Steel Structure Innovation Leads Modern Architecture
In the current construction field, steel structure engineering is relying on its own unique advantages, setting off a storm of change and becoming the preferred structural form for many large-scale projects.
In the current construction field, steel structure engineering is relying on its own unique advantages, setting off a storm of change and becoming the preferred structural form for many large-scale projects.
From towering skyscrapers to magnificent stadiums; from large bridges across rivers to various types of modern factories, steel structure is everywhere. With the help of BIM technology, the construction team overcame many difficulties such as complex structure, large welding volume of rods, high installation precision and narrow space, and completed the welding of tens of thousands of rods and nearly 10,000 welding balls with precise lifting to realise the smooth topping out of the steel structure of the roof cover, marking that the project has entered into a new stage of electromechanical installation and finishing decoration.
The reason why steel structure project is highly favoured is due to its series of outstanding advantages. Firstly, it is lighter in self-weight, its density is lower than that of concrete structure, under the premise of ensuring structural safety, it can effectively reduce the self-weight of the building and lower the cost of infrastructure, this feature is especially critical in high-rise buildings and large-span buildings. At the same time, the high reliability of steel structure, steel with good seismic and impact resistance, can be in the earthquake, strong winds and other adverse natural conditions, to provide solid protection for the building. Taking the commonly used cold-formed steel member triangular roof frame system for low-rise villa roofs as an example, after sealing the structural panels and gypsum boards, the ‘plate rib structure system’ is formed, which is extremely strong in seismic and resistance to horizontal loads, and is suitable for seismic intensity areas. Moreover, steel structure manufacturing is highly industrialised, and the components can be standardised in the factory and then transported to the site for rapid assembly, greatly reducing the construction cycle.
On the environmental level, the advantages of steel structure are also significant. Its materials can be 100% recycled, which is in line with the current green concept and reduces the consumption of construction waste and natural resources. In addition, steel structure can easily create a large space without excessive beams and columns, so the space layout is more flexible; and it is easy to make a sealed structure to meet the needs of some buildings with special requirements for sealing, such as air-conditioned warehouses, laboratories, and so on.
Of course, the steel structure is not perfect, easy to corrode and poor fire resistance are its two major shortcomings. However, today's technological development is gradually overcome these problems. The research and development of new anti-corrosion coatings and weathering steel, effectively extending the service life of steel structure; in terms of fire protection, through the use of fire-resistant coatings, set up fire zones and other measures to significantly improve the fire performance of steel structure.
With the continuous emergence of new materials, new techniques and new technologies, the future development of steel structure engineering is promising. Whether in the pursuit of higher strength and stability in ultra-high-rise buildings, or in large-span bridges to explore lighter and more efficient structural forms, or in the field of assembled buildings to further enhance the level of industrial production and assembly, steel structure will continue to innovate and make breakthroughs, injecting a steady stream of power for the development of modern construction and engraving a more brilliant chapter in the long history of construction.