Steel structure buildings are widely used in the modern construction field due to their high strength, light weight, and convenient construction. The following details their applications in different scenarios:
I. Industrial Construction Field
- Large Factories and Warehouses
- Suitable for scenarios with large spans and heavy loads, such as mechanical processing workshops, metallurgical plants, and logistics storage centers. For example, steel structure factories can achieve column-free spaces of tens or even hundreds of meters through structural forms like trusses and space frames, meeting the needs of large equipment installation and production processes.
- Case: The final assembly workshop of an automobile manufacturing plant often uses a steel structure bent frame system, combining bearing capacity with spatial flexibility.
- Industrial Venues and Special Structures
- Such as aircraft maintenance hangars and large boiler rooms, which need to resist special loads like high temperatures and vibrations. The fire resistance (with fireproof coatings) and vibration resistance of steel structures can meet these requirements.
II. Commercial and Public Buildings
- High-rise and Super-high-rise Buildings
- Steel structures are one of the mainstream choices for high-rise and super-high-rise buildings, such as office buildings and hotels. Their advantages include:
- Light self-weight (30%–50% lighter than concrete structures), reducing foundation loads.
- Short construction 周期 (construction period). Prefabricated components (such as steel columns and beams) in factories are assembled on-site, shortening the construction period (e.g., high-rise office buildings can be constructed at a speed of 5 days per floor).
- High space utilization rate: Steel structure components have small cross-sections, increasing usable area.
- Case: The Shanghai Tower (632 meters) uses a “giant frame–core tube–outrigger truss” steel structure system, combining stability and seismic resistance.
- Steel structures are one of the mainstream choices for high-rise and super-high-rise buildings, such as office buildings and hotels. Their advantages include:
- Large-span Public Buildings
- Buildings requiring large-span spaces, such as gymnasiums, exhibition halls, and airport terminals, use steel structures in the form of space frames, cable structures, arch structures, etc.
- Space Frame Structure: For example, the National Stadium “Bird’s Nest” uses a steel structure woven grid with a span of 343 meters, featuring complex 造型 and uniform force distribution.
- Cable Structure: For example, the Beijing Workers’ Gymnasium uses steel cables to suspend the roof, achieving a large-span column-free space.
- Arch Structure: For example, the Guangzhou Convention and Exhibition Center has a steel arch span of over 126 meters, covering a large exhibition space.
- Buildings requiring large-span spaces, such as gymnasiums, exhibition halls, and airport terminals, use steel structures in the form of space frames, cable structures, arch structures, etc.
III. Infrastructure and Special Projects
- Bridge Engineering
- Steel structure bridges are suitable for large-span and heavy-traffic scenarios, such as suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges, and steel truss bridges.
- Cases: The Qingzhou Channel Bridge of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge uses a steel box girder cable-stayed bridge with a main span of 458 meters, excellent wind and earthquake resistance; the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge is a steel truss bridge that has remained stable for over 60 years.
- Steel structure bridges are suitable for large-span and heavy-traffic scenarios, such as suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges, and steel truss bridges.
- Towers and High-rise Structures
- Such as TV towers, transmission towers, and communication towers. Steel structures can achieve heights of hundreds of meters due to their high strength and light weight.
- Case: The Canton Tower (600 meters) uses a composite system of a steel structure outer tube and a concrete core tube, combining aesthetic appearance and structural safety.
- Such as TV towers, transmission towers, and communication towers. Steel structures can achieve heights of hundreds of meters due to their high strength and light weight.
- Municipal and Transportation Facilities
- Subway platforms, high-speed railway stations, overpasses, etc. Steel structures have fast construction speed, suitable for the rapid construction needs of cities. For example, the waiting hall of Shenzhen North Station uses a steel structure space frame covering an area of over 100,000 square meters.
IV. Residential and Civil Buildings
- Low-rise and Multi-story Steel Structure Residential Buildings
- Widely used in Europe and America, and promoted in China in recent years. Advantages include:
- Short construction 周期 (modular construction, completing the main structure in 30 days).
- Good seismic performance (steel structures have excellent ductility, resisting earthquakes above magnitude 8).
- Green and environmentally friendly (components can be recycled, reducing construction waste by 70%).
- Cases: Prefabricated steel structure affordable housing in Beijing, Shanghai, etc., uses a “steel frame + light-weight wall panel” system, combining comfort and economy.
- Widely used in Europe and America, and promoted in China in recent years. Advantages include:
- Villas and Featured Buildings
- Such as scenic homestays and resorts. Steel structures can achieve special shapes (such as curved surfaces and cantilever structures) and are easy to renovate later.
V. Temporary and Emergency Buildings
- Temporary Pavilions and Event Venues
- Such as World Expo pavilions and large exhibition booths. Steel structures can be quickly built, disassembled, and reused.
- Emergency Disaster Relief Buildings
- Temporary resettlement houses after disasters like earthquakes and floods. Steel structure components can be prefabricated and transported, and quickly assembled on-site to meet urgent living needs.
VI. Marine and Energy Engineering
- Marine Platforms and Port Facilities
- Offshore oil drilling platforms, port crane structures, etc. Steel structures need to resist seawater corrosion (with anti-corrosion coatings) and typhoon loads.
- Energy Facilities
- Wind turbine towers (over 100 meters high) and steel structures of nuclear power plant containment vessels, which have extremely high requirements for strength and safety.
Summary of Advantages of Steel Structure Buildings
| Advantage Dimension | Specific Performance |
|---|---|
| Strength and Weight | The strength of steel is over 10 times that of concrete. Structures are lighter under the same bearing capacity, suitable for large-span and high-rise scenarios. |
| Construction Efficiency | Components are prefabricated in factories and assembled on-site, shortening the construction period by 30%–50% compared to traditional concrete buildings. |
| Seismic Resistance and Ductility | Steel structures have good ductility, absorbing seismic energy, suitable for high-intensity seismic areas (e.g., more than 70% of high-rise buildings in Japan are steel structures). |
| Green and Environmental Protection | 100% recyclable, less construction waste, in line with the “carbon neutrality” construction concept. |
| Spatial Flexibility | Components have small cross-sections, allowing free division of indoor spaces and facilitating later renovations (e.g., functional changes in office buildings). |
Application Challenges and Solutions
- Poor Fire Resistance: The melting point of steel is about 1,500°C, but its strength begins to decrease at above 150°C under normal temperature. Fireproof coatings (e.g., thick fireproof coatings can resist fire for over 2 hours) need to be sprayed.
- Weak Corrosion Resistance: Prone to rust in marine, acid rain, and other environments. Protective measures such as hot-dip galvanizing coatings and anti-corrosion paints are required.
- Cost Issues: The price of steel is higher than that of concrete. However, considering the shortened construction period and low later maintenance costs, the comprehensive cost performance is more advantageous in large-span and high-rise projects.
