Difference and Application of I-Beam and H-Beam

It is often asked that I-beams and H-beams have similar shapes. How to choose them in practical applications?

H-beams and I-beams are different in shape, as shown in the figure below:

The Difference and Use of Crane I-Beam and H-beam?

• Whether I-shaped steel is ordinary or light, because the cross-sectional dimensions are relatively high and narrow, the moments of inertia of the two main sleeves of the cross-section are greatly different. Therefore, they can only be used directly on the web. Bending members in the plane or grouping them into lattice-type force members. It is not suitable to use axially-compressed components or components that are perpendicular to the web plane and also curved, which makes it very limited in application.
• H-beams are high-efficient and economical cross-sections (others include cold-formed thin-walled sections, profiled steel plates, etc.). Due to the reasonable cross-sectional shape, they can make the steel perform better and improve cutting capacity. What is different from the ordinary I-shape is that the flange of the H-shaped steel is widened, and the inner and outer surfaces are usually parallel, so that it can be easily connected with high-strength bolts and other components. Its size constitutes a reasonable series and complete model, which is convenient for design and selection (except for I-beams for crane beams).
• The flanges of H-shaped steel are all of equal thickness, with rolled sections, and also combined sections composed of 3 plates welded. I-beams are rolled sections. Due to the poor production process, the inside edge of the flange has a 1:10 slope. H-shaped steel is different from ordinary I-beams in that it only uses one set of horizontal rolls. Because its flange is wide and has no slope (or small slope), it is necessary to add a set of vertical rolls to perform rolling at the same time. , Its rolling process and equipment are more complicated than ordinary rolling mills. The height of the largest rolled H-beam that can be produced in China is 800mm, which exceeds the welding cross section.
• H-section steel is an economical section steel with better cross-section mechanical properties than I-beams. It is named because its cross-sectional shape is the same as the English letter "H". The flanges of hot-rolled H-beams are wider than I-beams, have greater lateral stiffness, and are more resistant to bending. H-beams are lighter than I-beams under the same specifications.
• The flanges of I-beams are thicker on the web with a variable section and thinner on the outside; the flanges of H-beams are of equal section.
• The side length of I-beam is small and the height is large, it can only bear the force in one direction. H-shaped steel grooves are deep and thick, and can withstand forces in two directions.
• I-beam can only be used for beams, and H-beam can be used for load-bearing columns of the structure.