How is a Steel Beam Made?
Steel beams are typically made by passing hot steel through large rollers to form the desired shape.
Creating a robust steel beam involves shaping heated steel through powerful machinery. According to the provided information, Through a combination of motors and mounted bearings, the steel is passed through large rollers configured in such a way as to form the desired beam shape. This process applies immense force; These forces regularly exceed thousands of tons, which the steel can withstand because it is incredibly hot.
The Hot Rolling Process
This method, known as hot rolling, is a common way to produce structural steel shapes like I-beams and H-beams. Here's a breakdown based on the description:
- Heating the Steel: Steel billets or blooms are heated to very high temperatures (often over 1,200°C or 2,200°F). This makes the steel pliable and easier to shape.
- Rolling: The hot steel is then fed through a series of rollers.
- Shaping: As mentioned, the large rollers are "configured in such a way as to form the desired beam shape". Each pass through the rollers progressively reduces the steel's cross-section and elongates it, while simultaneously forming the specific profile (like the flanges and web of an I-beam).
- Forces Applied: The reference highlights the sheer power involved, stating "These forces regularly exceed thousands of tons". This immense pressure is necessary to shape the hot, but still resistant, metal.
- Temperature Advantage: The process works because the steel is "so hot, it easily passes through". High temperature reduces the steel's yield strength, allowing it to be deformed efficiently by the rollers.
This powerful rolling process, driven by motors and mounted bearings, is fundamental to creating the strong, structural steel beams used in construction and other industries.
