| During the 17th Century, steel first became a | | | | bars, rods and plates are also generic steel |
| frequently used material; however, is was not until | | | | construction sections. Standard steel beams are |
| the 19th Century with the development of efficient | | | | formed either by a rolling method (hot, cold or |
| production methods such as the Bessemer process, | | | | extrusion) or a welding method. The American |
| that steel became mass produced in a cost effective | | | | Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has |
| manor. | | | | established the US structural steel standards and |
| Today, with the steady improvements to the metal's | | | | identification system. Each label begins with an "A" |
| quality and production process, steel has become one | | | | and is then followed by two, three or four numbers |
| of the most common materials used across the | | | | that classify the material by alloy type, strength, |
| world and plays a critical role in important industries | | | | corrosion resistance and other characteristics. |
| including the automotive, construction and | | | | Structural steel and concrete are often compared in |
| transportation sectors. Because steel is so integrated | | | | the construction industry. The primary factor that |
| in infrastructural development, the industry is often | | | | affects the preference of concrete over steel and |
| looked as a gauge for overall economic progress in a | | | | vice versa is the cost of raw materials. It also should |
| country. | | | | be noted that the two materials are regularly used |
| Steel is an alloy, or combination, of iron and carbon. | | | | together. However, there are several important |
| Depending on the purpose of the material, different | | | | advantages of steel. A better strength to weight |
| combinations of alloys and ratios are formulated for | | | | ratio is found in steel structures than in Reinforced |
| varying types of steel. Characteristics such as | | | | concrete cement (RCC) structures. Additionally |
| strength, durability and temperature resistance can | | | | structural steel can be broken down easily and even |
| be crafted based on production method and materials | | | | reused at times due to the bolted connections used |
| used in an alloy. | | | | in steel structures. |
| For the construction of large buildings and structures | | | | Many of the assets of structural steel are also |
| such as stadiums, skyscrapers and bridges, structural | | | | outlined by the American Institute of Steel |
| steel is typically employed for the supporting | | | | Construction (AISC), a not-for-profit technical |
| skeletons. Structural steel can also be used in | | | | institute and trade association that strives to make |
| conjunction with concrete and wood for additional | | | | steel the American construction industry's material of |
| reinforcement in a structure. Because of the safety | | | | choice. The AISC sets many of the structural steel |
| ramifications associated with construction, there are | | | | quality standards and has issued crucial industry |
| specific standards and regulations established for the | | | | resources such as the Specification for Steel Buildings |
| steel industry. The correct shape, size, composition | | | | and the Manual of Steel Construction. Members of |
| and storage of steel are all specified in these | | | | the AISC are found in every sector of the industry |
| regulations. | | | | ranging from students to steel fabricators to |
| The most common structural steel shapes include the | | | | contractors. With leading organizations such as the |
| I-beam, the HSS-Shape (hollow structural section), | | | | AISC, the structural steel community continues to |
| the angle, the channel and the tee. Structural steel | | | | grow and innovate daily. |