US shapes versus British Shapes
US shapes versus British Shapes
(OP)
Folks,
I have run into a very weird situation and seek your input.
I am designing a fairly significant steel structure in the Middle East and requires sizeable members for the trusses.
In the US, typically W14's are available in a wide range of weights. However, the British sections are very limited in their options.
How do engineers in Britain deal with this problem? For a very simple example, I need a lot of W21x44 and W24x55 for floor beams. The british equivalent sections only start at W24x68 (UB610x229x101) and W21x55 (UB533x210x82)leading to considerable expense.
What is the workaround? Have any of you encountered such a problem?
Thanks
I have run into a very weird situation and seek your input.
I am designing a fairly significant steel structure in the Middle East and requires sizeable members for the trusses.
In the US, typically W14's are available in a wide range of weights. However, the British sections are very limited in their options.
How do engineers in Britain deal with this problem? For a very simple example, I need a lot of W21x44 and W24x55 for floor beams. The british equivalent sections only start at W24x68 (UB610x229x101) and W21x55 (UB533x210x82)leading to considerable expense.
What is the workaround? Have any of you encountered such a problem?
Thanks






RE: US shapes versus British Shapes
However, Corus (possibly others) do manufacture US section sizes in accordance with ASTM A6/A6M. These are supplementary to the BS. I do not know how popular they are but you state you need a lot of them so I suggest maybe you contact Corus.
The equvalents are W21 x 44 = 533 x 165 x 66UB; W24 x 55 = 610 x 178 x 82UB.
ht
RE: US shapes versus British Shapes
I contacted Corus USA this morning and I was told that they currently don't manufacture US equivalent metric shapes because of the economy and exchange rates.
Corus stated that they might start producing but was not definitive about when.
RE: US shapes versus British Shapes
In answer to your first question, the get around is to design using the sections available and modify the deaign. If the smaller UB is no good and the next size up was way too large, it provides scope for amending the structural layout to make it more efficient. Increasing spans, increasing spacing etc.
RE: US shapes versus British Shapes
Thanks. I will try Corus Europe. However, I found that Corus now manufactures ADVANCE Sections which have a smaller W21 and W24. They are designated as UKB's
RE: US shapes versus British Shapes
RE: US shapes versus British Shapes
In the us W shapes are used as both columns and beams and the range of weights allows for this.
In the UK the UB stands for universal beam and is as such more for use of beams. There are heavier column sections designated as UCs that are more appropriate for columns. The combination of these two types will give you something closer to the range of the US sizes.
RE: US shapes versus British Shapes
As far as Middle East jobs, we did in quite a few cases purposely change from the more comprehensive British Sections to a lesser range of European ( HEA, HEB etc) but that was purely because price and delivery more than offset the added weight. I would say that availability and price usually ended up being more relevant than a difference in weight.
RE: US shapes versus British Shapes
Are the UB sections you are mentioning readily available? Also, is that section found in BS 5950?
Thanks
RE: US shapes versus British Shapes
Dimensions and properties to BS4-1:2005.
These dimensions are in addition to our standard range of BS4 sections.
Does this mean that these sections are available inspite of them not being listed in BS4?
Thanks
RE: US shapes versus British Shapes