The difference between H-beam and I-beam

‌H-beam and I-beam have significant differences in properties, structure, mechanical properties, construction convenience, and application areas. ‌

Differences in properties and structures ‌

H-beam‌: The cross-sectional shape is similar to the English letter "H", and the inner and outer surfaces of the flange are straight, with no slope or very small slope. According to the size, it can be divided into three types: large, medium, and small, as well as wide flange, medium flange, and narrow flange. ‌
‌I-beam‌: The cross-sectional shape is I-shaped, and the inner surface of the flange has an inclination, making the flange thin on the outside and thick on the inside. I-beams are divided into hot-rolled and light types, and can be divided into three types according to their use: ordinary, wide flange, and light types. ‌
Comparison of mechanical properties ‌

H-beam‌: The bending resistance is significantly better than that of I-beam, about 5%~10% higher. Its flange is widened and the inner and outer surfaces are parallel, which facilitates the use of high-strength bolts and other connectors, improving the overall stability and bearing capacity of the structure. Under the same cross-sectional load, the structural weight is 15%~20% lighter than that of traditional steel structures. ‌
‌I-beam‌: It has a certain bending resistance, but the flange is narrow and the torsion resistance is relatively poor. The cross-section performs well under direct pressure and has good tensile resistance.
Convenience of construction and cost-effectiveness
‌H-beam‌: The straight flange and right-angle design make welding and splicing easy, saving construction time and labor costs. High precision, small residual stress, no need for expensive welding materials and weld detection, reducing the cost of steel structure production.
‌I-beam‌: Easy to cut and weld, and the length and shape can be adjusted as needed. Light weight, easy on-site processing and installation, shortening the construction period and improving construction efficiency.
Application fields and market demand
‌H-beam‌: It is widely used in industrial building structures, civil building structures, underground construction projects, highway baffle brackets, as well as bridges, ships, lifting and transportation machinery and other fields. With the rapid development of the construction industry and the popularization of steel structure buildings, market demand continues to grow.
I-beam: It is used in building structure support, beams, columns, trusses, roofs and other parts, as well as bridge support, suspension, beams and foundations. It can also be processed into T-shaped steel, honeycomb beams, etc. to meet various engineering design and production needs.