Differences between American standard H-beam and American standard I-beam

 Someone asked what is the difference between American standard I-beam and American standard H-beam, and how to distinguish between the two? Some people may think that I-beam and H-beam are the same thing, but this understanding is actually wrong.

Introduction to American Standard I-beam:

I-beam, as the name suggests, is a type of "I-shaped" cross-sectional steel with a slope of 1:6 on the inner surface of the upper and lower flanges, making the flanges thin on the outside and thick on the inside. As a result, the cross-sectional characteristics of I-beam in the two main planes differ greatly, making it difficult to fully utilize the strength characteristics of the steel in applications. Although thickened I-beams have also appeared in the I-beam market, the structure of I-beams has determined their short torsional performance.

Introduction to American standard H-shaped steel:

H-beam is a widely used profile in steel structure buildings today, and it has many differences compared to I-beam.

1) The inner surface of the flange has no inclination, and the upper and lower surfaces are parallel.

2) The two outer and inner edges of the H-shaped steel have no inclination and are straight.

3) The cross-sectional characteristics of H-beams are significantly superior to traditional I-beams, channel steels, and angle steels.

4) H-shaped steel is an economical and efficient profile with a more optimized cross-sectional area distribution and a more reasonable strength to weight ratio. It is named after the same section as the English letter "H". This makes the welding and splicing of H-shaped steel easier to operate than I-shaped steel, with better mechanical properties per unit weight, which can save a lot of materials and construction time.

Summary: The I-beam section has good resistance to direct pressure and tension, but the section size cannot resist torsion due to the narrow wing plate. H steel is the opposite, so each has its own advantages and disadvantages.