You have seen concrete construction since your childhood, haven’t you? Have you ever thought what can replace this much concrete in the construction which turns out to be more economical and fast to construct? Yes, many countries have started choosing another option which is much more efficient and fast than concrete. That is the usage of ‘Steel’.
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Of course, steel is used as reinforcement in today’s construction extensively. But what I’m trying to say is the usage of steel only in construction. When asked by professionals and experts, they also say that Steel would turn out to be a sustainable and affordable material in construction.
Main Advantages of Steel
1. Used in Long Spans
The first thing to say as an advantage in steel is that it can be used in long spans and also provides larger freedom of design than concrete. It has high precision, great quality standards and has high durability and strength.
Such long span structures are essential in airports, bridges, skyscrapers etc. Thus, in such structures usage of steel would turn out to be more efficient, economical and more reliable as well.
2. Estimation is Easier
Steel fabrication is a more regulated process. It is easier for the designers and engineers to find the exact behaviour of steel and estimate the cost for construction.
It is simple to estimate the steel behaviour on any kind of stresses (tensile or compressive or shear) and come up with safe and economical design.
3. Durable and Sustainable
Big structures like skyscrapers, bridges, airports, etc. require durably designed structures. When durability comes along with economical advantage, why not choose it?
Steel is more durable and is economical especially by reducing the maintenance costs. Thus, a country which aims at infrastructure development, steel makes it cost-effective and more durable.
Today, due to global warming, it has become an important aspect to reduce the carbon footprint. Thus, steel helps in constructing sustainable structures. Steel is said to be more sustainable because it can be recycled without any loss in its quality. It also helps in waste reduction during construction. This adds as a major advantage in steel construction.
4. High strength and Quick assembly
When speaking about the strength of steel, it has a high strength to weight ratio, which means, the strength of steel is high where the weight of it is less. This adds to a major advantage which helps in fast and easy transportation.
Unlike the concrete elements which are casted on-site, steel can be fabricated and transported to site and just requires proper assembly. New technologies and equipment can be used to fabricate the steel elements in high quality and with proper measurements.
5. Provides Seismic safety
Steel has the ability to maximise the space of a building internally. Specifically, thin walls and frames (beams and columns) are possible which also provide great safety against earthquakes.
The flexibility and ductility of steel helps in absorbing the impact of earthquakes and reduces the damages from wind or other elements instead of cracking like concrete.
Famous Steel Structures in the World
Some famous steel structures in the world are, Petronas towers (Malaysia), The Brooklyn Bridge (New York), Times Building (New York), The Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco), etc.
Possibility of Steel Usage in Residential Buildings
Due to high ductility and flexibility, steel is preferred more in high loading conditions. The beam-to-column connection is designed basically for gravity loads.
When considering the cost-effectiveness and easy and fast construction, steel construction can be relied on more. The ‘less column, more space’ concept can be done on steel construction.
The strength of the building can be high and also provides high seismic resistance especially in high seismic hazard zones. Also, when it comes to design, architects can use their creativity to a higher scale.
Infrastructure development is crucial for a country. Thus, development of new innovations and technologies in steel helps in infrastructure development of a country. The future of steel in the infrastructure development of our country is promising and bright.
As countries continue to invest in their infrastructure, the demand for steel will only increase, solidifying its status as a valuable and necessary material for the foreseeable future. As the world continues to evolve, steel will remain one of the key elements driving progress across numerous sectors, making it an indispensable part of the future.
Written by - Saumiyaa K S
Edited by - Akshita Bist
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