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SECTIONS AND BEAMS
V. Ryan © 2001 - 2009
 
 
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If you use metals as part of a practical project a knowledge of the shape or ‘section’ of lengths of metals is important. The diagrams below show examples of solid lengths and also tubes. When you order metals you need to describe the section you want. The sections shown below are the most common.
       

SECTIONS - SOLIDS AND TUBES
       

ROUND SECTION

HEXAGONAL SECTION

SQUARE SECTION

L-SECTION

       

ROUND TUBE

HEXAGONAL TUBE

SQUARE TUBE

L-SECTION TUBE

       

 
 
SECTIONS - BEAMS
 

Beams are used to ‘span’ distances, such as the distance between two walls. How well the beam works depends the material it is made from and its shape. In some buildings you can easily see the steel girders that hold the roof up. These are made from different ‘sections’ or shapes and some are named below.
         

 

These are very common sections and are easy to remember because they are named after their shapes (look at the names carefully).

Sections like these are not only used for girders in buildings. For example, a bicycle is usually made from circular section, sometimes called ‘tube’. Metal tables are often made from square section tube.

Imagine if you made a table from solid metal. It would be very heavy and expensive. However, tables made from square or circular section are light and cheaper to produce because they are made with less metal.

  

       
       

   

         
 
 

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