or SS400 steel grade.
Main Characteristics of H-shaped Steel
1. Superior Cross-sectional Performance and Strong Load-bearing Capacity
H-shaped steel has a large section modulus and a rational material distribution. Under the same stress conditions, it has higher bending and compressive strength than ordinary I-beams, effectively saving steel consumption.
2. Lightweight Structure and Outstanding Economic Efficiency
While ensuring structural safety, H-shaped steel can reduce the overall weight of the steel structure by 15%-30%, thereby reducing the difficulty of foundation design and engineering costs.
3. Good Structural Stability and Seismic Performance
Hot-rolled H-shaped steel has excellent plasticity and toughness, and has stronger deformation capacity when subjected to vibration, impact, and seismic loads, making it particularly suitable for building structures in earthquake-prone areas.
4. Convenient Connection and Construction
The inner and outer sides of the flanges are parallel, and the component dimensions are uniform, facilitating welding, bolt connection, and on-site installation, significantly improving construction efficiency and reducing construction errors.
5. Flexible Design and High Space Utilization
Due to the small cross-section of the steel columns, a larger usable space can be obtained under the same building height conditions, making the building layout more flexible and increasing the effective usable area.
6. High Degree of Industrialization and Stable Quality
H-shaped steel is formed using a hot-rolling process, resulting in high dimensional accuracy and stable quality. It is suitable for factory-based, large-scale production, facilitating standardized design and prefabricated construction.
7. Environmentally Friendly, Energy-saving, and Recyclable
Steel structure construction involves a high proportion of dry work, resulting in less construction pollution; after the service life of the structure ends, H-shaped steel can be recycled and reused, meeting the requirements of green building and sustainable development.
Due to the perpendicular arrangement of the web and flanges, H beams provide excellent bending resistance in both the strong and weak axes. They feature wide flanges, high sectional stability, easy connection, and efficient construction, which makes them widely used in modern steel structures.
Classification of H Beams
H beams can be classified according to flange width and application as follows:Wide Flange H Beam (HW)
Designed for columns and main load-bearing members with high stability requirements.
Medium Flange H Beam (HM)
Suitable for beams and frame structures with balanced strength and economy.
Narrow Flange H Beam (HN)
Mainly used for secondary beams and bending-dominated members.
Thin-Walled H Beam (HT)
Lightweight type used in light steel structures.
H Beam Pile (HU)
Specifically used for foundation engineering, such as piling and retaining structures.
Designation of H Beams
H beams are usually designated by the following format:Height (H) × Flange Width (B) × Web Thickness (t₁) × Flange Thickness (t₂)
Example:
H Beam Q235B / SS400 200 × 200 × 8 × 12
This indicates a wide flange H beam with a height of 200 mm, flange width of 200 mm, web thickness of 8 mm, flange thickness of 12 mm, made of Q235B or SS400 steel grade.
Main Characteristics of H-shaped Steel
1. Superior Cross-sectional Performance and Strong Load-bearing Capacity
H-shaped steel has a large section modulus and a rational material distribution. Under the same stress conditions, it has higher bending and compressive strength than ordinary I-beams, effectively saving steel consumption.
2. Lightweight Structure and Outstanding Economic Efficiency
While ensuring structural safety, H-shaped steel can reduce the overall weight of the steel structure by 15%-30%, thereby reducing the difficulty of foundation design and engineering costs.
3. Good Structural Stability and Seismic Performance
Hot-rolled H-shaped steel has excellent plasticity and toughness, and has stronger deformation capacity when subjected to vibration, impact, and seismic loads, making it particularly suitable for building structures in earthquake-prone areas.
4. Convenient Connection and Construction
The inner and outer sides of the flanges are parallel, and the component dimensions are uniform, facilitating welding, bolt connection, and on-site installation, significantly improving construction efficiency and reducing construction errors.
5. Flexible Design and High Space Utilization
Due to the small cross-section of the steel columns, a larger usable space can be obtained under the same building height conditions, making the building layout more flexible and increasing the effective usable area.
6. High Degree of Industrialization and Stable Quality
H-shaped steel is formed using a hot-rolling process, resulting in high dimensional accuracy and stable quality. It is suitable for factory-based, large-scale production, facilitating standardized design and prefabricated construction.
7. Environmentally Friendly, Energy-saving, and Recyclable
Steel structure construction involves a high proportion of dry work, resulting in less construction pollution; after the service life of the structure ends, H-shaped steel can be recycled and reused, meeting the requirements of green building and sustainable development.
