Steel, Structural

Structural steel is steel used for making construction materials in a variety of shapes. Many structural steel shapes take the form of an elongated beam having a profile of a specific cross section. Structural steel shapes, sizes, chemical composition, mechanical properties such as strengths, storage practices, etc., are regulated by standards in most industrialized countries. Structural steel is usually used in a system of interconnected members that are fixed together to carry loads in order to meet a specific need. Structural steel shapes, such as I-beams, have high second moments of area, so can support a high load without excessive sagging.