Hot rolled H-beam
Hot-rolled H-beam steel is an economical, hot-rolled steel with an H-shaped cross-section. Composed of a web and upper and lower flanges, it features a large section modulus, light weight, high strength, and easy construction. It is widely used in building structures, bridge engineering, and machinery manufacturing. Compared to conventional I-beams, H-beams have parallel inner and outer flanges with right-angled ends, resulting in superior cross-sectional properties. The section modulus can be increased by 30%-50% at the same weight, allowing it to withstand greater bending moments and shear forces, making it a highly efficient and energy-efficient construction steel. Available in a wide range of specifications, with web heights ranging from 100mm to 1000mm and flange widths from 50mm to 400mm, the appropriate model can be selected to meet the specific needs of the project.
The production process for hot-rolled H-beams is centered around continuous rolling, encompassing multiple steps, including billet heating, rough rolling, and finishing rolling. First, high-quality carbon structural steel or low-alloy, high-strength steel billets (such as Q235B and Q355B) are heated in a walking-beam furnace to 1150-1250°C to ensure uniform billet temperature and optimal plasticity. The heated billets then enter the roughing mill, where horizontal and vertical rolls coordinate to form the initial H-shaped cross-section. During roughing, the reduction and rolling speed must be carefully controlled to ensure uniform thickness of the web and flange. The billets then enter the finishing mill, where multiple passes are used to adjust the cross-sectional dimensions to the target specifications. The finishing rolling temperature is controlled at 850-950°C to ensure stable mechanical properties. After rolling, the H-beams are cooled on a cooling bed, straightened, and cut to length. Finally, they undergo nondestructive testing and mechanical property testing to ensure product quality meets standards.
In the field of building structures, hot-rolled H-beams are an ideal material for frame structures. H-beams are used in load-bearing columns and beams in large factories and warehouses, significantly reducing component cross-sectional dimensions and increasing usable space. A machinery plant uses Q355B H-beams for main beams with a span of 30 meters, saving 20% of steel compared to traditional I-beams. High-rise building frame columns utilize large-gauge H-beams (web height ≥ 500mm) for their high load-bearing capacity, effectively resisting horizontal seismic forces. A 20-story office building employing H-beam frames reduced the structure’s deadweight by 15% and foundation costs by 10%. In steel-structured residential buildings, H-beams are used in the load-bearing system of beams, columns, and floor slabs, resulting in a high degree of assembly and a construction period shortened by over 30%.
Hot-rolled H-beams offer significant advantages in bridge engineering and municipal construction. The main beams of small and medium-sized bridges utilize a composite H-beam structure, which is lightweight, resistant to fatigue, and can withstand the repeated effects of vehicle loads. The use of H-beam main beams in a river-crossing bridge reduced the difficulty of construction and hoisting, shortening the construction period by two months. H-beams are used in the supports of elevated roads and overpasses in municipal engineering projects. Their regular cross-section facilitates connection to other components. One urban overpass utilizes H-beams as the load-bearing structure, resulting in a simple and aesthetically pleasing appearance while also reducing the pressure from the bridge deck’s deadweight on the piers. In crane track beams at port terminals, the high stiffness of H-beams ensures track flatness, reduces vibration during crane operation, and extends the equipment’s service life.
With the development of the steel structure industry, the performance and applications of hot-rolled H-beams continue to expand. Manufacturers have developed high-strength H-beams (such as Q460 and Q690) for use in super-high-rise buildings and long-span bridges, with yield strengths exceeding 460 MPa, meeting extreme load requirements. For low-temperature environments, low-temperature toughness H-beams have been developed, with an impact energy of ≥34J at -40°C, suitable for engineering construction in cold regions. In terms of green manufacturing, short-process rolling processes are being adopted to reduce energy consumption and emissions. One steel company’s H-beam production line has reduced energy consumption per ton of steel by 15%. In the future, with the promotion of prefabricated and green buildings, market demand for hot-rolled H-beams will continue to grow, further consolidating its dominant position in the steel structure sector.
