Steel Beam Application: Bridge Construction

Tips & Advice

Steel is one of the most common types of building materials used around the world and can be found in a wide variety of bridges and bridge foundations, including long-span bridges, highway bridges, railroad bridges and footbridges. Approximately one-third of all bridges in the U.S. are built using steel beams.

Steel Beam Applications in Bridge Construction

Steel beam can be used for things like bridge beams, channels, railings, beams, ladders and angled components. Most commonly, however, steel is used to create the bearing pile foundation for a bridge.

Bearing piles are a type of deep foundation system installed under the earth to support vertical loads by transferring the bridge’s weight to the soil or rock below. Without such foundations systems, the land beneath the bridge would be unstable and therefore unable to handle significant weight, such as that from traffic, or even the mass of the bridge alone.

Steel beams: wide flange, h-oile, and more

Advantages of Steel Beam in Bridge Construction

Steel bearing piles (beams) have many advantages when compared to other types of pile.

  1. They’re easy to connect to the bridge.

  2. Loads can be set immediately after the pile is installed.

  3. Steel is highly-durable and long lasting.

  4. There’s no limit to pile length.

  5. Steel beams are comparatively easy to install.

Bridge builders choose steel beam over other construction materials like wood or concrete because it’s versatile, cost effective, sustainable, durable, and lasts for decades. Bridge infrastructure made of steel beam is generally stronger, safer, easier to build, and more flexible, which helps prevent against damage from high winds and earthquakes. Similarly, steel beam is more sustainable than other materials, which makes it an environmentally friendly option.

Wide Flange and H-Pile Beams

H-piles and wide flange beams are one of several different types of piling. They’re as wide as they are deep and have the same thickness in the flange and web. When compared to standard beams, H-pile and wide flange beams provides better weight distribution over a wider area. Because of this, they can support larger and heavier bridges.

Common Sizes for Steel Beam in Bridge Construction

Steel beam for bridge construction comes in a wide range of sizes, including both wide flange piles and H-piles. Some common sizes include:

  • W8: W8x18, W8x21, W8x24, W8x28, W8x31, W8x35, W8x40, W8x48, W8x58, W8x67

  • W10: W10x22, W10x26, W10x30, W10x33, W10x39, W10x45, W10x49, W10x54, W10x60, W10x68, W10x77, W10x88, W10x100, W10x112

  • W12: W12x26, W12x30, W12x35, W12x40, W12x45, W12x50, W12x53, W12x58 ,W12x65, W12x72, W12x79, W12x87, W12x96, W12x106, W26x120, W12x136, W12x152, W12x170, W12x190, W12x210, W12x230, W12x252

  • W14: W14x22, W14x26, W14x30, W14x34, W14x38, W14x43, W14x48, W14x53, W14x61, W14x68, W14x74, W14x82, W14x90, W14x99, W14x109, W14x120, W14x132, W14x145, W14x159, W14x176, W14x193, W14x211, W14x233, W14x257, W14x283

  • W16: W16x26, W16x31, W16x36, W16x40, W16x45, W16x50, W16x57, W16x67, W16x77, W16x89, W16x100

  • W18: W18x35, W18x40, W18x46, W18x50, W18x55, W18x60, W18x65, W18x71, W18x76, W18x86, W18x97, W18x106, W18x119, W18x130, W18x143, W18x158, W18x175, W18x192, W18x211, W18x234

  • W21: W21x44, W21x50, W21x57, W21x58, W21x55, W21x62, W21x68, W21x73, W21x83, W21x93, W21x101, W21x111, W21x122, W21x132, W21x147, W21x166, W21x182, W21x201, W21x223, W21x248, W21x275

  • W24: W24x55, W24x62, W24x68, W24x76, W24x84, W24x94, W24x103, W24x204, W24x117, W24x131, W24x146, W24x162, W24x176, W24x192, W24x207, W24x229

  • W27: W27x84, W27x94, W27x102, W27x114, W27x129, W27x146, W27x161, W27x178, W27x194

  • W30: W30x90, W30x99, W30x108, W30x116, W30x124, W30x132, W30x148

  • W33: W33x118, W33x130, W33x141, W33x152, W33x169

  • W36: W36x135, W36x150, W36x160, W36x170, W36x182, W36x194, W36x210, W36x232, W36x256

  • HP8: HP8x36

  • HP10: HP10x42, HP10x57

  • HP12: HP12x53, HP12x63, HP12x74, HP12x84, HP12x89, HP12x102, HP12x117

  • HP14: HP14x73, HP14x89, HP14x102, HP14x117

  • HP16: HP16x88, HP16x101, HP16x121, HP16x141, HP16x162, HP16x183

W-beams

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