What is the Difference Between an H-Beam and an I-Beam?
I-beams and H-beams use very different proportions of the web to flange size. Each cross-section has its advantages making them suitable for different applications.
I-beams-or S-beams depending on who you ask-have a thin and tall web with thicker flanges that are tapered at an inclination of 1:10. The flanges are quite narrow compared to the web height which is what gives them the cross-sectional shape of an uppercase I.
While they do have high strength-to-weight properties and high resistance to bending, they lack torsional strength. They are often used for support frames and columns for elevators, trailers, trolley ways, and hoists.
Similar to H-beams, I-beams are also used for structural steel buildings and bridges. However, their lower span of up to 100 feet means additional support columns may be required.
An H-beam is pound-for-pound stronger than an I-beam and well-suited to extreme environments. In addition to withstanding direct and tensile loads, H-beams generally lower the overall project cost vs I-beams because they can span longer distances with fewer support columns.
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